I would in a heart beat. This seems like it would be a good move for both teams. Artest is perfect for a JVG team and Cat could be the perfect replacement for Reggie Miller. Their salaries even match up on Real GM. PG Francis SG Jackson SF Artest PF Griffin C Ming Me like!
I would do that trade right now. Francis-Mooch-Wilks JJ-Pike Artest-A. Griffin Griffin-Taylor?-Cato Yao-Cato-Amechi We would automatically be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, seems reasonable.
No brainer. YES !!! But we might have to throw in the trade excemption and Eddie. Thats how far ahead Artest is from Cuttino. Still,Indiana still wont do it unless we start with Ming or Francis because they know how damn good artest is.
hes not that good. he was more efficient than mobley tho last season. eddie and mobley for artest is way too much. mobley for artest would be nice but i dont think the trade would work. there would need to be other players included in the trade. artest is pyscho too.
Why? If you were to trade Mobley, the motive would be to add stability and maturity. You're taking a major step down here. Why does everyone on this board want to trade Mobley for Artest? Aside from the distractions Artest brings, Mobley is a far superior playmaker and shooter. Artest is the far greater defender but I wouldn't trade an offensive weapon for a perimeter defender when JVG's specialty is strong team oriented defense. Sprewell was good, but do you think Allan Houston and Charlie Ward were great defenders? When you have 3 good shotblockers, you play a strong team defense and your perimeter defenders can take more risks. You do not need to trade good offensive players for perimeter defenders. That is a waste.
Let me add, in case there is any confusion, I think good defensive big men are an absolute must. But out on the perimeter, any starting caliber NBA guard can get past his defender. That's why they're in the NBA. You stop these guys with good team defense and shotblocking so that your perimeter guys can take risks. Having said this, why lose a dangerous offensive weapon in Mobley?
but Ming gets in ALOT of foul trouble .I think artest/jackson would be able to stop penetration enough to keep ming in LONGER and more minutes. Plus,we DONT NEED a playmaker from Cat. We already have Ming and Francis domination the ball and we need good shooters to catch and shoot and play hardcore defense. Artest is a better shooter and defender than Cat(check the last two years numbers) Plus,mismatches.Artest can play sg/sf which means we can go big or small. With cuttino everything is smallball. When Rudy would put Cat at sf,we were playing midget ball which is worse than small ball.
Dont need Eddie either. Looks like CD agrees with me. He hasnt extended Eddie. We have taylor/cato to play the four according to JVG. This trade is a no brainer for people who understand bball.
1. You get a verstile sg/sf with the size and ability to stop Kobe! 2. He only averaged two points fewer than Mobley. 3. We're not talking about Spree or Houston or Ward defensively. This guy was runner up to BEN WALLACE for NBA Defensive MVP. 4. He's 5 years younger. 5. His temper was due to the fact that Isiah Thomas wanted Artest to play with that type of temperment. 6. I will always appreciate and applaud a player who's competitive fire is comparable to Jordan. He broke the guy's ribs defending him. You have to like that!!
Can't make a definite decision because we don't know if Artest is mature enough to stop his antics. Just comparing the players skill-wise, why not? I really liked Cat two years ago, and maybe he'll be a team player, but Artest under control would add another dimension for us. His scoring ability isn't anywhere near Cat's, but it's not that bad. His defense, toughness, and attitude would rub off on the team though, hopefully. He also is crazy about winning.
I would like to stay with Eddie for another couple years unless a trade blows my socks off. Hopefully Taylor won't become injury prone, if he's not, eddie would be more expendable then.
As far as his attitude is concerned, I've always felt a team needs a little attitude. I generally felt like Mad Max's attitude was generally a bigger benifit to us than liability. I also think that Van Gundy is the man that tamed a guy who actually strangled his previous coach. Artest isn't that bad. I love Ron Artests game. But it seems I recall he wanted a huge extension. Like max money. Also, as to the person who said Indiana wouldn't consider it unless we were talking Yao or Francis. I think you over-rate Artest. He's a good player but he does have his flaws, including his temperment. It's said Jermaine O'Neal has asked for him to be moved. If that's so Cat wouldn't be a bad offer for them. Though they might want something more. (I wouldn't mind throwing in Amaechi! hehehe) More likely it would be a draft pick or cash though. They can have Nachbar too. By all accounts it seems he is just an outright bust.
I should have also added that for now I'm really satisfied to sit back and see what Van Gundy can do with the roster we have.
IMHO, with the recently aquired depth, I believe the addition of Artest would give us the ability to contend for the title. As we stand right now I still think we are that ONE key player away. Of course having a title contender takes time and experience, but with Artest I feel that we could do more than just get to the playoffs.
I don't think there is a GM in the league that wouldn't trade Mobley for Artest straight up. He's one of the league's best defenders that's improved every year he's been in the league.
