LOL - I only care about the Rockets, I emotionally detach myself from players when discussing the franchise. I look at them as assets only.... I understand most people are not doing the same....and it leads to miscommunication. As a guy who owns companies and manages people, this is how I choose to look at the team, trying to see what Les and DM are thinking. How would I mold a team of close knit players who compliment each other? As much as I like Ron, and I think he is very funny, a tough competitor, but to me, the Rockets need a scorer to compliment Battier at the wing position more than they need a ball hogging, inefficient scorer like Ron. You can keep one, but not both, we need more offense. The D has been world class before Ron got here, and will be once he leaves, the O...is the problem. 70 points in game 7 is not going to cut it people. We need scoring..... DD
I'd go for it, Artest and Shane in the team, means a tough matchup for every team's wing players, which is great cause lots of team in NBA have their wing player as their 1st scoring option. They can get the outside firing power from a healthy Tmac(less likely), or whoever traded for Tmac, or just wait till 2010 free market. PG wise, AB is good off the bench when Yao's not on the court, which means they'll have to sign a pass first PG, or develope Lowry.
Well in common sense, if Yao comes back, he won't be the number 1 option no more. And if Tracy comes back or whoever we get for him is good enough, Artest would be the 3rd option.
if yao comes back healthy, how is it "common sense" that he'd not be the first option? if he's not, then who would be our first option? brooks?
DD my last post about slapping you was a joke because I understand where you're coming from. However, I don't want you to judge Ron or the team base on the Lakers series. The fact that Rockets scored 70 points in game 7 have nothing to do with Ron Artest, even though he was horrible offensively that game, it have everything to do with Yao and McGrady sitting on the bench.
I think you gotta try to keep Artest if you can. Artest is more balanced than Battier and fits better with Brooks. I think if you get a more balanced starting wing and a good backup center (I'm thinking a guy that can keep Yao at 28 mpg), the Rockets are ready to roll. The trading pieces for these two guys would be McGrady, Battier, and MLE.
Ron is a major problem on offense...a major one...he too often goes one on five, and that is part of the reason the offense breaks down so often.....and goes through scoring droughts. DD
That's what you get when you ask a third option to become your primary option. He'll be fine when he finds his place in the offense when the all the pieces are in place.
he'll most likely would be back for that price tag. morey knows it and ron knows it. after his abysmal performance in the playoffs, esp. offensively, he won't get top notch money elsewhere. at that price tag, ron's a good deal. his production only warrants that much.
you do not let talent like ron artest just walk away. you sign and trade if you don't want him. 'pass' is NOT an option.
Exactly. When Yao was playing Ron did fine as the second option, because Yao was the primary option. One Yao was out, Ron's numbers slipped dramatically. He'll be fine as long as he isn't the number one option. Been that way his entire career.
IMHO, when it comes to contract negotiations you don't make the first offer. You wait for the other dude to do it, then you make the offer. Sure you can put your own baseline price ("I think Artest would be worth 10M max") but you certainly don't use that figure in negotiations...at least not at the start. In NBA terms, what happens is you don't put an offer on the table, you let the market decide on the player's value, then you either match or let the dude walk. As an example, Landry was signed for 3M per year because we waited for the Bobcats to decide his value, even though everyone and their mom knows his production this year is worth twice that at least. On the other hand, you have guys like the Magic who pay Rashard what they feel he is worth, hence you get Juwon Howard's contract 3-4 years from now. Waiting for the other guy to make the first move = Landry Making the first move = Rashard Lewis The only exception is if you think you could get a discount in locking him early (i.e. the Jet), or if you think he will have a high market value so you make an offer first (i.e. Gilbert Arenas). My opinion is that no team would offer Artest that 8M per year he's looking for. Toughness is nice and all, but if you strip away all the hype, Artest hasn't shown a whole lot this year. He seemed a step slow, and missed something like 28 of his last 31 three pointers. I'm thinking if we wait it out we can get him for something like 6M per year. The question is, would a 6M Artest be the good Artest? Or would you get Bonzi Wells redux? That's what DM should focus on IMHO.
Some of you guys on here talking about Ron taking the MLE is an absolute insult to the guy. Put yourself in his position, would you take the MLE? Sure he wants to win but why at his expense. Its business and its his right to get as much as he is worth, and as a free agent I would say 8-10mil is a reasonable price for Ron Artest given what he brings to this team. Hes tough, hustles, plays solid defence, can hit the three, and seems like a great team mate and has become a fan favorite especially in the playoffs. DM knows what he is doing and he will pay him what he is worth. If we had to sign and trade him id like to see someone like Prince, Odom, or Josh Howard here.
Artest is a competitor. When you know the whole team is working hard, and there's a dude who's being lazy and lacking of motivation on the court. With a guy like Artest, he will call him out. If T-mac can come back like a real professional athlete with heart, I think Artest won't hold any grudge on him.
I say give him a 3 year deal at 6 million a piece and then add incentives up to 10 million if we go deep in the playoffs or he shoots over 43%. Since Ron thinks he can do anything, I think an incentive laden deal is the best way to go from a team perspective.
I know you are quick to jump on the get rid of Ron and focus on his negatives but you have to remember Ron was put on this team to be the THIRD option and he was basically forced to become the #2 and then the #1 when Yao was being fronted and we couldn't make entry passes. I don't disagree that at times he does go a little stupid but I also recall a few games when T-Mac and Yao were playing he was only taking 6-8 shots a game. If you can find a better free agent that would willingly sign for Houston at $8 million a year then please be my guest and point them out to me. Hes not asking for a max deal here people, there are a lot worse players in the NBA on bigger contracts. Also those saying we should sign him for the MLE are you stupid? A guy we could just resign to a contract and you want to use our MLE to do it?? basically meaning that we won't be able to sign any sort of decent free agent or veteran for a playoff run because it will all be used up?
