Bee:"Seeing Maloofs reveal trade on TV rattles Peja"

[Peja]

Seeing Maloofs reveal trade on TV rattles Peja
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Story appeared in Sports section, Page C1


PHILADELPHIA - He was just like everybody else.

Peja Stojakovic sat inside his Four Seasons hotel room in the early afternoon Tuesday, watching television when his employers came on the screen.

At that moment, he was a King, the same small forward who had said just two days before that he wanted to stay in Sacramento for the rest of his career. Then Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof engaged in an extensive interview with ESPNews' Brian Kenny in which they all but gave away the house secret - Stojakovic had been traded to Indiana for forward Ron Artest.

By night's end, the trade had been nixed - perhaps temporarily - when Artest reportedly didn't want to come to Sacramento.

"That's how I found out I was traded," Stojakovic said by phone long after the Kings lost to Philadelphia without him on Tuesday night. "I found out through their speech that I'm gone. They almost said it. I don't know what to say."

In a word: disrespect.

The Maloofs' decision to talk to the nation before their own player disappointed Stojakovic, a key in each of the Kings' seven consecutive playoff berths. Eventually, he received calls from president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie and coach Rick Adelman, with the news being reversed and Stojakovic becoming a King. Again.

Even he doesn't know where that leaves him today. He went for a unrequested ride on an emotional roller coaster, while his status never officially changed. According to the Indianapolis Star, Artest wants to talk to officials of whichever team is trading for him, meaning the deal could be revived as soon as today. Petrie didn't return numerous calls for comment.

Stojakovic is being asked to suit up against the New York Knicks tonight to continue a season marked by injuries and un-Peja-like play. Even before this spectacle, he had been frustrated.

"I believe that, I don't know," he said, pausing. "I feel different. I feel weird. I don't know how (the Maloofs) feel having me back. I mean I wasn't gone, but they decided and made a decision to trade me. Now suddenly, I'm back. I don't know. You should ask them how they feel. I feel weird."

And that was before his first game back with the Kings. Stojakovic said he'll track the news today to see what's next in his life, then pull on the purple jersey if he's still a member of the team.

"Do I have any other choice?" he asked. "I guess I'm with the Kings as long as they want me to be, and I'm going to do my job as best I can right now in this position."

Stojakovic, who has a player option on his contract but can opt out after this season, had been hearing rumors for years. But none was more prevalent than the Artest deal, mainly because their salaries are nearly on par. Stojakovic is making $7.6 million this season, while Artest is making $6.5 million.

Tuesday morning, the rumors returned when the New York Post's Peter Vecsey reported that a deal was close.

"I heard the rumor again this morning, but I never thought this was going to happen because I'd been hearing this for so long," Stojakovic said. "I had prepared myself a long time ago for (a trade). If it happens, it happens, and it's something I have to deal with. It's the NBA, and we are professionals. That's how I feel today."

About the writer:
The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at (916) 326-5582 or samick@sacbee.com.

 

[KingKong]

I feel really bad by the way this has all been handled. It can't be because the news leaked.... The Maloofs went on the air to tell the entire world what was about to go down. They could have easily picked up the phone and let their 7 year veteran know what was going down. For him to have learned about the trade, the way that he did is just very disappointing to say the least.

 

[Ryle]

This is ridiculous. As the interview is starting ESPN is scrolling across saying Jim Gray is reporting the deal between the Kings and the Pacers and this put the Maloofs in a difficult situation. They probably should have just said no comment and continued on with the interview. Instead they did say they couldn't comment on it and then talked about how great of a player Ron Artest is and he would pretty much have a clean slate with them.

 

[kingsfan52miller]

This is ridiculous. As the interview is starting ESPN is scrolling across saying Jim Gray is reporting the deal between the Kings and the Pacers and this put the Maloofs in a difficult situation. They probably should have just said no comment and continued on with the interview. Instead they did say they couldn't comment on it and then talked about how great of a player Ron Artest is and he would pretty much have a clean slate with them.

Butt kissing at its best

 

[Diabeticwonder]

The Maloofs knew full well what they were doing and it wasn't just by coincidence that they were scheduled to be interviewed on ESPNews at that time. This whole episode along with the way they handled the Phil Jackson thing this past summer and their absences from home games is jading me on them and the organization. Somehow the Maloofs find time to sit courtside in LA, Orlando and Miam, but not in Sacramento. They are distancing themselves from the fan base and it would not totally surprise me if they went Art Modell and got up and left town.

 

[Purple Reign]

The Maloofs knew full well what they were doing and it wasn't just by coincidence that they were scheduled to be interviewed on ESPNews at that time. This whole episode along with the way they handled the Phil Jackson thing this past summer and their absences from home games is jading me on them and the organization. Somehow the Maloofs find time to sit courtside in LA, Orlando and Miam, but not in Sacramento. They are distancing themselves from the fan base and it would not totally surprise me if they went Art Modell and got up and left town.

I too am very, very concerned about the Maloofs actions over the past year or so. Especially them being on the road with the team more than they are at home. If I am not mistaken, they showed Joe Maloof up in a luxury box at Arco against the Suns (which was a first for me) but down on the floor against the Lakers on the Thursday night TNT game.

All of this is too weird. I totally blame them for this Artest debaucle. I have a hard time believing that Petrie would independantly make a move for Artest after vehemently denying it for months on in.

Do not be surprised to see a Geoff Petrie resignation sooner rather than later. Both he and Adelman may be out the door together.