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.

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.

Bryan Colangelo acknowledged that Anthony Parker has a lucrative offer to play in Greece.

Parker's agent Henry Thomas played down the significance of the offer in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail, and Colangelo said that his preference would be to have Parker finish his career in Toronto.

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.

Phoenix has tried to trade up in today's NBA draft, using Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw as their main pawns, but as the hours count down to crunch time, the Suns may end up having to stay where they started, the East Valley Tribune is reporting.

The most likely destination for Diaw appeared to be Toronto, but that may be shelved now it looks as though the Raptors will acquire Jermaine O'Neal from Indiana.

Phoenix did not want to accept T.J. Ford in return from the Raptors because of the length and cost of his contract.

Meanwhile, Barbosa has been linked to Portland, who claim that the 13th pick has never been on offer in a deal involving the speedy guard.  A proposal of Channing Frye, Martell Webster and a second-round pick was shot down by Portland.

The Blazers acquired pick 27 from New Orleans on Thursday and are believed to be trying to trade up with New Jersey for the 10th overall selection, with D.J. Augustin their target.  Augustin, however, may not be available at this point.

Jermaine O'Neal is very close to becoming the newest member of the Raptors as Indiana and Toronto have agreed in principle to a blockbuster trade, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

The Pacers will reportedly send O'Neal to the Raptors in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick in Thursday night's draft.

The teams have been going back-and-forth with medical information on O'Neal's knee and Ford's neck all week.

Toronto will also send another role player to Indiana to match up with O?Neal?s salary.

Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird has downplayed rumors of a trade with the Raptors that involves both Jermaine O'Neal and T.J. Ford, according to The Indianapolis Star.

"We have talked to a number of teams, but to speculate on trades right now, obviously we?re getting close to the draft right now," Bird said Tuesday at his predraft press conference. "There are a lot of things we?re doing; it?s all speculation right now."

Various newspapers reported that the Pacers and the Raptors have discussed a possible deal to send Jermaine O?Neal to Toronto for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, and possibly the Raptors? first-round pick (No. 17).