Questioning the judgment and competence of basketball referees is as old as the game itself.

Now, however, in the wake of allegations linking NBA referee Tim Donaghy to gamblers, their credibility will be suspect as well.

Regardless of how the Donaghy case is resolved, the perception of possible corruption likely will linger.

Several of Donaghy's calls over the past two years, when he allegedly cooperated with gamblers, could arouse suspicion -- including one in a game between the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 12, 2006.

In Tuesday's edition of the Greek "Fos" newspaper (the newspaper of the Olympiakos basketball club) it was released that Olympiakos is now set to pursue Keith McLeod for their vacant point guard position.

They have been negotiating with Jannero Pargo as well, but McLeod now is receiving attention from them as Pargo continues to deal with NBA clubs.

McLeod also continues discussions with several NBA teams.

About a month ago, forward Jermaine O'Neal was the subject of extensive trade rumors Since then, the rumors have died down.

Larry Bird did not say O'Neal would definitely return to the team next season. But he reiterated what he said last month -- Bird hopes the six-time All-Star will be wearing a Pacers uniform next season.

"I've said it all along -- I hope so. I look forward to having him back in the mix. When he gets double-teamed, we're going to have players out there that can hit the shot now," Bird said.

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have signed free agent Travis Diener. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not revealed.

Diener, a 6-1, 175-pound guard, spent the past two seasons with the Orlando Magic.  In two years with the Magic, Diener averaged 3.8 points and 1.0 assists in 10.9 minutes per game; and shot 63-149 (.423) from the field and 43-107 (.402) from the 3-pt line.  He was drafted by the Magic in the second round (38th overall pick) of the 2005 NBA Draft.

The Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers and Hornets remain interested in signing Jannero Pargo, who averaged 9.2 points last season while playing in all 82 games with the Hornets.

If the Hornets don't re-sign Pargo, they could pursue Houston backup guard John Lucas in a trade. Lucas has one year remaining on his contract with the Rockets.

Darrell Armstrong, 39, remains on the Pacers' roster, but his contract is not fully guaranteed for this season. And he said last week that while he still expects to play for the Pacers, he won't report to training camp without a guaranteed contract.

"I'll be somewhere this season. I'm not old. I've got young legs still," Armstrong said last week from his home in Atlanta. "I just don't know what they [Pacers] want to do. Right now, we sit back and wait."

Armstrong thinks the Pacers still are contemplating a trade of star center Jermaine O'Neal, which would touch off a complete rebuilding of the roster.

Darrell Armstrong, 39, remains on the Pacers' roster, but his contract is not fully guaranteed for this season. And he said last week that while he still expects to play for the Pacers, he won't report to training camp without a guaranteed contract.

"I'll be somewhere this season. I'm not old. I've got young legs still," Armstrong said last week from his home in Atlanta. "I just don't know what they [Pacers] want to do. Right now, we sit back and wait."

Armstrong thinks the Pacers still are contemplating a trade of star center Jermaine O'Neal, which would touch off a complete rebuilding of the roster. He also is looking around the league, still thinking someone could use a veteran backup who still can change a game with his high-energy style.

The wait is over for Maceo Baston and the Toronto Raptors.

The 31-year-old restricted free agent can now report to Toronto for a physical and to sign the deal he agreed to last week. The Indiana Pacers declined Thursday to match the offer, reportedly for roughly US$3.8 million over two years.

"We're happy to get another piece falling into place," Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo told The Canadian Press. "We feel he should be another key ingredient in the mix we already have."

The Pacers have agreed to a three-year deal with a player option on the third year with Travis Diener, Diener's agent, Doug Neustadt, said today.

Neustadt said the deal will be finalized early next week.
Diener, who played at Marquette, averaged 3.8 points and 1.3 assists in 26 games with the Orlando Magic last season.

The Pacers feel their most glaring need is at point guard, but the search continues.

The market has dwindled in the past week. Among the free agents still available are Brevin Knight, Steve Francis, Earl Boykins, Jannero Pargo and Keith McLeod. The Pacers have had conversations with the agents for Pargo and McLeod. Starter Jamaal Tinsley is the only true point guard on the roster.

"I'm not going to put words into (president Larry Bird's) mouth, but he's constantly trying to put the best basketball team on the court," O'Brien said. "If that involves signing a free agent, we'll do it. If it involves a trade, we will do that. But his job and my job are to make sure we try to improve the Indiana Pacers and the personnel we have."