Sarunas Jasikevicius and Danny Granger will go from rookie role players to key contributors now that the Indiana Pacers are trying to trade Ron Artest. Artest said over the weekend that he wants to be traded. Now, Jasikevicius and Granger stand to gain much of his playing time.
Jasikevicius already has stepped into the gap as several Pacers have missed time with injuries. The 29-year-old guard from Lithuania has averaged 9.4 points and 2.9 assists this season, mostly as a reserve. He has started the past five games and averaged 11.4 points, 5.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
After winning three consecutive Euroleague championships, Jasikevicius joined the Pacers as a free agent because he felt they had the best chance to win a title. That is still possible without Artest, he said.
"We can give up talent for team chemistry; that's way more important than talent," Jasikevicius said. "We're going to find a way. If we can continue to play as a team, to hustle for 48 minutes and do all the little things, I think we have the talent to go very far."
Jasikevicius said he is happy with the team's 12-7 start.
"I cannot ask for a better first month and a half, really," he said. "If someone were to tell me when you come in it's going to be like this, I'd take it in a heartbeat."