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Friday, December 30, 2005
St. Paul Minn. — Kevin McHale, the Timberwolves’ vice president of basketball operations, acknowledged Wednesday that the organization was talking to the Indiana Pacers about acquiring Ron Artest.
The acknowledgement came after the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday that the Wolves contacted the Pacers last week and are among 10 teams in the running for the services of the mercurial all-star.
“A lot of people have talked to them, and we’re one of the ones that have talked to them,” McHale said.
McHale declined to discuss the situation in detail, including when he thinks the Pacers might pull the trigger on a trade.
Wolves forward Kevin Garnett said he thought Artest could fit in with the club “under certain specifications.”
“We have a group that knows how to play with each other,” Garnett said. “I’m pretty stingy when it comes to my teammates. I’m tight with (expletive) near everybody here. If not, I’m growing a relationship with them. It doesn’t matter what I think half the time. They’re going to do it (trade for Artest), or they’re not going to do it.”
Garnett publicly expressed unhappiness earlier this season following the trade of Sam Cassell and the decision not to re-sign free agent Latrell Sprewell this summer. Now Garnett seems to be playing a hands-off role with regard to the possibility of a trade for Artest.
Asked if he would welcome the addition, Garnett said, “I have no choice. (Expletive), I don’t make no decisions around here. Whatever comes, I guess I just got to live with it till the summer gets here.”
However, it’s clear that Garnett’s edginess isn’t directed at Artest.
Agent Mark Stevens told the Pioneer Press on Tuesday that his client would consider it an “honor and a privilege” to play with Garnett, praise that drew a humble response from Minnesota’s eight-time all-star.
“It’s a compliment,” Garnett said. “Ron’s established himself as one of the most probably tenacious defenders in this league, one of the rare ones.”
Artest was chosen an all-star and the NBA defensive player of the year in 2004. This season, he is leading the NBA in steals with an average of 2.63 a game to go with 19.4 points. He has played in just 16 games, with the Pacers shunning him while they negotiate a trade.
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