http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ba...t=AlPEAu3cM5mQiBkMCdPbRyq8vLYF?urn=nba,174056 The Rockets, and I can't believe I'm writing this, should probably bring back Ron Artest(notes). At times, last season, I seemed to be the only one out there that was unswayed by Artest's batch of good behavior. It's probably because good or bad behavior has never been what matters most to me, when appraising the play of Ron Artest. It's the on-court stuff I'm obsessed with, and as someone who has been watching closely since he entered the NBA, you can tell when Ron isn't holding his own. He'll shoot too much. He'll dominate the ball. He'll fancy himself a point forward, set up absolutely nobody, come to meet the ball late in the possession, and end up firing a contested 20-footer. If it goes in, great, but it's not likely to go in more than a third of the time. And as time has moved along, through his many stops, it's Ron's team-killing offensive play that has gotten worse and worse. Few point it out. Most are concerned with the nonsense that starts after the whistle stops play. That's fair, but that's been covered. And you could tell, toward the end of his turn in Indiana, growing much worse in Sacramento, and coming to a head last year (for me, at least) with the Rockets, that Ron's insistence on fancying himself an offensive superstar was killing teams. Way more than any suspension or off-court headache. And before we heard about Yao Ming's potentially career-ending injury, I'd hoped that the Rockets would have gotten creative with Artest's future. The guy is a free agent, and while Houston wouldn't exactly be selling high with Ron, I'd hoped that GM Daryl Morey would try to find a sign-and-trade suitor to replace the lame offensive possessions that Ron continually uses up. I wanted him on another team. Now that Yao's out, and the Rockets are apparently set on holding serve until he returns (as opposed to completely rebuilding)? Yeah, you should probably bring Ron back. Because this team is pretty hopeless offensively. And while Artest can create some awful, awful shots, he's still creating shots. You're not likely to find that in the open market, while over the cap, while hoping to spend your mid-level exception money on Marcin Gortat. Sorry for being simple with it, but you can sign Artest while over the cap, because he's your free agent. That's a sound rotation player you can retain without having to give anything up. Anyone else would cost you something, especially if Gortat signs your MLE. From there, you tinker. Tracy McGrady(notes), I'm sorry, but I just don't see him returning from microfracture surgery as soon as people think. The guy went under the knife late in the season, it's a year's worth of rehab, and Tracy has never been one to rush back to the lineup. His expiring contract is a huge asset. Artest can be the same, if signed to a solid deal. Houston has options, I know, but options the team probably won't cash in until next February. I'm tossing this out there because the Rockets are unlikely to blow things up. They'll probably try to hold serve while sussing out Yao's future, getting by on a smallish lineup with or without Gortat, one that could possibly make the playoffs even with Yao out for the year. As name-heavy as some other lottery teams were last year out West, I'd still pick Houston to make the postseason, because they have so many players who use their time on the court to do great things. Artest isn't always one of those players. On the bad nights, and there are really bad nights, he's rarely one of those players. But he's also a guy who isn't going to fetch much on the open market, he probably wants to sign quickly and without the embarrassment of dealing with limited options from around the league. And unless some other team wants to send you compensation for the right to pay Artest, you need to bring back a contributor at this price. Retain the assets, figure the rest out later.
I have not heard about not posting entire articles. The standard is link and article. Please direct me to anything that states otherwise.
It's ok since you didn't know but I think the hits to his article helps in some way. Maybe a mod will edit it?
there are some sports writers who post here on cf.net, and the general unwritten rule is that by providing a link and a preview of their article, and by the rest of us clicking the link to read the article, we support their work and the web traffic is directed to the proper place. in other words, they get credit for someone reading their article on yahoo vs. here. this would apply to JF from rockets.com and KellyDwyer from BDL. am I missing anyone?
In general, yes, but Kelley posts here, so refraining from posting the article is an extra courtesy for him. Of course, I probably won't read his stuff if we do that. I agree with him completely. I don't like Artest, but you don't let an asset walk for nothing. Sign him and you can trade later.
Yao might never play again. Re-signing Artest isn't going to accomplish anything other than clogging up our salary cap and hurting our draft position. R.E.B.U.I.L.D.
Ron gives you a national team identity and a rallying point for a team in retreat. The next season could be a very long one. But the article describes him correctly, you would eventually want to trade him so you have to keep his salary and years reasonable.
Maybe with Yao out, he can get more touches in or around the paint. I think he would be more effective there. He is not a 'break your defender down off the dribble' type player. He tries, and it looks HORRIBLE and messes up the ball movement. I think the guys like him in the locker room and would go to war with him, just none of them have the balls to tell him to 'move the ball around Ron!" when he starts getting jack happy. If he is receiving the ball closer to the paint, that will draw help to the paint and he can kick it out to others to shoot. That would work.
Ron works harder than Yao and Tmac. I think 12m is not too bad, esp now that Yao is out. If we can get rid off tmac's contract.. we'e still good.
Unless you're Artest, how would you know this? Even if this is true, we're nto paying Hayes 12 million because he works harder than Tmac.
Ron is known for trying to be a perimeter scorer and settling for jump shots. He will do it whether Yao is playing or not.
exactly. i dont like sign and trades because there is no leverage there. the rockets should sign him then look for a trade dear the deadline. maybe a team sees him as a piece that puts them over the top or into the playoffs and is willing to give up some young players or future picks to get it done.
