Former Tech player Travis Best involved in 7 player trade

Posted 12:28PM on Tuesday 19th February 2002 ( 23 years ago )

Jalen Rose and Brad Miller were among seven players involved in a trade Tuesday between the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls. The Bulls acquired Rose, Travis Best and rookie Norman Richardson, along with a conditional second-round draft pick, in exchange for Miller, Ron Mercer, Ron Artest and Kevin Ollie. "It is very painful to give up players like Jalen Rose and Travis Best who have been a big part of the success we've had here," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said. "I believe this trade will help us because it gives us strength in areas we need them and it will also be helpful to our team's future." The deal, coming two days before the NBA trading deadline, represents a major shakeup for both teams. The Bulls give up their three leading scorers, while Indiana jettisons two veterans who helped them reach the NBA Finals less than two years ago. Rose has been the Pacers' leading scorer, averaging 18.5 points per game, although his role had diminished this season as coach Isiah Thomas de-emphasized his role in the offense. The seven-year veteran, responding to recent rumors of a Bulls-Pacers deal, had said he wanted to stay with the Pacers. Best, in the final year of his contract, has been the backup point guard behind rookie Jamaal Tinsley. Best has averaged 6.9 points and 4.0 assists, marking a scoring decline of five points per game from last season. The Pacers have had a disappointing season, going 26-27 -- currently 10th best in the Eastern Conference. Chicago (12-40) has the NBA's worst record. The acquisition of Miller will allow the Pacers to move Jermaine O'Neal to power forward, giving them one of the youngest and most promising front line tandems in the East. Mercer, who signed with the Bulls as a free agent two summers ago, has now been traded three times during his 4½ seasons in the NBA. He was leading the Bulls in scoring, averaging 16.8 points. Miller, a 7-foot center in his fourth NBA season, averaged 12.7 points and 8.4 rebounds for Chicago. He was involved in an altercation with Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal earlier this season that led to a three-game suspension for O'Neal. Artest, in his third season, averaged 15.6 points for Chicago. Ollie, who had been Chicago's starting point guard since Greg Anthony was injured in January, will replace Best as the backup point guard behind Tinsley. Richardson had played in only three games this season for Indiana.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/2/198588