damnn but knowing this von will sign with rockets no matter what he will start and get 20+ min a game ahahahaha damnn i hope von go hard
It would be a big blow if the Rockets fail to resign Artest. This will signal the start of a retooling that might just lead to a rebuilding. BUT IN MOREY WE TRUST. so lets just enjoy the transformation of this team.
A guy from our forums talked to Ron's agent and verified the tweeter account was fake. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/210474-artests-agent-imposter-on-twitter-giving-false-information
Haven't seen this posted yet. If it has my apologies. From Jerome Solomon's twitter account: http://twitter.com/JeromeSolomon
This sounded like BS to me anyways. Why offer a one-year deal? It's probably worse than no offer. It's really an insult and doesn't make sense from a Rockets standpoint. For all the folks saying we're going to be major players in 2010, I thought that we're still over the cap with Yao's contract. Doesn't that mean Yao would have to opt-out? Something he's not likely to do...
From what Rons agent said their negotiations with the rockets start today. The one year deal may be bogus information.
Fine with me. $8M per over 4 years was okay. $12M for one year made sense. Giving him $12M for 4 years isn't worth. No doubt, he saved our season after the All-Star break. If he wasn't here, we probably don't make the playoffs. But you don't screw the team up with a retroactive reward. I'd feel differently if he stepped up in the playoffs, but he really didn't: Reg Season (pre-infamous Milwaukee game): 16ppg, 39% shooting Reg Season (post-infamous Milwaukee game): 19ppg, 41% shooting Post Season: 15.6 ppg on 39% shooting, 4 postseason games out of 13 where he scored 20+ points, 4 out of 13 the scored less than 10. 5 games shooting below 35% from the field. Only a single game earning more than 4 FT attempts. Two 3's for every three 2 pt attempts, while hitting only 28% from deep. Pretty crummy (postseason) numbers from a supposed number 2 option. Again, had he stepped up (at least marginally) in the playoffs, I'd be much more inclined to pay him. As it is, I'd rather not handcuff our financial situation with a secondary guy who's on the decline. He clearly is no longer the ace defender he once was. Evan
has this been posted.... Morey and the Rockets are playing poker, and they are good at it. Ron Artest? Not so much July 2, 10:14 AM · Fred Faour - Houston Sports Examiner Ron Artest might be done with the Rockets. NBA free agency is a lot like playing poker. Some teams have deep stacks of chips and can play aggressively; others are short stacks and have to pick their spots. Some teams are simply better poker players; they make fewer mistakes, more great plays and they wind up stacking more chips. Daryl Morey is the Phil Ivey of NBA general managers, and he is already putting some chips on the table. The Rockets are in hot pursuit of Marcin Gortat, the backup center for the Orlando Magic. They were interested in him as a potential backup to Yao Ming, but with Yao's status uncertain, Gortat would have a bigger role than first anticipated. Gortat is a restricted free agent, so the Orlando Magic -- his current team -- could match any offer. But since the Magic has cap issues, that's unlikely to happen. Expect the deal to get done, and for Gortat to become a Rocket. Even if Yao is able to play, Gortat would see a lot of action, and should be a decent fit in Rick Adelman's offense. Gortat is a perfect Morey-type player; good returns on key stats that he values in a limited role. Like Kyle Lowry, Morey projects bigger numbers from Gortat with more minutes. The Magic claim they will match any offer for Gortat and pay a stiff luxury tax, but that is likely a bluff. They can fade the loss of Gortat. If he does wind up with the Rocksts, he won't be Yao Ming, but he will be functional, and if the Rockets can continue to add parts around him, he will be a nice fit at a price that fits the Rockets' cap structure. Meanwhile, the bigger question is whether or not Ron Artest will return. One of the best reporters in Houston says it is unlikely he will be back. A Twitter post attributed to Artest said goodbye to Houston fans. Artest's agent claimed it was a hoax and he still wanted to return to Houston. However, Artest is reportedly being courted by the Cavaliers, who don't have much to offer in terms of contract money, and possibly the Lakers, who are equally hamstrung by the cap. To leave, Artest will likely have to take a seriously discounted deal. He might want to do that to play with the Cavs, who would be the title favorites with Artest. The bigger question is what the Rockets are willing to pay. They want to give Artest a one-year deal, and keep their flexibility for next offseason, when they will be positioned to remake the roster. But they also have to be realistically concerned about Artest being unhappy if he doesn't get the contract he wants. Artest is doing what players are supposed to do -- bluff. The Rockets can afford to be patient, and get Artest back at a price that makes sense. They don't have to bluff. The likely scenario the Rockets will lock up Gortat, and perhaps sign someone else; then they can exceed the luxury tax to bring back Artest for a year with a nice deal. Without Artest, Yao and Tracy McGrady, the Rockets will not be serious contenders next season. They might not be anyway, and if they decide that, there is little point in bringing back Artest. Regardless, the Rockets have options, money to spend and an incredibly valuable asset in McGrady's expiring contract. It makes sense to offer Artest a one-year deal; despite the courtship from the Cavs, it still seems likely he will return. Rest assured, whatever the Rockets do, there will be more to come. Morey and his staff have plenty of chips to play with, and they are the best players at the table. http://www.examiner.com/x-1519-Hous...nd-they-are-good-at-it-Ron-Artest-Not-so-much
I am glad the one year deal was just some rumor gone wild. It is understandable but insulting, to Ron and Rockets fans. It looks like Ron is likely out of here via S&T, but here is one fan who hopes he stays. I loved the confidence he instilled in the team, for the first time in a LOOOOOOONG time, the Houston Rockets played like winners. Say what you will about the true warier, but he brought the team the edge and championship mentality that it has lacked for far too long.
Off subject but I was wondering if we (sing I cant start a new thread)...can post thread dedicated to possible sign and trades? I know the Cavs and Lakers have shown interest in Ron...If ron is going to sign with one of those teams it has to be through a sign in trade. So we either pay him slightly above MIDlevel which is like 5.5 which we cant turn down...or we do a sign and trade for say 8-9 mil with the team of his choosing. I think that is what is inevitably going to happen...so what would we want? Another expiring contract? Trade to Portland for Rudy and Outlaw...What course of action do you that Morey would take?
Just like I told you. Ron does not care about the money. Here is a quote from him saying he would play for free and that he does NOT care about the money. Not saying LA isn't dealing, but str8 from Ron. "I don't really care about the money," Artest said. "I'll play there for nothing. ... L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me." http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/15861966
