Destination unknown for Jackson

Officially, Stephen Jackson is a Warrior. Realistically, he's a lame duck. He hopes to be a Cav, Mav, Knick, Spur, Rocket or owner of some other NBA identity soon. Very soon. Regardless, his identity crisis promises to bring high drama this season, even if nothing changes for him.

The mercurial, disarming, detestable, energizing, pouting, church-going, club-hopping, street-hardened, sensitive swingman who ignited Golden State's stunning late-season run and first-round upset of top-seeded Dallas in 2007 wants out. And when Stephen Jackson is unhappy, you'll surely know about it. No jittery kid in need of a bathroom could make his wishes known any more clearly.

Jackson unexpectedly debuted his desire to be traded at a public event in New York on Aug. 28. Since then he's been fined by the league, been stripped of his captaincy by the same coach, Don Nelson, who had nearly brought Jackson to tears by bestowing the honor on him a year ago, and been suspended by the Warriors' front office for lashing out at Nelson in a preseason game.

He reaffirmed his thirst for a transfer on Wednesday in Indianapolis, where the Warriors' group dysfunction was put on display in their 14-point loss to the Pacers.

"My attitude is still the same," he said. "I'm not going back on anything I said. I want to win. I'm 31 years old. I'm not getting any younger. I want to make the best of my last couple years. I want to be somewhere I can win a championship. I'm a missing piece to a lot of teams."

True enough. Cleveland, especially. Jackson would give the Cavs another legit scorer and, more important, another stout-hearted defender. He respects coach Mike Brown, who was an assistant during Jackson's first season with the Pacers, and would defer to LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal, just as he deferred to Reggie Miller in Indiana.

Jackson also lists Dallas as a desired destination, a curious choice given his frustration with Rick Carlisle's coaching style when he played for Carlisle in Indiana. He also gave approval to Houston, where he's building a home for his wife and six children, and San Antonio. But he also loves New York, which is no closer to a playoff berth than it is to bringing Walt Frazier out of retirement, and even said he wouldn't mind returning to Indiana, where he seems to be equally loved and loathed.

But what if he's traded to a losing team in an undesired location? He's confident general manager Larry Riley will take care of him, and would prefer staying in Golden State to that option -- a scenario that seems nearly impossible at the moment.

Wherever he goes, or stays, Jackson brings potential complications, not the least of which is his contract. The three-year, $28 million extension he signed in November 2008 doesn't kick in until next season, so a team that trades for him isn't taking a short-term risk for a title run this year, but rather making a long-term commitment fraught with both peril and possibility.

Jackson can help a team win a championship, as he did while starting for San Antonio in 2003. He can help rejuvenate a struggling team, as he did for the Warriors during their playoff run in 2007. He also can help implode a team if he becomes unhappy.