[David Aldridge] NBA TV: Houston trying to trade for Ron Artest

See, here's my thing: most of your post is about Shane's merits on the court, right now. But the Kings aren't thinking about right now. If they were, that Bibby trade wouldn't have happened.

I'm not "judging him harshly." I know he's valuable, but he won't be valuable by the time the Kings are contending again.

The idea of them keeping him to use as trade bait is the only notion that makes sense to me, and that is possible. But honestly, if I'm them... I want young prospects (Brooks, Landry), draft picks, and expirings.

 

I would too, but say the Kings weren't thinking complete rebuild?

Even if they were, maybe they use Shane as a channel to get rid of Artest, then see if maybe he has a solid spot on the roster after this season, if not, shop him for that young talent and draft picks they need?

Kevin Martin is young and locked up for 5 seasons. They are going to have a lot of money this offseason even if they don't ship Artest. Their future looks good. If they get a decent player via free agency, to pair up with Martin/Battier, who knows?

Buy my main premise was I don't think, with all the other competitors to snatch Artest, the Rockets could pick him up for a couple expirings and a trade bait/draft pick(s).

They will get two of Najera/Kleiza/Nene if they ship to the Nuggets
They will get a TE from Phoenix worth $8mil (unlikely?) that will make them MAJOR players in the FA market this offseason
etc. etc.

I know you weren't judging Shane harshly, but maybe the Kings decide they can afford to use Ron Artest not JUST as a salary dump?

I also think the Bibby trade was happening regardless. My friends who are Kings fans have been hinting at this for many, many months now. The Kings 2007-2008 calendar didn't even have Bibby in it. Nor Brad Miller. But it had Artest.

Weird, huh?

 

so is this deal in the process of being worked out? or are the teams at least talking? or is this just a stupid rumor

 

omg ppl u still dont get, artest is good player that can bring a lot to the table, but we already took like 30 games to figure the rotation and RA's game. we have our team chemistry, we dont need artest giving us tech fouls during playoff time thats gonna hurts us.
make a trade for Mike Miller we need a shooter on this team, altho Head is a good shooter but he hasnt live up to his last yr stats.

 

I'm originally from Sacramento, and my parents and brother still live there. The general feeling surrounding the Kings this season has been one of disgust: because their roster was filled with old, declining players with big contracts (Bibby, Miller, Shareef, Thomas), and a star (Artest) who clearly wasn't committed to the team. If they can't be contending soon (they can't), then they need to start ditching all their vets for young, cap-friendly prospects, and get themselves some high draft picks. Getting Shane Battier IMPROVES your basketball team, wins you more games. But that means you're that much farther away from good draft picks.

Like I said, wanting Shane to use as trade bait does make some sense to me. But if I'm Sactown, I'd be even happier with Brooks and/or Landry, to go with a draft pick or two. I value those draft picks and that cap space and developmental playing time for my young guys more than I value a quality vet like Shane running up my win total and giving me fewer lottery balls.

And I've been reading that the Nugs are high enough on Kleiza that they've continually balked at giving him up for Artest. Yeah sure, the Nugs' package beats ours if they change their minds. But if not, as Sacramento, I value Brooks more than Nene or Najera, that's for sure.

You have to remember that Artest has publicly said he's leaving after his contract is up, so all the Artest suitors know that the Kings either take what they're given, or they lose him for nothing. Brooks and draft picks is waaaaaay better than nothing.

 

If I told you last year heading to the playoffs you would get james and artest, and the stipulation was no first round pick...would you say we were in trouble? We are winning with Alston playing 35 min...do you think the subtraction of Brook's 13 minutes would offset the addition of Artest playing 30? I like Brooks but we need to role the dice on Artest if it can happen.
-V

 

This is no brainer. Think about it, if we have a good run in the play-off and Artest likes it here, I think he will take a pay cut to stay. He wants to win more than anyone. That's why even Jordan respects him.

 

There has to be more to convince me that this is more than just another one of those rumors that will never come true.

 

I wouldn't give up the following players:

McGrady
Yao
Scola
Brooks
Landry

Anybody else along with draft picks and cash should be in play.

Brooks is the real deal. He just needs time.

 

One more thing, it will be hard for us to get home court in any event. So without Artest, it is hard to imagine we can get out the first round. Think about it, do you want another year of 1st round exit?

 

lol no he wants money hes makin 7mil right now he obviously believe that he should make like around 10-15 mil he doesnt want to win, he wants money more, of course let say he does want to win, he could find other places offering more money and could possibly win more games like the eastern conference for example. i would actually want denver to trade him, and messed up their team chemistry, better if AI and artest got a fight

 

Well, his desire to win was verified by none other than Jordan.

He wants to win the whole thing. Not just some meaningless games in the Eastern conference.

 

Artest will take minutes away from the SF position ie Battier and perhaps some from Landry. I can't see either of those guys playing more than 10-15 minutes a game if we got Artest. Scola would continue to start and I think Landry's minutes would go down.

Battier however, would be the first playing time casualty of bringing in Artest.

 

I would give up a draft pick for Artest since draft picks are often times proven to be overrated as often as they are valuable especially in our boat when we're on pace to likely finish in the 50 win range [knock on wood].

Bonzi/Snyder's expiring deals + a 1st round pick is a solid way to at least grab Sacramento's attention. I would desperately try to sell them on Luther instead of Brooks too.

What could Bonzi/Snyder/Luther/#1 pick get us? That's what I would like to know.

 

We can't trade away Bonzi. Bonzi and Adelman are the two of the many reasons we might be able to resign Artest for cheap

 

yea he wants to win, but he cared bout money too or else he would start makin his own music album, maybe hes bored of suspension from that piston brawl. i know what artest can bring to the table im not denyin he is a good player, hes will definitely make rox the best def team in the league, but im sure he wants to sign with team that has more money to offer, and potential win more games. besides i do believe the rox can win the champ this yr, but later yr we'll need brooks to start and im sure sacto is not stupid they want brooks plus some other guys that we dont want to trade like landry

 

if theres a chance to get artest then give up brooks !!! do it DM !! the rockets need to win now !!! if this team dont get out of the first round its going to get blown up anyways...and yao and tmac isnt getting any younger...

i rather us win now and get a guy that can help us win now then hope for a undersize pg that has potential...even if artest walks next year....we would then have cap space to go after FA in the offseason

 

Houston is a music Mecca for rap. We got Paul Wall. You wanna Grill call Johnny Dang! You be fly! Set you up with some bling bling. Ron Artest wants to come to Houston like there's no tomorrow. Reunited with his old coach and buddy Bonzi Wells.

 

What? When exactly would Bonzi get playing time anyway, on a team featuring T-Mac and Artest? And possibly even Battier?

 

o btw why do u think that the randolph and curry combo didnt work out, think bout it curry is a OK big man, better than kromn brown at least, and randolph is a double double guy, the knicks have lots a talent why cant they win games besides the fact of Thomas. he sux as a coach. they dont have team chemistry and their team has too much guards. so addin artest could potentially leads up to that