It's done. Final. Official. Approved.

Really.

After a 24-hour microcosm of their four-year experience with the on-again, off-again Ron Artest, the Pacers completed a deal sending the talented but controversial forward to Sacramento in exchange for Peja Stojakovic, one of the most prolific shooters in the game.

"Obviously, we're very happy about getting a player of his caliber," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. "He's one of the best shooters in the league and we definitely feel he can come in and help us right away. We think he'll fit in with our team because he'll help spread the floor and give our big men better opportunities to score."

Stojakovic, 28, is averaging 16.5 points and 5.3 rebounds and shooting 39.7 percent from the 3-point line this season. Artest, 26, was averaging 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.63 steals in 16 starts with the Pacers before making a public trade demand in early December, prompting the club to place him on the inactive list.

"We wish Ron the best at Sacramento," said Pacers CEO and President Donnie Walsh. "There's no doubt in our mind he'll have an immediate impact on their team. We'll miss him very much. We know this has been a long process for our fans, but we have a player we think our fans will enjoy watching."

The teams appeared to have a deal struck Tuesday but, just before a conference call with the NBA that would've finalized the trade, Artest's agent told the Kings his client did not want to play in Sacramento. That appeared to kill the trade, but Artest met with Walsh and Bird in their Conseco Fieldhouse offices Wednesday morning and clarified his intentions.

"I'm willing to play anywhere," Artest told Indianapolis television station WTHR. "I'm not going to be some hard guy to deal with and say I don't want to play there, you know? ? It was a good conversation. It was a little bit emotional, just to think what you've been through with Donnie Walsh, who's such a personable person. He treats everybody like family. It was a tough day, but we both left on good terms, which is pretty cool."

Artest then spoke with Kings ownership and management, allaying their concerns about the deal.

"Peja's just been a great, great player here," said Geoff Petrie, the Kings' President of Basketball Operations. "We've seen him develop from a rookie into a three-time All-Star. He's been a total professional. We certainly wish him the very best with Indiana. He'll always be a favorite member of the Kings organization.

"Ron Artest is going to bring a dimension to this team that we haven't had in a long time, maybe since I've been in Sacramento, in terms of his defensive abilities, his presence on the court, his versatility, his size and strength. Given where we are at this point of the season, we think he'll come in here and really make an impact."