After "Artest-traded-to-the-Kings" articles Grain of salt time... <font size="+1"></font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font size="+1">Warriors say to Elie with Artest</font> The Pacers didn't get the first player they wanted in the Artest deal. Golden State didn't want to part with Ike Diogu, even though he's a backup. Although that would indicate that the Warriors really didn't want Artest - how could they make Diogu a deal-breaker? - the Warriors were serious enough about Artest that they had already assigned assistant coach Mario Elie the job of babysitting Artest in the event that he would join the team. They figured that Elie, another New Yorker, could help keep Artest under control. But since they wanted to part only with Mike Dunleavy, the Warriors never made themselves serious players. With Diogu out of the picture, the Pacers focused on getting a scorer with shooting range to help them make the playoffs. Peja Stojakovic's scoring and shooting percentage have dipped in each of the last three seasons, but the Pacers felt that if he played with a real low-post presence in Jermaine O'Neal, it would jump-start Stojakovic's offense. And they looked at him as someone who could finally replace Reggie Miller. But a day after the deal, they learned that O'Neal tore his groin muscle, making a playoff berth fairly iffy, even in the East. In the meantime, Indy's president, Larry Bird, plans on working directly with Stojakovic on expanding his offensive game. Bird thinks that he can make Stojakovic a better post player and passer. </div> http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketba...7p-328047c.html
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ALL THINGS ARTEST When Indianapolis reporters were interviewing the departing Artest from his car, they wondered why someone was videotaping the interviews from inside the car, though strange behavior around Artest is hardly unusual. It seems Artest is now trying to sell the events of those last few days as a reality show. Whose reality, no one is sure. . . . Peja Stojakovic makes his debut for the Pacers this week, and they shouldn't expect much defense. The 6-9 forward has two blocks this season in more than 1,100 minutes played. . . . The Warriors' Troy Murphy, whose contract averages almost $10 million per year, said he didn't renew his private health club membership because he expected to be traded for Artest. . . . The Pacers believe one of the Los Angeles teams was trying to derail the trade to get the price down so it could make a deal. It's why Artest's agent supposedly told the Kings that Artest didn't want to go there. </div> http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ts/13744092.htm
