The Pacers have reportedly made the decision to buyout the contract of point guard Jamaal Tinsley if they aren't able to trade him, according to The New York Daily News.

Tinsley has three years and more than $21 million left on his contract.

Larry Bird and David Morway are rumored to have made the decision to buy out Tinsley well before dealing for point guards T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack.

Jerryd Bayless was projected to be drafted as high as fourth overall before free falling to position 11, taken by Indiana. He did not remain there, however, with Indiana agreeing to package him with Ike Diogu to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for the rights to Brandon Rush (who was selected 13th), Jarrett Jack, and Josh McRoberts.

Bayless, however, is going to go out and try to prove the 10 teams who passed over him in the draft wrong, according to the Arizona Republic.

"I think they are crazy," Bayless said when asked what he would say to people who don't think he can play both guard spots. "That's what I think."

"I have 10 teams to prove wrong now," Bayless told ESPN radio. "I'm going to definitely go out and try to do that. Hopefully, everything works out."

Jermaine O'Neal admitted to the media early Friday morning that he made the decision to sit out a good portion of Indiana's schedule last year as a career move, according to The Toronto Star.

"When I sat out all those games last year, it was a career move," O'Neal told the Associated Press. "I knew what the situation was. I knew what the significance of me staying away from the game, rehabbing the leg and getting the knee back to its normal usage was."

He played in just 42 games for the Pacers during the 2007-08 season.

The Pacers have a tentative agreement to send forward Ike Diogu and the rights to Jerryd Bayless to the Blazers in exchange for Jarrett Jack, Josh McRoberts, and the rights to Brandon Rush, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Indiana drafted Bayless with the No. 11 pick while Portland took Rush with the No. 13 selection.

The inclusion of established NBA players will prevent the deal from official taking place until July.

Kareem Rush, Brandon's older brother, played for the Pacers last season, but is an unrestricted free agent.

Jermaine O'Neal confirmed that he is moving from Indiana to Toronto and said that he is pleased with the trade, the Associated Press is reporting.

"He (Larry Bird) wanted to get me to a place where I could contend and do what I'm capable of doing," O'Neal told The Associated Press. "We both agreed that the timing was perfect. His focus on getting them [the Pacers] to a level where they can grow and start to be competitive was tremendous."

Pacers' spokesman David Benner said he could not confirm the trade.

"We're stuck in our role here, the players can say whatever they want, we can't say anything," Benner said.

The Indiana Pacers are denying that a deal has been reached with the Toronto Raptors which would see Jermaine O'Neal exchanged for T.J. Ford, the Associated Press is reporting.

Pacers spokesman David Benner said those reports were premature.

"There is no trade to announce. It is all speculation," Benner told The Associated Press.

The Raptors could receive the No. 41 pick in the NBA Draft from the Pacers as part of the blockbuster deal that would send Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto, according to ESPN.com.

The teams have reportedly agreed in principle to the deal, which would sent T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and the No. 17 pick to Indiana for O'Neal.

On Wednesday night it was rumored that the Raptors will be packaging another player in the deal to meet the requirements of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

ESPN.com learned on Thursday afternoon that the Raptors will get the 41st pick as part of the deal while the Pacers will receive forward Maceo Baston to complete the deal.

Ford is a base-year compensation player, which means that the deal cannot be completed until July 9.

The Heat already has received overtures from the Raptors, Pacers, Clippers, and several other teams regarding Shawn Marion, according to a source.

Marion is seeking the type of lucrative extension Heat President Pat Riley appears reluctant to consider.

Marion became eligible to be traded only after he allowed Tuesday's 6 p.m. opt-out deadline to pass.

Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo wouldn't confirm the Jermaine O'Neal for T.J. Ford deal to the Canadian Press, saying the team was in the middle of "four or five" potential deals.

All players must pass physicals, and a deal cannot be completed until Ford's BYC status is lifted.

The Globe and Mail reported that the Raptors and Pistons discussed a deal that would net Toronto shooting guard Rip Hamilton.

Eric Gordon admitted on Wednesday that he has had trouble sleeping lately and also didn't seem interested in playing for his hometown Pacers.

"It seems like the past couple of weeks that my sleep has been less and less," Gordon told RealGM on Wednesday. "I'm anxious to see what team I'm going to be taken by."

When asked what a 'combo-guard' like himself could bring to an NBA team, Gordon said "physical toughness and you know, scoring."

Gordon even revealed that new Indiana University coach Tom Crean told him to leave school early to join the professional ranks.

"Crean said I should go. He said I was ready for the next level from watching me play last year," he admitted.

Despite having played for the Hoosiers and North Central High School in Indianapolis, Gordon appears far from comfortable with falling to his hometown Pacers at No. 11.

"Well, I don't know," he said when asked about playing for the Pacers. "I just want to be picked as high as I possibly can. You just never know."