For starters, this is not a knee-jerk thread. After seeing another typical Ron Artest 4-13 game, I decided to detail some thoughts that have been dwelling in my head for a good 3 months now. I'm not insinuating that we are going to lose in the first round, but it's pretty safe to say that the WCF are out of reach now that we have the Lakers lined up in the second round if we manage to beat Portland without our Home Court advantage. What I am saying is that our roster situation for next year is looking more grim as each game with a poor Artest performance passes. We have to resign Artest. He knows this. The Rockets know this. What are our other options? It can be assumed Tracy won't be coming back until a few weeks before the All-Star break if even by then. So if we don't resign Artest (he can pretty much dictate the amount), we will be stuck with a roster consisting of one legitimate star/scoring threat, Yao Ming. The Rockets CANNOT go 60% of the season with only Yao as their star talent and expect to get a high seed/advance in the playoffs. Whether we trade McGrady for someone at the deadline or he comes back with some surprising performances, we won't be able to fend off the other Western teams for so long before we regain our composure. So I ask, is Ron Artest holding us hostage? Surely no player can go so long without realizing his play is seriously lacking. Jacking up 3s and playing selfishly can only go on for so long without someone saying something. Does he feel he has the right to do virtually whatever he wants because he knows we'll have to resign him?
Agreed. Ron will make a perfect 3rd option for the Rockets next year. Offensively, he is playing over his head, as are a few other Rockets. We need another perimeter option.
Trade him in a S&T for Bibby. He has major toughness, but his knucklehead sphinctor factor trumps toughness. DD
We need someone who can close the game and he can't. His shot selection is somewhat questionable and he is shooting percentage is not pretty either. He can be a solid role player behind Yao and ? though. I like his toughness but I feel like his defense is a little overrated. There are a few times tonight he didn't box out his man and Dallas end up getting offensive rebound.
Exactly. Resigning Artest if we find a better second option would be fine, but with the amount of money he is going to want (10-11 million), the Rockets will struggle to find a quality player that can fill the gaps on this team.
You know who.. All we can hope for is that he recovers. Either way no one will want him if he doesen't play. Even if his contract is attractive.
I think we may be forced to have Ron Ron on the team next year. But I would not give him a multi year deal. I want him and TMAC to come off the books after next season so we can hit free agency hard.
Artest and Brooks are our 2 weakest starters Instead of signing Artest next year, sign KIDD (distributing point guard who KNOWS how to be a point guard) and then we have McGrady who is (actually) a reliable option
TMac will not be back. Can't all the TMac fans realize he will be another Webber coming off a serious surgery. Rockets should keep Ron and he will prove all you doubters wrong in the playoffs.
I don't agree with that at all, and I'm beginning to think the Rockets need to part ways with Ron unless they can acquire a dominate personalty (that he respects) to keep him in line.
Hope we use him as bait to get a legitimate shooting guard. Too many time he gambles on defense, taking wild shots, blowing layups and turn it over. We not good enough to afford a knucklehead. But we need a new coach too.
