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.

If Chris Mullin is to be believed, and he has demonstrated no false notes so far, Mike Montgomery isn't going to be fired or shoved off into a humiliating, golden-parachute resignation any time soon.

Rock-solid and no blinking on Mullin's part. Mullin practically offered to put his hand on a Bible and summon a Supreme Court Justice.

``I feel fine with Mike, I really do,'' Mullin said in a wide-ranging, no-dodging 40-minute interview at the Warriors' offices Friday.

``For a lot of different reasons, I think he's going to be fine. I think he's doing a really good job. I'm happy with him.''

Even if the Warriors continue to stumble toward the basement, Mullin said. Even if Baron Davis and Montgomery never get on the same wavelength. Even if, heaven forbid, the Warriors' playoff-free streak extends to 12 seasons in April.

Mullin repeated that he has long-term goals, that Montgomery is in the middle of it, and that there is no reason to start panicking now.

He conceded that his roster has holes and said he'd like to make a major trade for a big man. He suggested the time is coming for his young core to earn the money he invested in them.

He agreed that he'd like to see Ike Diogu, Mickael Pietrus and Andris Biedrins become bigger parts of the Warriors' game plan.

Mullin confirmed that he had conversations with Indiana about Ron Artest before Artest ended up in Sacramento and said he wasn't bothered much by Artest's past. But Mullin confirmed he's really shopping for an effective big man.

Hmm . . . Chris, don't these good big guys -- whether it's Kevin Garnett, Kenyon Martin or Tyson Chandler -- tend to be very pricey on the trade block?

``I'm not cheap,'' Mullin said with a smile.

Mullin said he's waiting for his players to get on track after the clanked free throws, missed rebounds and defeats of the past few weeks. He's waiting, but not forever.

``There have to be some things rectified, no question,'' Mullin said. ``There's a lot of ways to do that; you can come up with so many things, physical facts -- free throws, rebounds . . .

``And then ultimately, it's me making changes with players. That's not a rumor; that's not a threat. That's legit. That's a fact.''

Mike Dunleavy sprained his ankle in Friday night's loss against the Los Angeles Lakers and will not suit on Saturday against the Blazers.

Jason Richardson missed Friday's game due to back spasms and again will not be available.

Derek Fisher and Mickael Pietrus will start in their place.

Warriors guard Jason Richardson is listed as questionable for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center because of a back injury.

After Thursday's practice, in which he did not participate, he said his back was sore. Richardson said he felt a pop after he got up off the court following a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night's game against Dallas. He said the pain -- in the lower-right part of his back -- was tolerable until he took his free throws.

He missed the second attempt, and guard Derek Fisher had to commit a foul to get Richardson out of the game. Richardson wasn't available for postgame interviews Wednesday, receiving treatment instead.

An MRI on Thursday didn't reveal any tears. He underwent further tests, including an X-ray, after practice. Warriors coach Mike Montgomery said that as long as there is no chance for further injury, whether Richardson plays will be up to Richardson.

"If I'm 50 percent, I'm playing," said Richardson, who may have initially hurt his back Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers in a collision with Clippers forward Elton Brand. "I don't sit out games unless I can't move."

Dallas Mavericks guard Devin Harris sprained his right shoulder in a collision with Golden State's Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday night.

Harris, a reserve who led the Mavericks with 11 points in the first half, was hurt when he didn't see a pick set by Dunleavy with 2.1 seconds left before halftime. He fell hard to the court and remained there for several seconds before walking gingerly to the locker room.

Ron Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, told the Kings his client "had no desire" to play for Sacramento, that he would report but "not be happy."

There were other deals on the table but the Los Angeles Lakers refused to trade Lamar Odom for Artest and Austin Croshere, and the Pacers turned down a deal with the Clippers for Corey Maggette because Maggette's foot injury may be more severe than expected and backed out.

Also the Golden State Warriors were believed to have gotten involved as recently as today, offering a package of Mike Dunleavy Jr., Calbert Cheaney and another player for Artest. But Dunleavy, who signed a five-year, $45 million extension before the season, and has a contract that would complicate the deal.

For the past three months, Ike Diogu has focused primarily on being a center -- a stretch highlighted by eight games as the Warriors' starter at the position. But now the Warriors need Diogu back to his natural position: power forward.

``It's going to take some time,'' Coach Mike Montgomery said Friday. ``We tried to avoid having him play two positions because we didn't want to have him really getting confused. But ultimately that's a position he needs to play more of.''
Montgomery said Adonal Foyle will be the starting center for the foreseeable future. Because of defensive concerns, Montgomery will likely go to Andris Biedrins to back up Foyle instead of Diogu. That means Diogu's minutes will come when Troy Murphy hits the bench.

Montgomery said he wants to go with a small lineup more often, especially with swingman Mickael Pietrus back from a knee injury. But the coach likes the small lineup to be anchored by a center for defensive purposes. Diogu doesn't provide that kind of presence.

``We feel like we need a big at the five,'' Montgomery said. ``A guy that can come over, like Adonal and maybe Andris, and at least provide some length and size inside defensively.''

Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis has been suspended  one game without pay for swinging at and hitting Seattle SuperSonics guard Luke Ridnour in the chest, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Senior Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 11.7 seconds remaining in the second period of the Warriors  109-93 win over the SuperSonics on Monday at The Arena in Oakland. Davis will serve his suspension Friday when the Warriors host the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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.

The frontrunners for actually landing Ron Artest, according to NBA front-office sources, continue to be Golden State and the back-in-it L.A. Clippers.

Indy's Larry Bird has made it clear he prefers a one-to-one trade and the Warriors and Clips are the teams best stocked to complete such a deal . . . unless Memphis, as mentioned many times before, unexpectedly consents to part with Shane Battier.

However . . .

The Warriors have re-iterated to the Pacers more than once -- rookie power forward Ike Diogu is an untouchable. Troy Murphy remains a possibility, but both Golden State and Indy would have some reluctance to build a deal around the power forward because the Warriors still like him and because Murphy's five remaining years at $51 million is worrisome for the tax-fearing Pacers.

Sources close to the situation, furthermore, suggest that Mullin -- a proven gambler (see Baron Davis) and known Artest fan (who shares St. John's as an alma mater) -- is equally intrigued by the idea of keeping his young core together now that Pietrus is finally healthy enough to rejoin this teetering club.

That must be why multiple suitors who've chased Artest from the start are suddenly calling L.A. "the team." Yet that would almost certainly require the inclusion of Corey Maggette, which the Clippers have steadfastly resisted.

Have they reconsidered?

There is a growing belief around the league that they have, with the Clips' 14-5 start a memory and Mike Dunleavy Sr. perfectly willing to coach the game's foremost problem child. Remember what Dunleavy said in our recent package on the Clippers, before Artest's trade demand was issued: "Give me talent, I'll figure out how to make 'em happy."

Of course, if Maggette were on the table, you'd think we'd be busy breaking down a trade instead of waiting breathlessly for something to dissect. Maggette's left foot, instead, is in a cast with a ligament problem that could keep him sidelined another month. An uncertain recovery timetable, with an injury originally believed to be minor, would figure to give the Pacers some pause even if Donald Sterling is ready to part with one of the only three Clippers he has ever guaranteed long-term millions.

Minnesota, Denver and the L.A. Lakers haven't lost interest in Artest but still share the same shortcoming. None of those clubs appears to have the pieces to tempt the Pacers without pulling in a third or fourth team, which Bird, as stated, hopes to avoid.

None of those teams have pulled out of the derby. Yet the Nuggets, for example, have begun to explore their non-Artest trade possibilities, much as they'd love to get a call back from the Pacers and encouragement to refresh their bid.