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In the weeks leading up to tomorrow’s NBA draft the Indiana Pacers were one of the most likely destinations for Texas point guard DJ Augustin. Now that’s not going happen thanks to another former Horn point guard. On the eve of the draft the Pacers have completed a deal to send Jermaine O’Neal to the Toronto Raptors for TJ Ford.

ESPN is reporting that the Pacers and the Raptors have agreed to a deal that would send O’Neal to Toronto in exchange for Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the 17th pick in the draft. Due to Ford’s contract the deal cannot be officially completed until July 9th. Players will also have to pass physicals, not necessarily a given considering TJ’s history of neck problems.

A possible O’Neal/Ford swap has been in the news since Monday. Toronto had two excellent point guards and TJ has been rumored to be on the trading block for the last several weeks. The Pacers have been pursuing a point guard and wanted to get rid of O’Neal so the needs of the two teams match up well.

After being in Milwaukee and Toronto, Indiana still isn’t a marquee market but he’ll have a chance to get a fresh start in a place where he’ll be the sure #1 guy. Good luck to TJ with his new team.

The New York Post is reporting that TJ Ford is being shopped by Raptors. Toronto has one point guard too many.

TJ Ford scores 21 points in 23 minutes in Raptors playoff win over Magic. Great game after two rough ones for TJ.

T.J. Ford is back in action, says Jose Calderon should be starting. Heck of a PG duo if TJ can stay healthy. (via)

For the third time since he left Texas, TJ Ford had to be carried off a basketball court on a stretcher last night late in the Raptors win against the Hawks. Ford had played very well throughout game (26 points & 8 assists) when he stole the ball and was off on a breakaway late in the 4th quarter. Hawks’ forward Al Horford tried to stop TJ’s drive to the basket and reached out and nailed him across the face. TJ’s head snapped back from the force of the hit and then again when his body hit the hardwood. Horford was called for a flagrant foul and ejected for the play.

ESPN video of the game and the play are below:

It’s scary to watch TJ laying on the ground screaming in pain, especially because of his history. He looks like he is scared and in an incredible amount of pain. The good news is that he had feeling in his arms and legs when he was taken off the floor. He was expected to be kept in the hospital at least overnight, but there have been no updates yet this morning on how he’s doing. We’ll post any news as we hear it.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to TJ for a speedy recovery.

Update: Ford was released from the hospital this morning. All X-rays and an MRI were negative. He was able to fly back to Toronto and was given a standing ovation when he entered the arena and joined his teammates on the bench. No word yet on when TJ might be back in action. (10:38pm)

Former Longhorn TJ Ford went down with a neck/back injury in tonight’s Raptors’ playoff game:

Toronto Raptors point guard T.J. Ford was admitted to a Toronto hospital Tuesday after leaving an Eastern Conference playoff game against the New Jersey Nets with what team officials said was a “stinger.”

Ford left Game 5 of the quarter-final series with 29.7 seconds left in the first quarter after former Raptor Vince Carter fell on top of him in a scramble for the ball. He lay face down on the floor for a couple of minutes before being helped to his feet.

Raptors officials said he was taken to hospital to undergo precautionary tests.

Ford was born with spinal stenosis (narrowing of spaces in the spine that results in pressure on the spinal cord and on nerve roots) and missed all of the 2004-05 due to a back injury. Hopefully this really was just precautionary and T.J. makes a quick recovery.

Source

Update: TJ was in good enough condition that he was able to return to the team bench before the end of the game. No status update for Friday’s game yet.

Former Longhorn T.J. Ford was traded late last night from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Toronto Raptors for forward Charlie Villanueva. The Raptors were looking for a pass-first point guard who can drive and dish to players like Chris Bosh and first overall pick Andrea Bargnani. Ford and new teammate P.J. Tucker just missed each other on the 40 Acres, but they’ll have a chance now to together help the Raptors run and gun like a Canadian version of the Phoenix Suns.

The income taxes suck, but it should be a good opportunity for T.J.

Sprained left foot could sideline him for up to 3 weeks.

16 points, 14 assists, and one rebound short of a triple double.

Former Horn TJ Ford has been cleared to take part in full-contact basketball.