Indianapolis – Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O’Neal isn’t demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he is open to the idea.
While O’Neal has been the subject of trade talk since the Pacers missed the NBA playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the new discussion was stirred up Monday when quoted O’Neal as saying he would “welcome a trade to the Lakers” and mentioned the New Jersey Nets as another possible destination. But O’Neal, a six-time all-star who averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocked shots last season, downplayed the trade talk in an interview with The Associated Press.
“I don’t think me saying I’d like to go with those teams is me saying I want to be traded,” he said.
Pacers president Larry Bird didn’t rule out a trade.
“In any discussions regarding him or any of our other players, the expectations for the franchise and our fans is to receive fair market value in return if a trade is to be considered,” Bird said.
NBA
Barnes re-signs with Golden State
Forward Matt Barnes re-signed with the Golden State Warriors, agreeing to a one-year deal expected to be worth slightly more than $3 million. Last season, Barnes had career-best averages of 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Houston Rockets guard Rafer Alston said he was not guilty of misdemeanor assault and public intoxication charges filed against him Sunday. Alston was accused of grabbing a parking attendant’s arm, shaking him and spitting on him after Alston’s vehicle was towed from a lot in Houston. The attendant said Alston parked illegally and did not pay. Both charges against Alston are misdemeanors, a Houston police spokesman said.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand is scheduled for surgery today to repair a rupture in his left Achilles tendon. Brand, 28, injured the tendon during his daily workout Friday.
MOTORSPORTS
Kyle Busch chooses Gibbs Racing
Kyle Busch chose to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season and began informing other teams of his decision. A source close to Busch said the driver had selected Gibbs after a seven-week search that began when Hendrick Motorsports released the 22-year-old driver to make room for Dale Earnhardt Jr. next season.
Ray Evernham completed the sale of his NASCAR team to Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett Jr., ending nearly six months of negotiations to bring on a partner. Gillett becomes the majority owner of the team, which will now be called Gillett Evernham Motorsports.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Ball State asked to review allegations
The NCAA has asked Ball State officials to investigate accusations of rules violations surrounding the men’s basketball program, including an allegation the women’s volleyball coach was fired for reporting suspected infractions. The latest allegations were outlined in a letter from the NCAA dated two days before Ronny Thompson’s resignation July 13 after one season as coach.
School officials said then that Thompson and his staff broke NCAA rules by attending voluntary offseason workouts the past two years, then lied about their involvement this May. The NCAA’s letter seeks additional investigation by the school into other suspected violations involving Thompson and his staff.
Ricky Stokes is out as coach at East Carolina after two seasons and associate head coach Mack McCarthy will take over. Stokes, who went 14-44 in two seasons, will become the associate athletic director for basketball.
OLYMPICS
GM to end U.S. team sponsorship
General Motors Corp. said it has decided not to renew its $1 billion sponsorship of the U.S. Olympic Committee when its contract ends after 2008. The company said the move is a result of changes in its marketing strategy.
China said it will use global positioning satellites to ensure food safety at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as it steps up efforts to blacklist manufacturers who violate safety regulations.
Wang Wei, an executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic Committee, said the system will monitor food production, processing factories and food hygiene during the Games to make sure healthy food is delivered to the 10,500 athletes residing in the Olympic Village.
FOOTNOTES
Ducks goalie Giguere has hernia surgery
Anaheim Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere had surgery to repair a sports hernia injury. He is expected to recover in time for training camp.
Tampa Bay Lightning center Ryan Craig will make $850,000 next season under a one-year contract awarded by an arbitrator.
Nikolay Davydenko will play in the Rogers Cup this week in Montreal amid an investigation into irregular betting patterns on one of his matches. The Association of Tennis Professionals said it had no plans to suspend the Russian star or ask him to sit out. Davydenko is seeded fourth at the Rogers Cup and won’t play until the second round Wednesday.
Jhared Hack, an incoming freshman at Central Florida, became the second-youngest player to win the Western Amateur championship, defeating Alex Prugh 1-up in a match-play final in Benton Township, Mich. Jamie Lovemark, who withdrew from the tournament after the first round because of injury, won the Western Amateur in 2005, five months shy of his 18th birthday. Hack will turn 18 on Sunday.
