This is a Low risk/High reward scenario. If we attain Ronnie and he goes nuts, we only lose the players that we traded to get him, none of which will be T-Mac or Yao. If he decides to focus and play ball, we would have a potential dynasty.
Ive been saying for a long time what we are missing is FIRE! This may be a little bit too much, but I think Ron would hold Yao accountable for being a wuss sometimes. Were 0-13 without T-Mac people. Roll the dice.
I tell you what. This guy is the nut job of the century. Did you see him sitting there at the Laker game last night? Him and his agent reminded me of a black Beavis and Buthead with all the smirking, etc. He makes Rodman and Vernon look like sane. The guys just acts like he's hearing voices or something. He acts clinically scizophrenic, psychotic. Great player and I was hoping we would get him a while back but he is risky, risky, risky. High risk, high reward.
Artest= Rasheed Wallace Artest= Rasheed Wallace Well if we go by the words of Van Gundy, its hard to figure out whether he would want artest on this team. Last year he said Tmac and Yao are naturally not fiery players (or something to that effect) and that when you have stars like that you do your best to surround them with pit bulls. then this year he said he would make sure he would never bring another knucklehead to the team. Its pretty obvious that artest is the premiere pit-bull in the league. I also dont consider him a knucklehead because his teamates over the years have had no issues with him, unlike charles oakley, who i think JVG was referring to in the knucklehead phrase. The player who i would compare artest to situation wise is Rasheed Wallace, who was the NBA bad boy in portland and was completely misunderstood and always thought of as a "bad teamate" or "chemistry killer" but when put in a positive winning situation where he could blend in and have a fresh start, he completely took the Pistons team over the top. If artest could become that kind of spark for this franchise then i am ALL FOR A TRADE FOR ARTEST!
I do not want to give away head. I rather give ATL Swift + 1st round pick in 2006 + next year's 2nd round pick. I will do this with the hope that Spanoulis and Malick will be closer to joing this team within the next 2 years.
I think JVG's knucklehead statement was in support (ie PR groundwork) of Rafer and his troubles last season.
I think if we were in a position where Artest would get us over Spurs and likes - yes, we should do it. Unfortunately, Artest coming here doesn't even guarantee us a playoff spot if Yao's and especially T-Mac's absence continues. I would say I'm against a trade for him, especially if we have to give up this years pick for Pacers. And BTW, has Artest ever been content in one place more than two years? Even if he won't suspend himself and keeps himself healthy, who says he won't demand another trade or want to concentrate on his rap "career"?
I really do feel Artest is a LEGITIMATE nutjob ... not like Rasheed or Rodman who were problems and saw their stocks drop pre-trade only to be put in to positions where their stocks soared. He's a true psycho it seems. I'm not 100% convinced that Ron Ron can focus on ball... not after asking for a trade after putting the Pacers in the position that he did last season. Perfect player for a Van Gundy scheme though ... defensive wizard who can score. It's very tempting. I haven't given up on this season yet (and I'm usually Mr. Tank).
Remember how the Rox brought Clyde Drexler out in street clothes to a standing ovation? Now there was good marketing. It even fired up his new teammates. So how will the organization introduce Mr. Artest? Wheel him out in a cage, chained, surrounded by animal control officers?
I wonder if this is somewhat related to what CD was saying on was it 610 radio the other day.. Talking about there is proably going to be a couple of trades going down this weekend...
Regardless of whether or not Artest comes here, some of you guys are really overvaluing our first round draft pick. First of all, we are gonna make a run, and the chances of that pick being a lottery pick are slim. Secondly, the chances of that lottery pick being a top 3 pick are even slimmer. Thirdly, this will be the shallowest draft in the last 15 years because of the new age limit. Last year's draft was the mother lode. You get outside of the top 3 players (and even then there are going to be questionmarks) and there is no talent that we can't duplicate through free agency or vets minimum signings. There just isn't much talent available in this upcoming draft. Fourth, that pick is a guaranteed salary, which will in all likelihood ride the bench on a Van Gundy team. Haven't you noticed? Luther has been standout this year and Coach is still limiting his minutes? Do you really think we are gonna catch lightning in a bottle twice in a row, with this coach, with this team, with a mid to low first round pick? Trade the pick and get a player that can contribute.
You know, it's hard to give up on a season like this. There's just too much to hope for, like Yao coming back, T-Mac returning to form, DA and Barry coming back, Stro finding his game, maybe even Sura coming back in time for playoffs ... as awful as we are right now, it's about as far from a hopeless situation as it could get.
He'll have the Rocket logo shaved into his dome and have his hair painted Red, orange, and yellow to go along with it.
Artest is a pretty big risk, but what exactly are we risking? We are falling further and further behind with every game we play. Yao, DA, Barry are all out for atleast another 2-3 weeks, I doubt we ever see Sura play again. T-Mac has been in and out all season long. It's not like we are a playoff team that can risk falling out. Right now, we are not in playoff contention and if possible, we should try anything to turn this season around. Waiting for injuries to heal isn't going to help us.
Our pick - IMO, doesn't have much value. Our expiring contracts - they won't be back next year and this year is pretty much gone, so lets get some value. Head - I'd hate to lose him but we've mistakenly passed on trades in the past because of a 1st year player that has had a few good games and has potential. Swift - I'm not a huge fan but he would leave us a hole at PF; however it would solve a problem about having a low IQ player through 2010. Artest - As it's been said, he's truely crazy and comes with a high risk, but it's times like these that you roll the dice.
maybe something more like this.......... I don't want Artest on this team, at all He make TO look like a girl scout.
