O'Neal Upset with Artest

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Point guard Anthony Johnson blurted out what many have thought about the Indiana Pacers as he walked out of the locker room Saturday night following the team's victory over Memphis.

"There's always drama in Pacerland," he said.

The drama got more suspenseful earlier Saturday, when forward Ron Artest said he wants to play elsewhere and that the Pacers would be better without him.

Unless the Pacers grant Artest's wish -- and he didn't help his cause by not talking to CEO Donnie Walsh or president Larry Bird first -- they will have to deal with a player who has disrespected his coach and will likely have to regain the trust of his teammates.

"If Ron feels that way, then that's the way he feels," forward Jermaine O'Neal said after Saturday's game. "We're going to go to war with any guy that wants to wear a Pacers' uniform. Bottom line, if you want to wear it, we're with you. If you don't, see you later.
"To me, to say that, he wants the public to know. I find that a little disheartening to go to the media with information."

Artest's comments came just days after O'Neal said management should think about making changes if the team doesn't improve. The Pacers have won two straight games with Artest on the bench nursing a right wrist injury.

"I expect the unexpected with him," Johnson said about Artest. "If he feels like that, it's unfortunate, because he's a great player. At the same time, the front office has to do what's best for this team."

The Pacers have lost games they shouldn't have. They've had disagreements publicly and privately. But the latest distraction could linger awhile.

The Pacers lose one of the best all-around players in the league if they trade Artest. But keep him and they risk more headaches from a player who has provided a few since they acquired him in 2002.

"I fully think management should do their best at the highest level to move a player that doesn't want to be here," O'Neal said. "If he doesn't want to be here, he's not going to give his full effort. It's already tough enough to go through an 82-game season with so many different problems. The one problem you can't have is anybody that says they don't want to be here.

"We have so many different things going on. We're trying to get guys healthy. Jamaal (Tinsley) has the groin injury. You have guys like Jeff (Foster) trying to get his rhythm back. Guys are here fighting. Ultimately everybody is giving their best to help this team win."</div>

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A lot of drama in the Pacers locker room. It's been reported David Harrison is also frustrated, and recently punched a picture of himself in the locker room. Fred Jones is upset about playing time, Jamaal Tinsley has been bipolar from day to day.

I think we've all seen the last of Ron Artest in a Pacer uniform and once Bird returns from Europe, I expect a blockbuster trade to go down involving several Pacer players, headlined by Ron Artest.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Indiana Pacers will grant Ron Artest's wish and look to trade the NBA All-Star forward, CEO Donnie Walsh said Monday.

"I think Ronnie came out with something that made a lot of sense to me, and that is he's always living down his past in this franchise," Walsh said. "I do think it's time to break apart and get a new start somewhere else."
Artest told The Star on Saturday that his past haunts him here, he dislikes playing for coach Rick Carlisle and he can't reach his potential with the team.
Walsh said he considered retaining Artest after learning about his request on Saturday, but once Artest repeated his desire to play elsewhere over the weekend, Walsh "changed my thoughts on that."
The Pacers put Artest on the inactive list for at least the next three games and took an extra step: He can't practice or travel with the team.
"We're in second place in our conference, yet all the headlines are about, 'Ron Artest wants to be traded,' " Walsh said. "I don't think the team needs that type of distraction."</div>

Pacers agree: Artest must go