JVG benches players who don't want to work. Bonzi didn't want to work. Unless Artest's singing career picks up, he'll work hard.
First of all we are all outsiders looking in, we may never know what happened between the two. I would say both had faults in this situation. JVG does have problems developing players (Boki) and also why Bonzi was not THAT bad before he joined the Rox? That is why I am not sure about Artest if JVG stays....
I included Howard just to get the salaries to match, but I’m fairly sure Isiah Thomas could care less if Juwan Howard is included or not. Too bad the Rockets made the stupid decision to include Swift in the Battier trade. Swift would be the exact type of filler that would be enticing to a team like the Knicks. Ideally, we'll have a new starting power forward next season, Chuck Hayes will back him up, and Juwan Howard "productive" for some other team. Anyways, our depth would suck, but it can’t possibly suck any more than it already does. I view the starting lineup as a bigger problem than depth. We have a lot of players that can be productive players off the bench (Alston, Head, Battier, Howard, Mutombo, Snyder, possibly V-Span, Novak, and Wells). But our starting lineup stinks. We have easily the worse starting combo at the point and power forward positions in the league. Worry about fixing that first before worrying about depth. We absolutely have to have a major upgrade at the point guard position and I don’t see a lot of scenarios out there that would allow us to do that without us playing a hefty price. The point guard position has become, easily, the most important position in the league, and is, easily, the hardest position to find a starting caliber player. It’s extremely difficult to win without a near all-star level point guard, as these playoffs have shown. It has basically become what the center position used to be. Good/great point guards come at a premium and the free agent market has nobody, outside of Maurice Williams, that would be a clear upgrade to Alston. On the other hand, if you trade Battier away to get a starting point like Bibby, there are plenty of quality swingmen in the free agent market (Barnes, Pietrus, Peterson, Nocioni, Grant Hill, Udoka) to replace him. I’d prefer this trade to a Battier for Artest swap, but I would do both deals.
Ill agree with you that a super point guard is essential to most teams, but with a team like the Rockets it is not. We have players in Yao and Tmac who can create shots for others. We need a point guard who can shoot the ball consistently, bring the up the ball, and play tough D. Plug someone like Derek Fisher or even Mike James in and our team will change dramatically. We dont need to pay a premium for a point guard, even though Bibby would be nice.
Artest will work hard only if he gets the ball. Ask Musselman why Artest would say he got injuries just b4 games and said he couldnt play. If JVG cant handle Bonzi, Artest will probably in JVG's doghouse within 1 month.
Agree with the comments about PG. But you and most others still don't seem to realize what a lunatic Ron Ron is. Any NBA team that makes him a part of their foundation will regret it. I'm no doctor, but there's got to be a good chance he is mentally ill. Even when things seems normal, the guy has a devastating effect on team morale. Just ask yourself this: Why do we want this guy after observing how he basically killed the Pacers franchise and became so radioactive the Kings want to dump him at all costs? What makes you think that won't happen here? I'm listening! The answer is it WILL happen here also. The idea of giving up an asset like Shane is ridiculous. If the Kings would take junk for him like some combination of Sura's contract, Juwan, etc then maybe we do a deal. But when Ron Ron starts conflicting with Yao and Tracy and team chemistry falls apart, people will wonder why the Rockets were so stupid. Someone even made the comment Ron Ron would become the leader of this team. He's the worst kind of leader any team could have. Artest ask to be traded from the Pacers because he wanted to be "the man". In Sactown, he conflicted with his only challenger for being "the man", Mike Bibby. Anyone see a pattern? As a Rocket, you better believe Yao would be his #1 lockerroom target after an initial period of "harmony". Just trying to throw realism into the discussion. I can't believe the way so many people are salivating over this nutcase of a psycho.
Actually Artest played his best (organized) bball under Rick Carlislie, Artest didnt even know and said Carlislie was restrictive. *sigh*.
And the Bulls gave away Will Perdue for him, not someone actually useful. Will Perdue, Will Perdue, Will Perdue, not a useful player, we talking Will Perdue here.
I'm not suggesting we give away Battier. I would not trade Battier for Ron and I love what Ron brings to the court. But we will have to take risks with hotheads. We are capped out and are not going to get good talent for cheap. Short of Yao, Tmac and Battier, we need to do anything and everything possible to bring Artest to Houston. Then hope NY cuts Francis and sign him as well. We need a serious infusion of talent in our lineup after the top three. And we need some badasses.
his positives really outweigh his negatives here.. i wouldn't mind the guy but i would take SF over him.
NO way you make this move. It isn't a matter of IF but a matter of WHEN Artest will blow up and wreck any team chemistry he had not already destroyed via his constant demands to be "the guy" on offense. Bonzi's presence hurt this team no matter what anyone says. Artest will do much worse.
