Bee:"Peja at peace with trade to Pacers"

[Peja]

Peja at peace with trade to Pacers
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 1:23 am PST Thursday, January 26, 2006


Peja Stojakovic bid farewell late Wednesday night, smiling and cracking jokes to a throng of media and well-wishers who greeted him in the lobby of the Sacramento International Airport shortly after he landed from an New York flight.

The man with the longest tenure in Kings history was traded earlier in the day to the Indiana Pacers for Ron Artest, a deal that seemingly went through Tuesday but hit snags and appeared to flat line. The deal was revised Wednesday.

The 6-foot-10 Stojakovic, long known for his long-range shooting ability, quips, community service and European dress fashion, said he will leave Sacramento "with peace in my heart."

"I'm ready for a new start, the new challenge," Stojakovic said. "It's over now, the trade. I'm OK with it now. I had a great 7 1/2 years in Sacramento. The Kings gave me a chance to play in the NBA, and I'll never forget that. I know it was a tough decision to make, the trade, but this is a fresh start for all of us."

Stojakovic heads to Indiana on Friday. He expects to play in his first Pacers game on Tuesday in Washington.

Stojakovic characterized the previous 48 hours one way: "weird."

He caught wind that he had been traded by watching Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof talking about the pending deal in an ESPN interview from his hotel room in Philadelphia. He initially was stunned and hurt, but Stojakovic said he holds no grudge.

"I don't look at it as a disrespect thing now because I understand how this is a business," Stojakovic said. "The Maloofs left a message on my voice mail. They appreciated our 7 1/2 years together and wished me all the best. It's something that needed to happen. All the fans, all the support, I appreciate that, too. Great fans here.''

Stojakovic said he will continue to be involved in community work in the region, from summer basketball camps to winter coat drives to charity bowling events.

"Of course I'm going to stay in touch with Sacramento," he said.

 

[Bricklayer]

He's going to a good organization. I would have felt a little bad if we had exiled him to Atlanta or Toronto or whatnot. But as it stands right now he's got a better chance of a deep playoff run than we do, and potentially a built in mentor replacement in Bird.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

I wont lie, i was never a big fan, but off court he was a great guy, i respected what he did for the community and its people. He conducted him self with nothing but class.

He was class act, and i am happy he can go play for a team like the Pacers.

 

[piksi]

"The Maloofs left a message on my voice mail. They appreciated our 7 1/2 years together and wished me all the best.

Maybe, they improved because I don't remember Webber getting a voice mail.

Pathetic

 

[twocents]

would a sacramento paper really write that peja was bitter even if he were? i don't like local news at all. i would assume that the major reason the maloofs did not get into direct contact with peja (or webber for that matter) was that they were afraid of what they would hear face to face. i find this cowardly; if you make a decision, you should be at ease and firmly stay behind it.

 

[vladetomiller]

Local paper would write bitter news, have you recently read Aileen Voisin.

We dont know where they left the voicemail, if it was on his cell phone then they intended on talking to him and Peja might not have picked up his phone. if this was at his home when they knew that he was in NY, then that is really cowardly. If you think of it of business then dont even bother with that voicemail, that doesnt serve any purpose.

 

[sloter]

Bitter or not, was he really expecting to stay in Sacramento after what he has said in the past and after his heartless performance this year ? As much as I liked him as a player, he has to be realistic as well - I don't understand though why the Maloofs didn't have the courage to tell him this face to face...

 

[LMM]

that is nice to read.

this could be good for him and his career.

i wish you all the best peja.

 

[SLAB]

Good luck Peja.

I'll be following you in Indy!

 

[slugking50]

Peja at peace with trade to Pacers
By Joe Davidson -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 1:23 am PST Thursday, January 26, 2006


Peja Stojakovic bid farewell late Wednesday night, smiling and cracking jokes to a throng of media and well-wishers who greeted him in the lobby of the Sacramento International Airport shortly after he landed from an New York flight.

The man with the longest tenure in Kings history was traded earlier in the day to the Indiana Pacers for Ron Artest, a deal that seemingly went through Tuesday but hit snags and appeared to flat line. The deal was revised Wednesday.

The 6-foot-10 Stojakovic, long known for his long-range shooting ability, quips, community service and European dress fashion, said he will leave Sacramento "with peace in my heart."

"I'm ready for a new start, the new challenge," Stojakovic said. "It's over now, the trade. I'm OK with it now. I had a great 7 1/2 years in Sacramento. The Kings gave me a chance to play in the NBA, and I'll never forget that. I know it was a tough decision to make, the trade, but this is a fresh start for all of us."

Stojakovic heads to Indiana on Friday. He expects to play in his first Pacers game on Tuesday in Washington.

Stojakovic characterized the previous 48 hours one way: "weird."

He caught wind that he had been traded by watching Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof talking about the pending deal in an ESPN interview from his hotel room in Philadelphia. He initially was stunned and hurt, but Stojakovic said he holds no grudge.

"I don't look at it as a disrespect thing now because I understand how this is a business," Stojakovic said. "The Maloofs left a message on my voice mail. They appreciated our 7 1/2 years together and wished me all the best. It's something that needed to happen. All the fans, all the support, I appreciate that, too. Great fans here.''

Stojakovic said he will continue to be involved in community work in the region, from summer basketball camps to winter coat drives to charity bowling events.

"Of course I'm going to stay in touch with Sacramento," he said.

I heard this conference live Wednesday night/early Thurday Morning. Sean Cunningham one of the producers at KHTK was there with a cell to play it live. Cunningham (whos no fan of Pejas) mentioned that Peja was a bit misty-eyed when talking about the city, fans and how much they mean to him. It was the Peja we've known for a long time. A good kid.