Ron Artest, who can control his free-agency fate this summer, indicated via e-mail late Thursday night he's not planning to leave Sacramento. Also Thursday, Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said he intends to pick up the 2009-10 contract option for basketball president Geoff Petrie. Artest - who has until June 30 to exercise an early termination option in his contract for the 2008-09 season - said he and his agent are not plotting to explore free agency. Sacramento Bee Although his agent, Mark Stevens, did not return numerous calls for comment, his last public stance has been that Artest is "not likely" to opt out. "My agent is on a business trip," Artest wrote. "We have not talked about opting out at all." Sacramento Bee i know a lot of us wanted artest, but it appears he's going to stay. i think they have a good young foundation and artest provides that veteran leadership.
Guys, it's all strategy. Sac has been waiting on him, now he's gonna force them to make the next move. They've got to open negotiations or else trade him and he holds all the leverage in a trade. It's just a shrewd business move by him and his agent. It definitely doesn't mean Artest isn't going anywhere. How about Artest in NY now with D'Antoni? Artest has focused on getting to NY in the past, going back home. How about Artest anywhere that has a chance to be a contender. He wants to win, wants money, and wants publicity, and I'm not for sure in what order. I do not want Artest if we have to commit to $45-$55 million dollars over 5 years or some other big monster deal. Maybe a 3 year commitment at $30 million but we do not to overspend for RonRon. We're too good a team, and there's too many very good players available that are wanting a substantial role on a title contender.
The dude is odviously not gonna say this early, what he plans to do. That would be kinda stupid. Even for artest. Sometimes sayin you have no plans to do something is better than sayin no comment.
I wouldn't highlight his leadership skills. If people want Artest, it's not for his leadership. He's just an extremely talented and well-rounded player so you deal with his personality issues. Any team he is on will look for leadership elsewhere.
he's going to stay bc im sure he'll be traded and make his 9 mil., instead of signing somewhere for 5 mil.
Well...you can't really take his word for anything. He said he appreciated the support from Pacers fans and demanded a trade a few weeks later. He said he wants to retire a King at the start of the season and was ready to be traded at the deadline... I still want him though.
Sacramento still ain't a contender with Artest, Bibby, Martin and Brad Miller. They need one more star to compete in the West.
They got Sheldon Williams,Tyronn Lue,Anthony Johnson, Lorenzen Wright,and Atlanta's 45th pick from this upcoming draft.Lue,Johnson,and Wright are all expiring picks. Sheldon is the only one worth keeping.
i totally agree that a 3 year commmitment at $30million is safe and worth to rockets.there is the other plan,may be crazy,to trade TMAC to get more talent players.
all the talks he wants to stay at sacramento does not mean anything, rox defintely should give a serious consideration on getting artest...
Adding Artest (at whatever cost) to the Rockets is, IMHO, a potential disaster in the same categoty as those such as adding Barkley and Pippen. I think Artest would be a cancer on the Rocks' chemistry with his antics both off and on the court. Chemistry is so vital, especially when dealing with pro athletes' egos and attitudes.
Time to think about a trade... I'm guessing he'd be available if (1) things don't start clicking for that team early in the season or (2) younger guys who can take his minutes (Salmons, Martin, etc) steps up and makes him expendable.
