Jermaine O'Neal appears to be nearing the end of his career and told Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star that he wants to retire as a member of the Pacers.

"Just because I'm not there anymore doesn't mean all the memories are forgotten," O'Neal said. "If it wasn't for the Pacers, the organization and the community, nobody would have probably known who I was. Anywhere in the world I go, they know me because of my Pacers days."

O'Neal spent eight seasons in Indiana, during which he made five All-Star appearances and finished third in MVP voting during the 2003-04 season.

He signed a two-year deal with the Celtics this past offseason and has said that he'd think about retiring if Boston wins the title this season.

Jim O'Brien knows the decision is somewhat out of his hands, but he hopes the Pacers opt to re-sign Mike Dunleavy this coming summer.

"That's another discussion that's out my hands," O'Brien said. "I desperately want Mike Dunleavy as a future player in this organization."

Indiana acquired Dunleavy from Golden State in 2007 and he has been one of O'Brien's favorite players.

Dunleavy would have to take a significant pay cut from the $10.6 million he's making this season.

"One hundred percent absolutely (want Dunleavy back)," O'Brien said. "I would hate not to have an opportunity to have him on our basketball team."

Ron Artest has enjoyed the success of winning an NBA title in Los Angeles, but he still regrets letting down the Pacers earlier in his career.

"A coward, I was a coward," Artest said. "When you do coward stuff, you feel like a coward. I don't care if it was done intentionally or by mistake, you're still a coward. I don't care how young I was. That's not an excuse."

Artest returned to Indiana on Wednesday night, but regret was even on his mind in a podium interview just minutes after he won a title with the Lakers back in June.

"When I was younger, I bailed out on my Indiana team," he said during that interview session. "I was so young, so egotistical, and I bailed out on (team executives) Donnie (Walsh) (and) Larry (Bird) (and former teammates) Jermaine (O'Neal), (Jamaal) Tinsley, (Jeff) Foster, who never bails out. He just fights for you, for his team. Stephen Jackson, who already had a ring, continued to fight for us."

Darren Collison is confused by coach Jim O'Brien's rotation at point guard.

Collison, Indiana's starter at the position, didn't play at all during the fourth quarter of Indiana's loss to Atlanta on Saturday night.

T.J. Ford has frequently played in crunch times this season.

"I don't know why I didn't play," said Collison.

"I'm not going to lie, it's been tough. Right now, I'm not used to it. It is what it is."

The Pacers trailed against the Hawks and O'Brien even went with A.J. Price over Collison in the final period.

"I thought our best chance of coming back was with A.J. in the game because he spaces the court, he shoots the 3 and he also needed playing time," O'Brien said. "I also think he did a nice job."

It has been reported that the Suns and Pacers are discussing a deal involving forward Earl Clark and center Solomon Jones.

However, a league source told RealGM that there are no truth to such rumors.

Phoenix is believed to be looking for depth at center.

The Pacers and Suns have discussed a potential trade involving Solomon Jones and Earl Clark, according to a report by HoopsWorld.

Phoenix would take $200,000 off their payroll if the one-for-one deal was completed. The Suns have been looking for another center and some rebounding off the bench.

Indiana would like to add a power forward that can score the ball.

Pacers coach Jim O'Brien doesn't think it's a big deal who he starts at shooting guard on any given night -- Brandon Rush or Mike Dunleavy.

Rush started in three of Indiana's four games on their recent road trip, which concluded in Phoenix on Friday night.

"It's irrelevant to me who starts," O'Brien said. "It doesn't matter to me at all because I don't think it's important."

The Pacers are 3-2 with Rush, the better defensive player, starting.

"Honestly, it really doesn't matter," Rush said. "I know I'm going to get minutes every game. So it's not an issue to me."