Peja wants out.....

[JoMal]

Randy, you essentially stated my position regarding Peja's demand to be traded. It was the way it happened, though if you really think about it, this was by far the best way to have done it, by making it look like Vlade left because of a better offer.

It would seem that Peja is not buying into that and sees it like you do, the team catering to Webber, who'd earlier comments, westkoast, would have been influential as well.

The Kings were always a bit behind the Lakers all along, and now they certainly do appear to be trying their own version of snaggleball.

[JoMal]

Now that Peja has reiterated his desire to be traded and expects to talk directly to the Maloof brothers this week to tell them the same thing, a little more information has filtered out regarding his demand.

He is mad about Vlade leaving, for sure, but what has him seething is that Webber went public with his so-called rant about wanting to play with teammate like him, with 'hood attitudes and less jocularity, after his teammates essentially gave Chriis all the support he needed after he returned from injury and never once questioned his affect on the team.

The hypocrisy of Webber not recognizing his own culpability in the failure of the team has convinced Peja that he no longer can play along side Chris, and I for one do not blame him. He is totally right

[NYCdog]

Here's some news that will surely interest some fo you guys regarding this topic

The Chicago Daily Herald talke to Peja's agent. This was what was said.

Eye on Peja: If the Bulls plan to accrue salary-cap room to use in 2006 - thanks to the money-saving Jamal Crawford trade - one potential target is Sacramento small forward Peja Stojakovic.

Stojakovic, one of the league's best outside shooters, actually played for Bulls coach Scott Skiles during Skiles' brief stint as head coach of PAOK in the Greek League in 1996.

Now, Stojakovic is demanding to be traded from the Kings, citing bad team chemistry. He also is upset that the Kings didn't re-sign Vlade Divac

"They're going to realize Peja is dead set on this," his agent, David Bauman, said. "It's probably better to make the best trade you can make now. We're putting a ton of pressure on the Kings and the Kings' owners."

Bauman mentioned that Indiana is interested in swapping former Bulls forward Ron Artest for Stojakovic. It would be tough for the Bulls to match that offer, especially since their rookies cannot be traded until Dec. 15.

But Stojakovic has an option in his contract that allows him to become a free agent in 2006 at age 29.

"If he was a free agent right now, he wouldn't re-sign with the Kings," Baumann said.

Story link.....

[JoMal]

The Kings won't be trading Peja to the Bulls, but for Artest, that is a good possibility. Chicago has absolutely nothing of interest except their first round draft pick(s), so a third team would need to be involved.

My feeling is he is certain to be traded. Because his salary is so low, in comparison to other star NBA players, the Kings are in a bit of a dilemma to get anything close to equal value back for him though. Draft picks would be the solution.

[JoMal]

Desparate to stem the bad public outcry over Peja's demands for a trade, King's management acted swiftly to cover the possibility of losing Peja by signing 6'7", 220 pound small forward David Bluthenthal off their summer league team.

Yes, that's right, THE David Bluthenthal, of USC fame, who led the Maccabi Tel Aviv European team to two Euroleague championships.

I am sure you all have heard of him.