December 11, 2005 -- HOOP DU JOUR WHEN Charles Barkley — whose weekly substance abuse for TNT is comically commended by many men of the couch — is spoon-fed an item that actually might be newsworthy, it's prudent to pay attention.
Several nights ago, Sir Charlatan claimed the Pacers and Kings had revived trade discussions involving Ron Artest and Peja Stojakovic. Despite Larry Bird's stated fascination with Indiana's compulsive competitor, I've got to believe there's something to it.
For one thing, CEO Donnie Walsh always has coveted the Sacramento sharpshooter.
Number two, without Artest (sprained right wrist) the Pacers' offense conspicuously opened up in the final three quarters of Wednesday's dominant win over the Wizards.
Thirdly, the unbalanced Kings (7-12 going into last night's game in Seattle) need to shake things up. Either Geoff Petrie must fire his best friend, Rick Adelman (I've heard he's asked the Raptors permission to talk to Gene Keady; I'm lying), or he must import a demonic defensive player who derives equal enjoyment from punishing people on offense.
Not that Peja doesn't have other suitors; the Heat, his first choice (he owns a South Beach condo and fantasizes about finishing his career living off the open looks Shaq would create) surely have made a bid, and that goes for the Bulls, as well. But, as far as I can tell, they can't come up with such a savage.
Lastly, TNT's junk journalist wouldn't know fact from fiction if Larry Brown diagrammed the difference on Barkley's drive-in movie-screen forehead.
Therefore, he really has to trust the person who put him up to it. I'm talking colleague Reggie Miller. He's the only one at the network privy to such classified material. Of course, as the former prince of all Pacers, he wouldn't dare break the news on his own.
Is there a Peja-Artest offer on the table at this time?
"No," I'm informed. Nor is it currently being considered.
Have there been conversations along that line?
My source could not tell me that. Not wouldn't, but couldn't. He said he simply did not know. At the same time, he volunteered that the team definitely is entertaining subtractions and additions, because numerous players are unhappy about playing time — Fred Jones, Anthony Johnson (when Jamaal Tinsley's healthy) and David Harrison, who was fined for breaking a glass picture frame of himself near the locker room.
I'm taking that long-winded answer as a "yes."
One more Pacer note: Jonathan Bender will announce his retirement within the next 48 hours due to unbearable problems with both knees. By all accounts, the exceptionally likable Bender may have been the best practice player in NBA history, but bone-on-bone pain was too much to endure.
Forget about going two games in a row, Bender couldn't play back-to-back quarters.