INDIANAPOLIS — The Pacers couldn't change Ron Artest's act in Indianapolis. After all the volatile forward's troubles, Indiana is hoping a new home will help.

Indiana traded Artest to Sacramento on Wednesday for Peja Stojakovic in a deal the Pacers think could help change Artest's reputation as one of the game's most unpredictable characters.

"Maybe this was not the right team for a guy like Ronnie," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "Really, Ronnie couldn't get out from under it and I hope he does in Sacramento because everyone needs a fresh start."

For Artest, it's more than a new opportunity. It's a chance to rebuild his image as one of the game's best players rather than one of its most notorious.

Since trading for Artest in a trade-deadline deal in February 2002, Artest's career has been fraught with distractions and bizarre incidents. He once kicked a ball into the stands. Another time, he broke a television camera after throwing it to the ground. He verbally sparred with Miami Heat coach Pat Riley during games.

And, of course, he was at the center of one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history when he charged into the stands at Detroit and fought with Pistons fans. That drew the NBA's longest suspension, 73 games plus the playoffs — and marred his image nationally.

In December, Artest stunned teammates and Pacers officials who supported him after the brawl by requesting a trade. That precipitated a month's worth of rumors and created the Pacers' biggest distraction of the season. When Indiana finally appeared to have its deal with Sacramento on Tuesday, Artest reportedly balked at playing for the Kings before relenting after a meeting with Walsh on Wednesday.

The Kings forgave Artest for those indiscretions, betting they could turn Artest into one of the league's best all-around players.

"We're gamblers. So we're going to take a chance on him," Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof said. "All that's in the past. We want to look forward, otherwise we wouldn't have made this happen."

Artest has long been regarded as one of the league's top defenders. He was an All-Star and the league's Defensive Player of the Year in 2003-04.

When he has played, Artest also was a key to the Pacers' offense. He averaged 24.6 points in the seven games he played last year before the suspension, and 19.4 in 16 games this year before being deactivated after his trade demand.

The beleaguered Kings welcomed the acquisition almost as much as Indiana welcomed the end to this saga.

"We're glad it's over with," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "We wanted to be patient with this one because Ronnie is a heck of a player and someone's always going to take a chance on someone like that."

Bird and Walsh decided to keep him until they got the right offer, and Bird said the rumors did cause chemistry problems. The Pacers were 10-6 with him, 11-14 without him.

Finally, the Kings called back in recent days proposing a deal that had been rumored in the summer of 2004: Artest for Stojakovic. With an outside shooter who could help the Pacers replace the retired Reggie Miller, Bird and Walsh decided the offer was good for everyone.

"I think what it came down to is that our owner wants to win and, in the end, we did this deal because we knew it would make us a better team," Bird said.

Stojakovic, like Artest, comes with an All-Star pedigree — and almost none of the baggage. The 6-foot-10 Serbian star averaged 18.5 points during his career and has been selected to three All-Star teams.

This season, though, has been Stojakovic's worst in the NBA. He's averaged 16.5 points in 31 games, has been bothered by a bad back.

With the Kings mired in last place in the Pacific Division, the co-owners decided to deal their longest-tenured player for what they perceive one of the league's best all-around talents.

"Our team hasn't performed the way it should," co-owner Joe Maloof said. "We needed to do something. I think the fans in Sacramento were ready for a change no matter what."

Indiana spent several weeks searching for the right deal, nearly sending Artest to the Los Angeles Clippers for Corey Maggette before the Kings called back.

But Stojakovic was too tempting for Indiana.

He joined the Kings as an unheralded 21-year-old rookie in 1998 and could become a free agent this summer if he voids the last season of his deal.

It was Sacramento's fourth major trade in 13 months, following deals involving Chris Webber, Bobby Jackson and Doug Christie. And Kings players welcomed their new teammate.

"I know he might put us over that hump that we need," guard Mike Bibby said. "The way he plays, he plays good defense, he can score, too. Maybe that can pick up the intensity in everybody else."