O'Neal says he's not seeking trade

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal isn't demanding a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, but he's open to the idea.

While O'Neal has been the subject of trade talk since the Pacers missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, the new discussion was stirred up Monday when SI.com quoted O'Neal as saying he would "welcome a trade to the Lakers" and mentioned the New Jersey Nets as another possible destination.

O'Neal, a six-time All-Star, 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.

O'Neal said he recognized that the Pacers are rebuilding with young players and he might not be part of future plans.

"If they want to move in a different direction, I wouldn't be disgruntled about it," he said. "If I am traded, it would be seven great years I had with this team. And if I'm going to be here, I'd welcome it with open arms."

His agent, Arn Tellem, flatly denied the trade talk in an e-mail to the AP.

"He hasn't requested a trade to the Lakers," Tellem wrote. "Any reports to the contrary are inaccurate."

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 in a statement Monday.

O'Neal averaged 19.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks last season in one of the best performances of his 11-year career.

BRAND TO HAVE SURGERY: Los Angeles Clippers forward Elton Brand will have surgery on Tuesday to repair a rupture in his left Achilles' tendon.

The operation will be performed in Wilmington, Del., by Dr. Craig Morgan.

Brand, 28, injured the tendon during his daily workout last Friday.

He averaged 20.5 points and 9.3 rebounds last season.

WARRIORS RE-SIGN BARNES: Forward Matt Barnes re-signed with the Golden State Warriors on Monday, agreeing to a one-year deal after enjoying his best NBA season with the club last year.

Barnes, a four-year veteran who has played for five teams, had career-best averages of 9.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season in coach Don Nelson's uptempo offense.