The Indiana Pacers now have three less contracts to worry about.  pacers.com, the official website of the organization, is reporting that the team has signed fourth year player Ron Artest and Jonathan Bender to contract extensions.

According to Chad Ford of ESPN.com Artest was signed for an additional 6 years and $42 million, an amount which is sure to push the Indiana Pacers over the luxury tax threshold in future seasons.  There was no report on the terms of Bender's deal.

Artest was hoping to have his contractual situation resolved so it didn't act as a distraction to him this season, vowing that it wasn't about the money.

"I never been around anyone who loves more basketball than he does," said Artest's agent Mark Bartlestein. "I think it would have been a real distraction if we didn't get this done."

"The contract isn't a big issue,'' Artest said. "I'm here for this year. My main focus is a championship. I'd play basketball for free."

Bender, however, did not go as far.

"I've got to live on something,'' Bender said. "This is where I want to be.''

The Pacers can now turn their attention to starters Reggie Miller, Jermaine O'Neal and Brad Miller, all of whom are out of contract after this season.  Signing all three eligable fourth year players now avoided a very busy offseason for Indiana, but the decisions were not hard according to President Donnie Walsh.

"In the case of Jonathan Bender, we have a lot of faith in the player that he will become and has started to become,'' Walsh said. "And in the case of Ron Artest, he has the opportunity to be a truly terrific all-around player.''