Artest-for-Stojakovic Deal Is Off

The Ron Artest trade to Sacramento is off -- for now.

The Pacers had reportedly agreed to send the volatile forward to the Sacramento Kings for Peja Stojakovic, but Indiana Coach Rick Carlisle and Chief Executive Donnie Walsh said Tuesday night that no deal was imminent.

“There is no trade right now, and there may not be a trade,” Carlisle said in Cleveland. “There’s nothing to talk about because there is no trade.”

Later, Walsh released a statement.

“As I have said before, until there is a deal completed, we do not have a deal,” he said. “We do not have a deal and will not comment on any premature reports regarding a trade involving Ron Artest.”

ESPN and the Indianapolis Star had reported earlier Tuesday that the teams had agreed to the trade, which was merely awaiting league approval. But Carlisle shot down that report.

“Anything involving speculation and ‘what’s up’ can be saved for another time,” Carlisle said. “If there is a trade at some point, you’ll hear about it.”

Artest confirmed to the Star that the deal had collapsed but left open the possibility that something could still happen.

“There’s no deal,” Artest told the newspaper by telephone. “It’s not that I don’t want to play there.... I’m letting my agent handle things.”

The deal would have ended a lengthy standoff between the Pacers and Artest, who was deactivated in December after requesting a trade and was suspended most of last season for his role in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history.

Sacramento officials and Coach Rick Adelman would not comment on Artest before or after a game in Philadelphia.

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Philadelphia 76er forward Lee Nailon was arrested after a domestic dispute, according to the team. The 76ers declined to give any details.