O'Neal upset with Artest

[ducks]

O'Neal upset with Artest
Pacers' leader urges trade of any player 'that doesn't want to be here'
By Mike Wells
[email protected]
December 12, 2005


Point guard Anthony Johnson blurted out what many have thought about the Indiana Pacers as he walked out of the locker room Saturday night following the team's victory over Memphis.
"There's always drama in Pacerland," he said.
The drama got more suspenseful earlier Saturday, when forward Ron Artest said he wants to play elsewhere and that the Pacers would be better without him.
Unless the Pacers grant Artest's wish -- and he didn't help his cause by not talking to CEO Donnie Walsh or president Larry Bird first -- they will have to deal with a player who has disrespected his coach and will likely have to regain the trust of his teammates.
"If Ron feels that way, then that's the way he feels," forward Jermaine O'Neal said after Saturday's game. "We're going to go to war with any guy that wants to wear a Pacers' uniform. Bottom line, if you want to wear it, we're with you. If you don't, see you later.
"To me, to say that, he wants the public to know. I find that a little disheartening to go to the media with information."
Artest's comments came just days after O'Neal said management should think about making changes if the team doesn't improve. The Pacers have won two straight games with Artest on the bench nursing a right wrist injury.
"I expect the unexpected with him," Johnson said about Artest. "If he feels like that, it's unfortunate, because he's a great player. At the same time, the front office has to do what's best for this team."
The Pacers have lost games they shouldn't have. They've had disagreements publicly and privately. But the latest distraction could linger awhile.
The Pacers lose one of the best all-around players in the league if they trade Artest. But keep him and they risk more headaches from a player who has provided a few since they acquired him in 2002.
"I fully think management should do their best at the highest level to move a player that doesn't want to be here," O'Neal said. "If he doesn't want to be here, he's not going to give his full effort. It's already tough enough to go through an 82-game season with so many different problems. The one problem you can't have is anybody that says they don't want to be here.
"We have so many different things going on. We're trying to get guys healthy. Jamaal (Tinsley) has the groin injury. You have guys like Jeff (Foster) trying to get his rhythm back. Guys are here fighting. Ultimately everybody is giving their best to help this team win."
That's what Pacers coach Rick Carlisle wants.
"We've got a committed group of guys that have won two tough games," Carlisle said. "The focus has to be on them. We have an obligation to our franchise and the loyal fan base to keep finding ways to win games."
Artest, who is averaging 19.4 points a game, said he wants to play for a team on which he can excel offensively. He watched the past two games from the bench as the Pacers picked up impressive victories. He said he thinks he disrupts the offense with his one-on-one style. The Pacers are 2-1 this season without Artest in the lineup.
"I don't know why he would feel that way," Foster said. "Obviously we would have gotten a lot further with him last year. . . .
"He and J.O. complement each other real well. Hopefully this is just a state he's going through right now. He's out, he's hurt and he feels like he can't play. We all know we need him. He makes us a better team when he's out there."

[ducks]

[B]Artest's comments came just days after O'Neal said management should think about making changes if the team doesn't improve. The Pacers have won two straight games with Artest on the bench nursing a right wrist injury.

[Biff Tannen II]

Hey, keep Artest on the Pacers. One less team for us all to worry about.

[Medvedenko]

It's going to get uglier before it get's better. They should have traded him in the summer. Oh well, it is what it is. I would like him to come over to the Lake show, but I think him and Kobe would kill each other.

[ALVAREZ6]

O'neal should smack that fool. Artest is a .