http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/10948920p-11866256c.html
Peja isn't going anywhere - at least not yet
The All-Star small forward is resigned that he won't be traded and will play for the Kings.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, October 2, 2004
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie was nowhere to be found, so All-Star small forward Peja Stojakovic was given another hat to wear on media day.
Stojakovic, who stated during the summer that he thought it would be best for the team and himself if he were traded, was asked if he'd trade himself if he were in Petrie's position.
After a huge grin and a loud laugh, Stojakovic said, "I cannot answer that question."
That's because Stojakovic knows his answer likely would have compromised his trade request. He knows it's difficult to find another 27-year-old, 6-foot-10 small forward whose 24.2-point scoring average last season ranked second in the league behind Tracy McGrady.
It's even tougher to find one who shoots 48 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from three-point range, leads the league in free-throw shooting at 92.7 percent and ranks sixth in minutes played at 40.3 per game.
And all that comes at a 2004-05 salary of just under $7 million a season.
Many eyes stayed on Stojakovic on Friday afternoon and Chris Webber, the teammate whose comments following the season-ending loss to Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals and this summer are widely believed to have influenced Stojakovic's desire to be traded.
Kings coach Rick Adelman didn't specifically mention the Webber-Stojakovic situation but admitted he'll approach the team's chemistry differently than he has in the past.
When longtime center Vlade Divac signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, it was expected to leave a large void in leadership.
Moreover, Divac is Stojakovic's countryman and good friend, so it figured to hit him harder than anyone else on the team.
"When you lose someone like Vlade," Adelman said, "it's going to have an impact on your team. This group, bringing Greg (Ostertag) and all these young guys in, you're going to have to work harder at it.
"You're going to have to go out of your way to have each other's back. It's not going to be as easy because it was there. It was the natural thing for them to do. Now you've had some things happen, you know, back and forth, so it's going to take some work.
"But as long as they play together on the court and they work on it, that's how we've gotten through tough times in the past."
Stojakovic said he did not feel any coldness or anxiety from his teammates, including Webber.
"It was the same like last year and a lot of the other years with the guys who have been here for a lot of years," said Stojakovic, who, along with Webber, has been a King longer than anyone on the roster.
"Chris and I just said hi to each other, and we didn't have much time. I know we'll have time. I know he's been asked a lot of questions. I've been asked a lot of questions. Me and him are cool. I said that before to you when we talked this summer and the reasons I gave to Petrie and the organization that I thought the change would help the team and me, too."
Stojakovic never has publicly indicated what those reasons are - and did not do so Friday.
Instead, he seemed resigned that he will not be traded and will have to find a way to play this season with the only NBA franchise he has known.
He said there was no thought of not showing for media day or training camp. He knew his public request to be traded would be prime-time fodder.
"That was the subject," Stojakovic said, grinning. "I expected that, and I'm here to answer that. I didn't want to do the boycotting thing. I didn't think it would be fair for my teammates and this organization, the fans and the city from whom I've received a lot of support. I'm a professional. I have two years left on my contract. I'm going to honor that."
Peja isn't going anywhere - at least not yet
The All-Star small forward is resigned that he won't be traded and will play for the Kings.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Saturday, October 2, 2004
Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie was nowhere to be found, so All-Star small forward Peja Stojakovic was given another hat to wear on media day.
Stojakovic, who stated during the summer that he thought it would be best for the team and himself if he were traded, was asked if he'd trade himself if he were in Petrie's position.
After a huge grin and a loud laugh, Stojakovic said, "I cannot answer that question."
That's because Stojakovic knows his answer likely would have compromised his trade request. He knows it's difficult to find another 27-year-old, 6-foot-10 small forward whose 24.2-point scoring average last season ranked second in the league behind Tracy McGrady.
It's even tougher to find one who shoots 48 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from three-point range, leads the league in free-throw shooting at 92.7 percent and ranks sixth in minutes played at 40.3 per game.
And all that comes at a 2004-05 salary of just under $7 million a season.
Many eyes stayed on Stojakovic on Friday afternoon and Chris Webber, the teammate whose comments following the season-ending loss to Minnesota in the Western Conference semifinals and this summer are widely believed to have influenced Stojakovic's desire to be traded.
Kings coach Rick Adelman didn't specifically mention the Webber-Stojakovic situation but admitted he'll approach the team's chemistry differently than he has in the past.
When longtime center Vlade Divac signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, it was expected to leave a large void in leadership.
Moreover, Divac is Stojakovic's countryman and good friend, so it figured to hit him harder than anyone else on the team.
"When you lose someone like Vlade," Adelman said, "it's going to have an impact on your team. This group, bringing Greg (Ostertag) and all these young guys in, you're going to have to work harder at it.
"You're going to have to go out of your way to have each other's back. It's not going to be as easy because it was there. It was the natural thing for them to do. Now you've had some things happen, you know, back and forth, so it's going to take some work.
"But as long as they play together on the court and they work on it, that's how we've gotten through tough times in the past."
Stojakovic said he did not feel any coldness or anxiety from his teammates, including Webber.
"It was the same like last year and a lot of the other years with the guys who have been here for a lot of years," said Stojakovic, who, along with Webber, has been a King longer than anyone on the roster.
"Chris and I just said hi to each other, and we didn't have much time. I know we'll have time. I know he's been asked a lot of questions. I've been asked a lot of questions. Me and him are cool. I said that before to you when we talked this summer and the reasons I gave to Petrie and the organization that I thought the change would help the team and me, too."
Stojakovic never has publicly indicated what those reasons are - and did not do so Friday.
Instead, he seemed resigned that he will not be traded and will have to find a way to play this season with the only NBA franchise he has known.
He said there was no thought of not showing for media day or training camp. He knew his public request to be traded would be prime-time fodder.
"That was the subject," Stojakovic said, grinning. "I expected that, and I'm here to answer that. I didn't want to do the boycotting thing. I didn't think it would be fair for my teammates and this organization, the fans and the city from whom I've received a lot of support. I'm a professional. I have two years left on my contract. I'm going to honor that."
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