After his strong play since returning from a finger injury forward Ron Artest has been Chicago's most tradeable commodity.  But after getting his right pinky caught in the net while attempting to block Andrei Kirilenko's shot in the first half of the Jazz game the Bulls suddenly do not know where they stand.

"I'll probably have surgery on my [left pinky finger] when we get back [from this five-game trip]," Artest said. "[This season] is going to have to be sacrificed. It'd be OK because I would come back next season and play better. Then I don't have to worry about it anymore."

The bizarre aspect of Artest's comments are that they came after he participated in a full Bulls practice, leaving his coach and trainer confused.

"That's interesting," said Fred Tedeschi, the Bulls athletic trainer.

"I think he'll play [Saturday]," added coach Bill Cartwright.

The injury is nothing new for Artest, Tedeschi stating that the Bulls avoided having both of Artest's fingers operated on at the same time because that would have compounded rehabilitation.

"He ends up getting in the fray a lot because of the way he plays," Tedeschi said. "He's got a couple fingers that have dislocated repeatedly over the years. But we've got the All-Star break coming up. He's day-to-day."

When asked why he particpated in practice if he is planning season-ending surgery Artest responded "Practice is easy."