Jazz brass mum regarding Artest

INDIANAPOLIS — Up to 20 different NBA teams reportedly have checked in to talk trade with the Indiana Pacers, who are thought to be working feverishly to accommodate Ron Artest's recent request to be dealt.

Asked if the Jazz were one of those teams, basketball operations senior vice president Kevin O'Connor declined comment Friday.

It seems quite safe to assume Utah would have no interest in pursuing Artest, since trying to sell Jazz coach Jerry Sloan on the notion of obtaining the oft-disruptive forward almost certainly would prove fruitless.

There is, however, cause to believe Utah put in a call to Indiana anyway.

That is because it might take a multi-team deal for the Pacers to move Artest, and the Jazz very well could be willing to involve themselves in such a transaction.

If so, the Jazz — who entered Friday's 93-83 loss to Indiana shooting a league-low 41.6 percent from the field — probably would be looking to land a strong shooter first and foremost, and perhaps a big man as well.

Golden State, Miami, Toronto, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers all are among a handful of teams rumored to be potential destinations for Artest, who remained on Indiana's inactive list for the Pacers' game against the Jazz.

NO WORD YET: The Jazz still have not announced discipline for rookie big man Robert Whaley and/or point guard Deron Williams stemming from their involvement in an incident at a Park City club last weekend.

Each was cited with a class C misdemeanor for lying to police about their true identities after what began as a verbal altercation inside Harry O's spilled outside.

Punitive action has been decided upon, but O'Connor said the team was working with NBA officials to determine if its anticipated course of action meets with league approval.

Collective bargaining issues also have to be taken into account before the disciplinary measures can be taken.

The Jazz's plans should be made known either over the weekend or sometime early next week.

LASTING IMPRESSION: Even after Indiana swept its season series with Utah for a third straight season and won its seventh straight over the Jazz, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle claimed to be impressed with Sloan's club.

"It's always a struggle when you play Utah," he said. "If you don't play hard, you get run over like a steamroller. You have to be very disciplined to . . . beat them."