If Ron Artest does indeed want to be traded, he hasn't told the right people.
After reports of his unhappiness surfaced on TNT last week, Artest confirmed to the Indianapolis Star in today's editions his desire to play elsewhere. But he has yet to discuss his situation with Pacers CEO and President Donnie Walsh.
"Ronnie has never said anything like this to me," Walsh said before the Pacers beat Memphis 80-66 in Conseco Fieldhouse. "All the other questions are franchise questions and they'll be answered by the franchise."
Walsh said he planned no meeting with Artest, though he said his door was open if the apparently unhappy player wants to express his feelings. Team President Larry Bird is in Europe on a scouting trip.
"I think it would be in his interest to meet with me if that's what he wants to see happen," Walsh said. "To make a public announcement is not the way to go about it. We've been very respectful of Ronnie, very supportive and if he felt this way I would've felt better if he had come to me personally and sat down and talked to me."