Pacers' O'Neal confirms trade to Raptors

"You're talking about a team that's extremely athletic, extremely big at the wing positions, and they play defense," O'Neal said. "With my defensive mentality and ability to change the game and Chris' ability to block shots and change the game - it's exciting."

The trade leaves the Pacers without their most-prominent player since Reggie Miller retired three years ago. It would, however, give them another first-round draft pick to go with their No. 11 selection as they look to rebuild after missing the playoffs two consecutive years.

Acquiring Ford also would give them a possible replacement at point guard for Jamaal Tinsley, who is unpopular with fans and has missed much time with injuries in recent seasons.

Ford has his own health problems, including being diagnosed in 2001 with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the openings of the vertebra the spinal cord runs through. He suffered a neck injury in February 2004 and was sidelined until the 2005-06 season.

Ford averaged a career-high 14 points and 7.9 assists in 2006-07 as the Raptors won the Atlantic Division. Last season, Ford missed 24 games after hitting his head on the court during a December game and ended up averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 assists.

Nesterovic, a 7-footer from Slovenia, averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds last season in his ninth NBA season.

The Pacers also woud lget Toronto's pick at No. 17, Roy Hibbert, as part of the deal. Hibbert, a 7-foot-2, 278-pound center from Georgetown, averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game as a senior

O'Neal averaged 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in 42 games last season, missing 33 games in midseason because of pain and swelling from an injured left knee. He tore meniscus cartilage in his left knee during the 2006-07 season and had surgery in April 2007, but it hadn't healed fully by last fall's training camp.

"When I sat out all those games last year, it was a career move," he said. "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."

O'Neal and the Pacers have struggled since 2003-04 when the team had the NBA's best record at 61-21 and he finished third in the MVP voting after averaging 20.1 points and 10 rebounds. He was suspended the following season for 15 games for his role in the brawl with Detroit Pistons fans. He has missed 122 games the past four seasons.

O'Neal said the moves could help the Pacers in the long run.

"I feel they will be a very good team down the road, or in the near future with coach (Jim) O'Brien's ability to coach," he said.