Jermaine O'Neal Will Return Next Year

We will have an O'Neal in the paint next year.

Jermaine O'Neal plans to return next season

"I have a lot I can still give to this team," O'Neal told CSNNE.com in a phone interview. And he'll get that opportunity next season, with O'Neal informing the C's that he does in fact plan to return for the final year of the two-year, $12 million contract he signed last summer.

Sounds like good news to me.  I really think that he can help this team a lot next year.  We should, however, make sure we have a few backup options for the inevitable injuries that he'll have.

And if he does go down for the count, he's still an expiring contract that could be used in a trade at the deadline.  Still, I'd rather have him healthy and helping win basketball games.

Gotta tip my hat to him, he really wanted to help this year and despite various injuries (he's putting off surgery on his broken wrist until after next season) he'll give it another shot next year.