ESPN reporting peja trade ESPN Sports Radio is reporting Peja Stojakovic has been traded to the Pacers for Ron Artest and rookie James Jones. I got this from KingsFans.com so take it for what it worth (since I don't have ESPN SR).
nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 this is crap!! i bought Peja's jersey for nothin!!.. peja worth way more than artest, the kings are a better team than pacers...they dont even have a solid centre or a PG... kings have bibby & b-miller.....dumb mooove
If the trade is true, then I think both teams benefit from this. Although this would change the Kings style of play, they got some D and wont be giving up 100 PPG. Artest screwed things up after the playoffs, and if they could get Peja for him, then Bird pulled off a good deal. I Hope Bender gets more PT.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Peja King:</div><div class="quote_post">nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 this is crap!! i bought Peja's jersey for nothin!!.. peja worth way more than artest, the kings are a better team than pacers...they dont even have a solid centre or a PG... kings have bibby & b-miller.....dumb mooove</div> How is that a dumb move on the Kings part? They've acquired one of the best defensive players in the game, who is also underrated on the offensive end. He has an all around game, and can create his own shot - unlike Peja. The energy he brings every night is far more than Peja's, and if anything - the Kings got the better end of this deal.
If this is true than it's a hoorible trade for the pacers. Reggie Miller and Peja starting on the same team,They are going to get killed defensively. Teams are going to stomp on them. While on the other hand sacto now has two defensive studs starting at the 2 and 3. but something tells me that espn radio reported the rumor and the person on kingsfan.com misunderstood it to be official, or espn reported it wrong. Good trade for the kings if it's true though
I know Larry Bird likes Peja as a player. I remember last year he was saying he Peja (with his shooting) reminds him of himself, and that he should work on his post game to become a real complete offensive player. If Peja commits himself to doing this in Indiana, watch out.
Reggie is going to be a bench player I think...Stephen Jackson would be starting IMO...Indy gets the better of the deal IMO...Artest is an average offensive player but Indy needed a consistent shooter and got one in Peja...if I am an Indy fan I hope it is true.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kobe 8 Ball:</div><div class="quote_post">Reggie is going to be a bench player I think...Stephen Jackson would be starting IMO...Indy gets the better of the deal IMO...Artest is an average offensive player but Indy needed a consistent shooter and got one in Peja...if I am an Indy fan I hope it is true.</div> Oh yeah I forgot about Jackson, that changes my opinion on the deal for pacers then. Stephen Jackson is a good defender and will compliment peja better than he would have with artest. Good trade for both teams than. It gives a better chance for the pacers to compete with the pistons.
I'm not sure about Reggie coming off the bench. They might want him to start, and let Jackson come off the bench, but he'll play more minutes, like what the Kings did last year with Brad Miller and Vlade Divac. They figured it would be harder for Divac to adapt and perform by coming off the bench, so they put Brad Miller there, knowing that he'll get more minutes than Vlade.
Sjax is my boy but him having to guard guys like Wade, Rip, Lebron e.t.c in the playoffs? not good Peja is a good scorer but bad on the defensive end, Artest is a great defender but can also score. Not a very smart trade by Indiana. Peja needs other guys to create for him, how will that happen in Carlisle's slowed down system? basketball is playing both ends. Artest does that, Peja does not. Kings will now have 2 of the best man to man defenders in the NBA at the 2 and the 3 spot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Sjax is my boy but him having to guard guys like Wade, Rip, Lebron e.t.c in the playoffs? not good Peja is a good scorer but bad on the defensive end, Artest is a great defender but can also score. Not a very smart trade by Indiana. Peja needs other guys to create for him, how will that happen in Carlisle's slowed down system? basketball is playing both ends. Artest does that, Peja does not. Kings will now have 2 of the best man to man defenders in the NBA at the 2 and the 3 spot.</div> Don't forget Carter...the Raps will be in the playoffs and Carter will be with them. The bright spot of this deal other than Peja, is that Bender will get PT, if he's healthy..
I'm sad to see Peja leave,but Artrest will definetly bring much to the Table here in Sacromento.Peja will definetly make the Pacers a great team. It's too bad that Peja had to leave on these terms,but i wish him luck in his future Endeavers with Indiana.
http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/bird_stojakovic_040809.html, i'm not sure if that rumor is true, since that article in pacers.com is from today (monday, august 09)
What was Larry Bird thinking? Just because Peja is a player that has a similar game as him, it doesn't mean you trade your reigning defensive champion away and a bright prospect for a player that can't even keep up his game on his own. Nevertheless, both teams are still in contention for the championship, but the Kings drastically improved and I think they have a higher chance of winning it than the Pacers. If Webber has a healthy breakout year, then there's no doubt they can win the championship. The Pacers' chances have declined, but they are still in contention considering their success last year. The Kings got the better part of this trade.
great move by Indy...the O'neal/Stojakovic combo should be killer...I guess this now makes Christie more expendable for the Kings because him and Artest are practically the same, tho Artest is more consistent offensively...
