Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal isn't demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he's open to the idea.

While O'Neal has been the subject of trade talk since the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the new discussion was stirred up Monday when SI.com quoted O'Neal as saying he would "welcome a trade to the Lakers" and mentioned the New Jersey Nets as another possible destination.

O'Neal, a six-time All-Star, downplayed the trade talk in an interview with The Associated Press.

"I don't think me saying I'd like to go with those teams is me saying I want to be traded," he said.