Artest-Stojakovic trade now off

Sacramento, CA (Basketball News) - A trade involving Indiana Pacers troublesome forward Ron Artest and Sacramento Kings sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic has been reportedly called off by the Kings after Artest told the team he did not want to go there.

The Indianapolis Star reported Tuesday that the teams had agreed to swap the two All-Stars and the deal was awaiting approval from the NBA.

However, according to the Sacramento Bee, Artest’s agent Mark Stevens called Sacramento president Geoff Petrie shortly after word got out about the impending trade, and told him his client did not want to play for the Kings. Petrie backed out of the deal as a result of the conversation.

Stojakovic was activated by the Kings for Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia.

Artest played in just 16 games for Indiana this season, averaging 19.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest before being placed permanently on the inactive list in early December. Artest battled a wrist injury early in the season, but sealed his own fate after an interview with an Indianapolis newspaper during the weekend of December 10-11, in which he blasted the organization and requested a trade.

The 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Artest made headlines last season when he charged into the crowd after fans after getting hit with debris during a game against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace. Commissioner David Stern showed no mercy, as he suspended Artest for the final 73 games of the season.

The 6-foot-7 forward has averaged 14.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in seven seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Pacers. Artest was a first-round pick of the Bulls in 1999 and was traded along with Ron Mercer, Brad Miller and Kevin Ollie to Indiana for three players, including Jalen Rose, and a second-round draft pick in February 2002.

Stojakovic is averaging just 16.5 points per game this season, his lowest scoring output since the 1999-2000 campaign. The three-time All-Star is shooting just 40 percent from the floor and has been slowed by various injuries.

The 6-foot-10 guard has spent his entire eight-year career in Sacramento, becoming a staple of the franchise during its current seven-year playoff run. Stojakovic has averaged 18.3 points and five rebounds a game in his NBA career.