INDIANAPOLIS -- Embattled Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest spoke with RTV6 late Monday about his meeting with Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh.

Artest asked to be traded when he spoke to the media over the weekend. It was a move that shocked the Pacers organization, which said it would have preferred Artest to talk with the team before going public.

Artest met with Walsh late Monday morning, at which time Artest was told that he had been deactivated and that the team will seek to trade him. He will still be paid, but won't be expected to be with the team.

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Slideshow: Pacers React To Artest's Trade Demand
Artest Talks, Fans React

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Artest sounded conciliatory when he spoke with RTV6's Jake Query late Monday.

"This must be a very promising season as a team with all the Pacers players that Donnie brought back," Artest said. "So, I think the guys are going to be fine. I think a team is better than an individual."

"At this present time, no matter what anyone thinks about the performance of the team up to this point, we're in second place in our conference, yet all the headlines are about Ron Artest wants to be traded," said Walsh. "I don't think the team needs that kind of distraction."

"It's not easy to say I really don't want to be here," Artest said. "I think when people see Ron Artest they're most likely going to get honest opinions. I think that's better than not being honest."

Fans weighed in on Artest's request to be traded.

"He put us in another bad spot two years in a row. He jacked us over again," said one caller to Sportsradio 1260 WNDE.

Many fans who once stood behind the Pacers' resident bad boy called in to say they have had enough.

Most callers said Artest had let the team and the fans down by not standing behind a team that stood behind him in the wake of last year's brawl.

"I'm just surprised it took this long for the fans to have enough of him," said another caller to WNDE.