http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti.../512270426/1088 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">DALLAS -- Like everybody else in the organization, Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird stuck by Ron Artest through his trials and tribulations. But no more. Bird, who recently returned from a 10-day scouting trip in Europe, made his first public comments since Artest told The Star he wanted to be traded. Bird said Monday he "felt betrayed," and though Artest has since said he wants to return, Bird insisted that's not possible. "I think enough is enough," Bird said. "I think Ronnie will do fine but not here." Bird said he thought Artest had turned the corner emotionally after his seasonlong suspension last year and would be an MVP candidate. "But I don't know what goes on in Ronnie's world when he leaves (Conseco Fieldhouse)," he said. "Ronnie needed support after everything he's been through. Who better to give it to him than the people in this organization?" Bird recalled an offseason conversation with his three star players, a meeting that no longer matters. "They thought this was their year as a team," Bird said. "Stephen (Jackson), Ronnie and Jermaine (O'Neal) came up to me and asked if I would keep them together for one more year and see how it goes. I was behind it 100 percent."</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I don't know if this is the right wording, but I felt betrayed," Bird said. "We're disappointed. Things happen, maybe it's a good thing. He's a very talented player. I always liked working with him and how he went about things on the basketball court. He's a top-12 player in the league, but we're in a situation where we have to move on." Bird, who said he has yet to talk to Artest, said he took exception to Artest going public with his unhappiness.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bird and Walsh will continue to seek a trade this week. Bird said they prefer to trade Artest to a Western Conference team. The Denver Post reported the Nuggets are one of the teams interested in what could be a multi-team deal for Artest. Other Western Conference teams rumored to be interested include the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota and Golden State. "Any time you deal a player you would like him to go out of the conference," Bird said. "We're looking at the West, but if it's the East, that's how it's going to be. Whether we get a draft choice or a player, we're going to make sure it's the right deal. We've done enough to back Ronnie. We're in a position where we have to protect the franchise now." Bird knows losing Artest will hurt, but he said the team chemistry will be better without the constant distractions. "I'm not going to say we're better, that's not going to happen when you lose a player like Ronnie," he said. "As far as chemistry goes, we're a lot better. We're still deep. We have some emotional guys, but we'll be fine."</div>
As said, Artest betrayed Bird and I'm fully behind Bird. Bird gave Artest so many chance and was always on his side, and this is how he repays him. Artest made it worse for him, because I doubt anyone else will be behind Artest like Bird was.
That's messed up, if Bird is telling the truth. I think it's great that they would ask to stay together for a year. It's even more crazy that Artest would then ask to be traded with the year not even half over. Send him to Sea-town for Radman!
Artest should go get traded, i know that would suck for the team, maybe not even be contenders for the title anymore, but the pacers gave him chances...
