Now that the season's over, do we re-sign Ron Artest?

by the way u need to calm ur a$$ down I don't want my computer to be hacked by chinese hackers upto them finding out dis ****

 

If they are the same player, and if I had the vote, and if Artest would sign for anything close to Battier's $, I'd lean toward Artest as Battier is just too offensivley challenged and gives you zip in transition.

But the Rockets' biggest need is to move Chuck Hayes as far down the bench as possible when (note I did not type "if") Yao Ming gets injured.

IOW, put both Artest and Battier on the trading block and obtain the best C you can get. A good C would negate both Artest's and Battier's flaws.

 

Man you don't need to make us sound so desperate. Its as if if we didn't have a good backup C the team is totally doomed.

Just listen to me, go to Rick Sund and see what he wants, and since he is pretty dumb drafting like 10 lottery 7 Footers in a row with all of them being huge busts (Swift, Sene, Petro) we somehow get them one of these and get the rights to David Andersen.

Trust me David Andersen is the Luis Scola of Euro Centres.

Now the problem is getting his rights away from Atlanta. I mean dis Sund dude can't be harder to trick than RC Buford and the Spurs right???

How about :

Scola trade number II of the Morey era:

Bad Contract: Jackie Butler --- Speedy Claxton

Speedy Claxton is one of the biggest FA busts set to make 25 million over 5 years doing nothing but rehabbing and getting injured again.

So we give them Brian Cook who is a nice exp

Brian Cook(3.5) + Brent Barry(2) + Von Wafer(3) sign and trade for David Andersen and Speedy Claxton(6)

we get a nice trade exception as well

 

Assume this: Tmac won't play until April next year and then at rusty, out of shape, over the hill level; and his contract is untradeable.

The Rockets need to secure every asset they can. They will have to spend if they want a taller back-up C probably the MLE.

There's really not much choice but to enter contract negotiations with Ron and hold out for the lowest deal. Morey will have to go out of his way to make the negotiations amicable, lot's of "we Love Ron" in the paper and lot's of encouragement to find his own SnT if he can so everyone knows his market value.

I think we need to be ready to go into the season with this very same team with the addition of Dorsey at back-up C (and try to win a lot of 80-79 games).
I think Wafer is on the rise and could be what we need for instant offense off the bench. For that role it's OK if he is a little wild.

 

you sign him unless you're getting a better player.

 

Normally I agree with this, but his contract demands are crucial to the decision.....

DD

 

i disagree, you don't trade the heart and soul of the team for a C when you already have yao, ron and shane are both integral to this team, and it's chemistry, if you want to trade someone, trade mac.

 

Trade Mac and Ron....and get good young players back...and reload...

DD

 

People are still ignoring how well Ron played when Yao was playing during the first 3 Lakers games.

DATE OPP RESULT MIN FG 3P FT STL BLK TO PF OFF DEF TOT AST PTS
5/4 @Lal W 100-92 40 8-15 3-6 2-3 1 0 2 2 1 2 3 7 21
5/6 @Lal L 111-98 34 8-14 4-7 5-6 2 0 2 4 0 3 3 5 25
5/8 Lal L 108-94 37 10-23 2-8 3-4 0 1 4 4 2 4 6 1 25

If the Rocket's plan on going forward with Yao, which I'm pretty sure we are doing- then Ron should definitely be here too if we get him on the cheap (around $8M/yr).

 

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/59234/20090518/artest_wants_to_return_to_rockets/

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/59237/20090518/wafer_hopes_to_remain_in_houston/

 

We'd be dumb not to resign the guy. He adds that toughness, grittiness, leadership this team needs.

While he stunk it up these past 4 games, he also owned up to it. And his approach to the media has proven he's turned the page on that horrible chapter in his life. He has done nothing on the court or off the court to make him a liability for this team.

This team would be much worse off without him. The situation fits, he wants to be here, we want him here, Morey will figure it out.

 

Ron has done his part well this seaon.
He contributes to the team equally to what he earns, if no more than that.
Spiritually, he is the man Rockets is in bad need of.
In the eyes of other teams, he is a rogue. Let's keep them, let his unleash his full energy here.
Trade tracy, I do not want to see his "cool" smile again

 

I know he had a *****ty series, but overall, i think he makes this team better in terms of toughness and leadership, let alone defensively...Rick can coach this guy...

 

Re-sign him and go with what we have.

IF T-Mac comes back healthy bring Ron off the bench. If he doesn't, send him packing for a scoring wing.

 

IN MOREY WE TRUST.

 

Resign Ron. Keep McGrady.
What happens: Hopefully Ron continues to be tough, and not have any problems with McGrady on the court next season, I'm sure things will change.

Resign Ron. Trade McGrady.
What happens: Trading McGrady thinking he's not going to be the offensive threat like he used to be a few years back, we're screwed. McGrady does wonders passing wise in the crucial moments of games, and he does have a game you guys. Because he'll be coming back from surgery, yes, that means that could be heaven for him or hell. But gotta think in a positive way. So trading him I think is the worst thing to do, do you guys want McGrady to be the scoring leader next season with ANOTHER team? I don't think so.

 

Do this in your head, do it in simulation games if you must:

Subtract Ron from this team, insert a Shane Battier double in the lineup. What happens to the Rockets offense?

It's almost like people are now watching the numbers, not the games, it's that funny.

...and I like Shane.

 

I am not sure if you guys read this already or if it's been posted, my apologies for being redundant.

Ron wants to re-sign.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4174528

 

Disagree all you want. Call Battier the "heart and soul" all you want. Battier at best is a high-end role player. (At worst, an undesirable offensive liability).

The pure facts are these.

1) In the absence of Yao Ming, Battier is essentially worthless. (See '09 playoffs - Laker$).
2) In the presence of Grady, the trio of Artest, Battier and Grady looked terrible. (See '09 Regular Season thru Grady's shutdown).
3) Artest looked really good in the playoffs until Yao was injured.

Keeping both Artest and Battier without adding a top tier C for WHEN Yao gets his next injury is pure madness.

 

Nothing happens, Artest just shoots more.....but he doesn't MAKE more...he took the most shots of anyone in the playoffs, and had the worst efficiency.

Get rid of Ron, get a guy who can score and create a little...and watch the team explode...

Keep Shane, he is a great complimentary piece and we need that....what we don't need are declining complimentary pieces who THINK they are stars...

DD