[NOODLESTYLE]

Artest Requests Trade

11th December, 2005 - 12:29 am

Indianapolis Star - Injured forward Ron Artest wants to return to the court, but not to the Indiana Pacers . In a 20-minute interview Saturday, Artest for the first time publicly said he wants to be traded. He calmly described the issues he has with his role on the team, his head coach and his past, and said the team would be better off without him. "I still think my past haunts me here," Artest said. "I think somewhere else I'm starting fresh. I'm coming in with baggage but people already know about it and how I'm going to be. Either they're going to be for me or they're not going to trade for me. Here I think my past haunts me. "I think they will be a better team without me." Coach Rick Carlisle called his forward "one of the elite talents in the league." "You never want to lose someone like that," Carlisle said Saturday. The Pacers lost Artest for 73 games after the Nov. 19 brawl last season. They stuck with him even though he said his suspension essentially ruined their season. Now the Pacers might be forced to trade him in order to salvage an already trying season. "I think I cause a lot of problems here," said Artest, who has missed the past two games with a wrist injury. "If the trade rumors, if there is any truth — maybe it won't be a bad thing. They probably could win more games without me." Team President Larry Bird was scouting in Europe and could not be reached for comment. Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh was surprised by Artest's request and said the franchise would decide the next step. "I've never heard him say anything before," said Walsh, who acquired Artest in a trade in 2002. "He hasn't talked to me, and I see him every day."

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I Hope Mitch Kupchak is the first one to call the Pacers about this.

[thekid]

1. He wants to be a premier wing player where he establishes himself on the offensive end. He won't maximize himself doing that here..
2. He states he wants to be in NY, and will leave the West Coast at the end of his contract. Who says he doesn't become disgruntled in the process?
3. We'd have to include Odom in the deal, who has been playing well and seems to be adapting to the triangle more and more as the season has progressed.
4. Odom's 11.5 mil and whoever else's salary in such a potential deal and Artest's 6.5 mil have such a significant difference that you'll also be taking extra salary from Indy, presumably a bad contract.

[Pnack]

i dont think he will come to the lakers, if he does leave indy. In fact i'd like to see him stay..

[Damian Necronamous]

Forget it. Odom isn't a headache, Artest is. Odom is finally starting to get the offense and we could be beginning to gel as a team. Obviously, the next few games after this loss to Minnesota will test that. However, after winning 4 straight games for the first time in 2 years, we aren't going to deal Lamar Odom now, and that would be what it would take for Artest.

[KoBe & BeN GoRdOn!]

theres always hope he will come!

[The One]

We are not getting artest without trading Odom, which I do not recomend trading him unless we are getting a great PF.

[Drk Element]

No, he's not coming to the Lakers.

[CubanLaker]

Well i wouldnt mind it. If we are trying to run the offense like they did in on the Jordan/Pippen Bulls team then he could fit that Pippen role. He can score twenty a game, and can be the defensive stopper we need. Artest can guard the 2 3 and 4 positions pretty well.

[Brian34Cook]

Umm guys.. He wants the ball to shoot more.. That aint happening here.. Sorry..

[NOODLESTYLE]

what if it only took Kwame Brown and Devean George?

[Teezy]

^ then i'd cream my pants

[Lakers Own]

Artest had said he wants to stay on the East Coast. I love Ron Artest, but then we'd have to lose Odom and he's a vital part of the offense now. Artest said that he doesn't like Rick Carlisle as a coach because of the set offense he runs and how Carlisle calls plays from the bench. I don't think Artest would enjoy the triangle. Plus we'd be ****ed because he doesn't know the triangle and we can't afford to wait a couple months for him to learn. He won't go to L.A.

[Pnack]

anythings possible, dont say he wont. That being said i dont think its very likely either, but i dont think you can rule it out completely

[Dynasty Raider]

Originally Posted by KobeBryant08

... i dont think its very likely either, but i dont think you can rule it out completely

Rule it out completely!!! What do you have to offer Artest? The Cavs have LeBron, NY has Coach Larry Brown.