RealGM Basketball

Indiana Pacers Wiretap

Did A Third Team Try To Sabotage Peja For Artest Deal?

Did a competing team try to sabotage the Pacers' Ron Artest deal with the Kings for Peja Stojakovic?

The Pacers can't prove it, but they have a sense - and sources maintain they may be onto something - that one of the teams that was trying hardest to pry Artest from Indiana tried to convince the Kings that Artest wouldn't be happy in Sacramento. But the Kings went ahead with the deal after talking to Artest on Wednesday.

"I felt it, but I didn't know it," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said.

Via Philadelphia Inquirer


Mullin Was Prepared To Deal, On Condition Of A Meeting With Artest

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.

The New York Post, meanwhile, reported that despite being unable to get anybody from St. John's or Indiana to recommend Artest sources say Golden State boss Chris Mullin was prepared to take the gamble. His only requirement was to meet with Artest one-on-one before meeting the Pacers' demand for Ike Diogu, Mike Dunleavy or Troy Murphy in a four-player package.

Via N.Y. Daily News


#93 For Artest With The Kings

The Sacramento Kings have confirmed that Ron Artest will wear 93 for the club.

He wore 15 in Chicago and wore 23, 91 and 15 in Indiana.

Via RealGM


Pacers Jan 2006 Archive

  • O'Neal Out At Least Eight Weeks

    Jermaine O'Neal is expected to miss at least eight weeks with a left groin tear, leaving the Indiana Pacers without their leading scorer and rebounder.

  • Artest Signed, Sealed And Delivered To Sacramento

    After 24 hours of confusion the Indiana Pacers have finally relieved themselves of Ron Artest, landing sharp shooter Peja Stojakovic

  • Kings Sign Off On Trade

    The Kings and Pacers have both signed off on a deal that will send Ron Artest to Sacramento and Peja Stojakovic to Indiana. The trade is now only pending league approval.

  • Artest Willing To Go To Sacramento

    Reports are indicating that Ron Artest has agreed to the trade that will send him to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic. He has reportedly spoken to the Maloof's and they are now reconsidering it.

  • Pacers Misfortune Continues With O'Neal Injury

    "We sure have had enough bad luck for a year," said Jermaine O'Neal, who may have torn a groin muscle in the fourth quarter. "I'm really, really concerned. I heard it pop. Hopefully, I won't need surgery."

  • Artest Summoned To Meet With Pacers Brass

    Ron Artest has been summoned to a Wednesday morning meeting with the Pacers, who want to hear from the player himself on whether he is standing in the way of a trade to the Kings for Peja Stojakovic.

  • Artest Could Still Approve Deal To Sacramento

    Reports are now coming out that Ron Artest could still approve a deal that would send him to the Sacramento Kings

  • Warriors Offering Dunleavy In Package For Artest

    The Warriors were believed to have gotten involved as recently as today, offering a package of Mike Dunleavy Jr., Calbert Cheaney and another player for Ron Artest.

  • Artest Rejects Deal To Sacramento

    Ron Artest's saga in Indiana continues on. The Pacers tried to trade Artest to the Kings for Peja Stojakovic, but ESPN's Jim Gray reports the deal is off because Artest turned it down.

  • Report: Artest For Peja Done

    The Indiana Pacers have agreed to trade Ron Artest to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Peja Stojakovic pending league approval.

  • Bird Says No Deal Today, But Closer Than Ever

    The Indiana Pacers are closer to dealing Ron Artest and getting a player to help their struggling team.

  • Artest For Peja Almost Done

    According to three sources, it's strictly Sacramento's call; the Pacers are agreeable and ready to deal, and are waiting for the Kings to make up their mind.

  • Sixers Active In Trade Talks?

    Heart and commitment on defense supersede the Sixers' talent issues.

  • Walsh Prepared To Wait Even Longer On Trade, Doesn't Expect To Have To

    "I do think we're getting closer," said Donnie Walsh. "I do think we'll have something in the next week or so." The Warriors, Nuggets, Wolves, Clippers and Lakers remain interested.

  • Pacers Still Like Ike

    The Pacers could continue to hold out for the Warriors' Ike Diogu, the one young player who really has caught their fancy but who is not being made available by Golden State's Chris Mullin.

  • O'Neal Leaves Game With Sprained Ankle

    Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal left Saturday night's game against the Chicago Bulls with a sprained left ankle

  • Bender Faces Quandary

    Jonathan Bender has two choices, neither of which is appealing.

  • Maggette For Artest A Dead Deal

    NBA front-office sources disclosed on Thursday that the Pacers have abandoned their interest in Corey Maggette because of concerns with his troublesome left foot.

  • Harrington Predicts Artest Going To Clippers

    Al Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday that he heard from people in Indiana the Pacers were close to a deal that would send Artest to the Los Angeles Clippers for forward Corey Maggette.

  • Diogu Still Untouchable, Murphy A Maybe

    The Warriors have re-iterated to the Pacers more than once -- rookie power forward Ike Diogu is an untouchable. Troy Murphy remains a possibility however.

  • Kobe Scores At Least 45 Again

    Kobe Bryant scored 45 points on Monday, making him the first player to score at least that many in four consecutive games since November 1964.

  • Golden State Remains Reluctant To Part With Diogu

    Golden State wants Ron Artest, even if he looks like a questionable fit with coach Mike Montgomery in only his second NBA season and the Warriors lacking strong personalities in the locker room to keep Artest in place.

  • Baron Won't Lobby For Artest, But Would Welcome A Deal For His Friend

    Baron Davis won't openly lobby for the Warriors to sweeten their Ron Artest offers to Indiana.

  • Agent Says Murphy Is Staying With Warriors

    The main speculation involves a package featuring Troy Murphy for Artest, but Dan Fegan, the agent for Murphy, said Thursday that Mullin assured him Murphy would not be included in any trade for Artest, which sounds right to me since Murphy's long-term deal is a major complication.

  • Warriors Tight Lipped On Artest Rumors

    Coach Mike Montgomery was evasive Thursday about Golden State's possible interest in acquiring Ron Artest from Indiana.

  • Pacers Cut Samaki Walker

    The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have waived center Samaki Walker.

  • Artest To Nuggets Dead; Watson Linked To Sonics, Cavs?

    A trade involving Earl Watson and Nene with a third team for Indiana small forward Ron Artest appears dead, though the Nuggets continue to talk with the Pacers.

  • Warriors Becoming Leaders For Artest, Murphy Might Be Involved

    The Warriors play the Pacers on Thursday and many believe they have become the frontrunners for Ron Artest. Power forward Troy Murphy reportedly now has a good chance of being involved.

  • Harrison To Be Key In O'Neal's Absence

    Indiana Pacers center David Harrison had just finished his pregame workout Monday when coach Rick Carlisle came around the corner and called him into his office.

  • McCants Is Liked In Indiana

    Word in Indianapolis is that Pacers executives Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird would prefer to trade enigmatic forward Ron Artest soon but will be remain cautious and could keep the 6-foot-7, 252-pounder on the inactive list all season if they can't get the right deal.

  • Indiana May Want Cap Relief

    Indiana may make a decision based on the luxury tax and salary cap relief in the impending trade of Ron Artest.

  • Clips Pursue Sprewell

    Pete Vescey says he has a source who tells him that the Clippers are tapping Sam Cassell to try to lure Latrell Sprewell to L.

  • Hits Keep Coming For Pacers, O'Neal Has Pneumonia

    A team spokesman confirmed that Jermaine O'Neal has pneumonia but has not been placed on the inactive list. It is unclear when he can be expected to return.

  • Pacers Losing Focus Amid Artest Trade Talk

    They've talked about their recent discouraging play.

  • Tinsley Will Miss At Least The Next Three Games

    Starting point guard Jamaal Tinsley will miss at least the next three games with a partially torn right biceps muscle.