Hitting the sweet swap

Ron Artest returns to Indianapolis on Friday night where he will undoubtedly "hear it from the crowd," as Marv Albert might say.

But the drama of Artest facing his old teammates for the first time as a member of the Sacramento Kings will overshadow the most important theme of the night – the fact that the trade of Artest for Peja Stojakovic has been a resounding winner for both clubs.

The Kings are rolling, having won 15 of their last 20 games as they've surged into the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Sacramento has yet to lose a home game since the trade, regaining the formidable Arco Arena advantage it has enjoyed for years.

But the Pacers have quietly made progress of their own since Stojakovic's arrival, and they are heading toward a playoff berth as well. They're currently fifth in the East, and with Jermaine O'Neal due back any time from his groin injury, Indiana could make some noise in the postseason.

For Sacramento, Artest's presence has altered the club's identity dramatically. Long considered soft, the Kings are suddenly a tough-minded club that can win games with their defense. Artest's defensive intensity and versatility has given Sacramento a weapon it has never had before, and his teammates have gained confidence as a result. Artest can guard any position on the floor, allowing Rick Adelman to adjust the matchups to his advantage.

But Artest's offensive game has had just as big of an impact on the Kings. He is so strong on the low block that Sacramento is running its offense through him, forcing double teams and creating mismatches.

The Kings have not had a true post-up threat for a long time and have relied heavily on the perimeter game over the years, making them susceptible to poor shooting nights. But with Artest, Sacramento has added a new dimension: a power game that draws double teams, creates open shots for others and earns trips to the free-throw line. That's why the Kings have been able to win even when Mike Bibby and Brad Miller haven't shot the ball well.

The Pacers, meanwhile, have had a similar identity change. Stojakovic's arrival coincided with O'Neal's injury, forcing Indiana to play a more free-flowing style that emphasized offensive movement and screens more than the traditional low-post game. Rick Carlisle changed his offense to even include some of the dribble handoffs that Peja was familiar with in Sacramento.

The results have been encouraging. With Stojakovic, the Pacers are scoring 95 points per game, three more than without him. He has been very productive, averaging 20 points, shooting 46 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range. And as Carlisle points out, Indiana's defense hasn't been compromised.

"Peja is a great shooter, but he's a much better defender and rebounder than people think," Carlisle said. "In a lot of ways, he's like Artest – only in reverse. Ron is a great defender who is a better shooter and rebounder than people think."

The Pacers would appear to be more balanced now with Stojakovic, offering a better perimeter game and a more explosive offense to go along with their traditional stingy defense. And if O'Neal comes back healthy, he and Peja will be very interesting to watch as a potent one-two combination.

Artest and Stojakovic are obviously very different in their respective approaches to the game, but each has provided exactly what their new teams required. The Kings needed a defensive edge, and they have it now. The Pacers, after two seasons of chaos, needed some stability and outside shooting after Reggie Miller's retirement. Stojakovic has provided both.

It's the rarest of NBA trades in which both sides can conclude, in the end, everyone won.