Published 2:56 pm PST Friday, January 27, 2006
BOSTON - The trade is done.
Finally.
Ron Artest is a Sacramento King, and Peja Stojakovic is a member of the Indiana Pacers.
According to Kings spokesman Darrin May, all the necessary elements fell in to place for Artest to be able to play tonight against the Celtics - Stojakovic joined the Pacers in Indiana around 4:30 PM Eastern time, the league office was notified that he reported, and all the final paperwork was filed. Artest has been with the Kings since Thursday.
Artest missed the Kings' shootaround Friday morning, but he was fully involved a day before. He joined the Kings in New York City, walking on the team bus headed for Boston before most of the other players. He greeted each one, then went to dinner with point guard Mike Bibby and a few others later that evening.