Category: NBA (Page 588 of 595)

It’s been a month now and Ron Artest is still technically a Pacer. Indiana isn’t playing well (5-5 over their last 10) and part of that could be due to the constant distraction of Artest’s situation. Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh is taking his sweet time, no doubt trying to maximize the return he gets for the tumultuous star. But his methodical manner is taking its toll on the league, with countless players being asked countless questions about countless trade rumors. Sure, this is mostly the media’s fault, but who can blame them? A top 10 player in the league is about to be traded – of course every reporter worth his salt wants the scoop.

Let’s go, Donnie! Trade him already!

Larry Bird finally commented on the Ron Artest situation, saying the following to the Indianapolis Star:

“I don’t know if this is the right wording, but I felt betrayed. 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. I think enough is enough. … I think Ronnie will do fine but not here.”

The Pacers have said that ten teams are still in the running as destinations for Artest, but the two teams being mentioned consistenly are the Denver Nuggets (for Earl Watson and Nene) and the Minnesota Timberwolves (for Wally Szczerbiak and Michael Olowokandi). The Denver deal would be better for the Pacers, as they would be getting more in return for Artest. Bird is right, Artest is a Top-12 player on the court, but off the court, he’s a headache, a la Terrell Owens. The Pacers will not get equal value for Artest basketball-wise, but they should come close to getting total value for him, given all the drama that seems to constantly surround the superstar.

Kobe Bryant scored a career high 62 points in the Lakers’ 112-90 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He did most of his damage in the third quarter, scoring 30 points in the period before sitting the entire fourth quarter. He shot 18-31 from the field, including 4-10 from long range. He also shot 25 free throws, connecting on 22 of them.

No other Lakers scored in double figures.

Ron Artest is back in the news, saying that he’d like to repair the damaged relationship he has with the Pacers and return to the team:

Some of Artest’s teammates, most notably O’Neal, have been critical. Artest said he doesn’t blame them. “Under the circumstances, I’d be pretty mad at me, too,” he said. “I’m mad at myself anyway. Going about things like I did, it’s not easy to recover. But I’d love to play for the Pacers’ organization right now.”

“I know guys like Sarunas (Jasikevicius) said they’re a better team without me, but I still have guys like Stephen Jackson, who wants me to come back and play,” Artest said. “I don’t know who else. But I would love to come back and play, and any problems I have, prove I can put those problems aside.”

Even when he’s trying to be conciliatory, Artest is divisive, naming Sarunas Jasikevicius as a guy who doesn’t want him back and Stephen Jackson as a guy who does.

It doesn’t look like the Pacers are thrilled about Artest’s turnaround. When asked about Artest returning to the team, Jermaine O’Neal said that the “business relationship is over.”