The Indiana Pacers have come to terms with the Toronto Raptors.

Jermaine O’Neal is headed for Canada as the Raptors are sending back TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the 17th pick in this year’s draft that takes place tomorrow evening. Let’s review how this trade turns out for both teams:

Indiana Pacers:

With the franchise never able to fully recover from the 2004 brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Pacers have decided to get rid of the last big remaining piece of that team. Everyone expected the Pacers to go into rebuilding mode but they have decided otherwise. By trading O’Neal for Ford and Nesterovic the Pacers are looking to fill two spots that they have had problems with in recent years.

For the first time in a while they will have a legitimate starting center in Nesterovic, and Tinsley can take a seat or be traded now that TJ Ford will take over the point. The future has potential but I’m not sold on this package.

Let’s not forget, the Lakers offered Lamar Odom, Kwame Brown’s expiring contract, and draft picks for O’Neal last summer and they said no. I feel like Lamar and cap space is better than two mediocre players that will not be all stars at any point in their respective careers.

Toronto Raptors:

Great move for Brian Colangelo. This guy has already turned two franchises around in no time as he created the monster that the Phoenix Suns are today and the Toronto Raptors of tomorrow.

By trading away one player that is too often hurt for the team’s overall benefit, and another player that has severely underperformed, the Toronto Raptors are already better in simple addition by substitution. Now that the unnecessary pieces are gone, bringing Jermaine O’Neal in to pair up next Chris Bosh is beastly.

The front line of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins is good, but a duo of 7′0″ tough guys like Bosh and O’Neal is surely better. With deadly shooters like Jason Kapono and Anthony Parker already on the roster, the Raptors have one move left to make.

The future of Jose Calderon seems a bit shaky at this point as no one knows whether he will continue on in the NBA or travel back to Europe for a different style of ball. The Raptors now need to find themselves a talented young point guard to throw in the mix and they’ve got themselves a team.

There is one down side however, their players are all on short term contracts and their time span for winning seems a bit short. With that said, I have no doubt in my mind that Colangelo will manage to make this happen yet once again.

I’ve just got one thing to say about all this… trading season has begun and I’m excited to see the deals go down.