[ESPN:Ford] Artest Speculation

in a big time market like HOUSTON and an international player like YAO, why wont cheapskate Les shell out some money to win a championship and boost Yao's international fame? He saw what happened during the twighlight years after Hakeem left. He should capitalize now while we have Tmac and Yao. Then when they retire go back to being cheap.

 

As much as I would love to have Artest can you imagine how much more good Odom will do for us??? He is a reliable 3rd scorer (usually better but not with TMAC and Yao) + He can handle the ball at 6'8" (like Magic could but not quite at that same level). So basically Rockets if they are an add on team and need to throw in a pick and maybe some expiring contracts and if necessary Head (even though he will be good in the NBA for a while) they should do it. They get a Big Man who can handle the ball in Odom who can pass and shoot to compliment TMac, Yao, Swift (if he keeps up decent numbers). You can throw any 5th into that mix and you have yourself a pretty good starting 5, with GREAT SIZE, GREAT REBOUNDING ABILITY, GREAT DEFENSE, AND MOST OF ALL FOR THE ROCKETS GREAT SCORING. This team can easily be in contention because this team can basically match up with anyone.

Just what I think

 

A deal including David Wesley (in the last year of his contract), Moochie Norris (also in the last year of a guaranteed contract), Luther Head and a No. 1 pick for Artest, Johnson and Jones would work under the cap.

Looking at the above deal, I haven't seen a deal yet that's better than that. And if that's the deal that's on the table, Artest will be a Rocket.

 

You want to give up a #1 pick and Luther Head for a nutcase? He's a talented nutcase, but still a nutcase.

 

If it will make the Rockets a better team, you have to take the risk.

 

Don't forget he's also a musician...

 

plus luther head isn't an all star. and won't ever be an all-star. he's a solid young player but i dont see that all-star potential in him.

and theoretically our picks wont be in the lottery so who cares?

 

i agree with insane luther head has played well but people are thinking the guy is one of hte top nba players in the league.

artest besides the crazyness is a damn good ball player and id make that trade in a second

 

since LA needs a third team to make a deal for artest, i'd make a push to get odom. he is a great mid-range scorer and that's just what we need to open up yao and mac.

 

I bet the deal will be Szczerbiak and Kandi for Artest and Croshere:

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/basketball/13520612.htm

 

i think i might even rather have odom than artest, if it was possible. he's a proven star and he will get you 10 rebounds a night. with his versatile talents, i think he along with mcgrady and yao up front would be an interesting mix.

he's not a conventional van gundy 4, but they don't make otis thorpes like they used to anymore.

 

Guys, Artest didn't set the league alight his first year, either. His first year, Artest was a good defender who put up mediocre offensive #'s on a horrible team. Luther Head is better than Artest was at the same stage.

I don't know if Head will be a great player. But I sure could see him putting up 14 points with 6 assists every night. And that's more, especially with a #1 pick, than I want to trade for a bona fide psycho.

 

Some people are making out Luther Head to be the next Steve Nash or something. I would not even blink before thinking about Luther and a number one pick for Artest.

Artest is a top 15 player in the league.

However, I would prefer Odom due to Artest's contract situation. I don't want to give up our expiring contracts, Luther and a pick just to rent Artest for a half season. Rockets aint the Astros.

 

I think there's a huge difference btwn TO and Artest.

TO complained about his teammates' lack of conditioning and / or ability.

Artest talked about how he was the **** and physically backedup his teammates and himself.

Artest is simply a shut down defender that can rebound, score and pass. And he's probably the best defender (per size) in the NBA.

I think Artest could be a great thing for a team, just remember Spree helping lift the Knicks to the NBA Finals. Just don't tell the kids he's a great person or anything.