I will say this: If Tmac come back and healthy, he WILL HAVE to come off the bench...we don't need his bullshyt presence on the court to distract the team chemistry and taking the majority of the shots which isn't consitent. I am tired of seeing Tmac doing pick n pop with Yao and clank off the rim. I am tired of not seeing him drive to the basket and compete at a level not even measurable to those of Scola, Yao, Ron and Shane. This team HAS to force him come off the bench to provide another offense once Yao and Artest sit. If he refuse...then so be it....it's just one year...so just let his contract run out and sign a LEGIT SUPERSTAR with Tmac's money.
i m sure morey will tell artest he will get shoe deals from China, voted to ASG 2010, etc...if ron is willing to accept a slightly lower contract...
We definitely should try and re-sign Artest. I hope he comes back next year. He's played very good this year.
Realistically, however, who else has the cap room to pay Ron good money and wants to pay him good money? If you have a rebuilding team, there is no point in signing a 29-year old star, particularly a 29-year old guy with Ron's reputation (fair or unfair). At best, you have another Sacramento. Most contending teams, however, either (1) don't have cap room (meaning they are either limited to the MLE or must complete a S&T), (2) are saving for 2010, or (3) are at least a little scared of Ron. The Rockets has Artest's Bird Rights and may be the only team both willing and able to pay him significantly above the MLE under the current rules.
With the defensive they run he would have to buy in. Plus he's a better scorer and shooter than Artest. I think it would be a real good deal.
This thread comes up a lot. If you look at the salary situation from draftexpress, or any where else, if we want to keep Artest for say 10M, Von wafer for a few M, and keep Carl Landry, Yao Ming, Arron Brooks, and Kyle Lowry, we will have paid over 50M. We will not have salary cap space to sign anyone much more than Mid Level Exception. This includes dumping Luis Scola, Brent Barry, Brian Cook, Chuck Hayes, Mutombo, and Tracy Mcgrady. Bottom line, we are not getting Wade, Lebron, Johnson, etc, if we keep Yao Ming. Import this data into a spreadsheet and play with it for yourself. Name 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Guaranteed 2008/2009 Aaron Brooks $1,118,520 $2,016,691 $2,976,636 $1,045,560 Brent Barry $2,062,800 $0 $0 $3,972,800 Brian Cook $3,500,000 $0 $0 $7,000,000 Carl Landry $3,000,000 $3,000,000 $0 $6,000,000 Chuck Hayes $2,117,500 $2,301,250 $0 $4,051,250 Dikembe Mutombo $0 $0 $0 $797,581 Joey Dorsey $881,820 $947,140 $1,012,460 $2,645,460 Kyle Lowry $2,034,996 $2,975,165 $0 $1,163,520 Luis Scola $3,383,333 $0 $0 $6,533,333 Ron Artest $0 $0 $0 $7,400,000 Shane Battier $6,864,200 $7,354,500 $0 $20,592,600 Tracy McGrady $23,239,561 $0 $0 $44,366,435 Von Wafer $0 $0 $0 $826,269 Yao Ming $16,378,325 $17,686,100 $0 $49,134,975 Total Minimum $64,581,055 $36,280,846 Total Estimate $78,681,055 $56,047,512 Capholds Ron Artest Luis Scola Yao Ming (Bird Rights) $11,100,000 $6,766,666 $26,529,150 Von Wafer Ron Artest Shane Battier $3,000,000 $10,000,000 $11,031,750 Von Wafer Aaron Brooks $3,000,000 $8,929,908 Chuck Hayes Red Team Option $4,602,500 Blue Player Option Carl Landry Green Qualifying Offer $4,500,000
I'm in agreement. I think the circumstances are in our favor to get him at a reasonable price. And if you based it on performance up until today it's a no-brainer. But to me, this statement is as meaningful as if they didn't say anything at all. The draft deadline showed that anything can happen until the last second. Though this does build up goodwill come negotiating time which doesn't hurt.
How would re-signing Artest affect us for 2010? I'd like Artest back as well and obviously we wouldn't be able to sign a "BIG" free agent in 2010, but could we make competitive offers to anyone with an offer to Ron?
for what there is no one worth taking off that list outside of D Wade, Lebron, Amare, and Bosh....not one of those will be coming to Houston by the way...just sign artest and then trade Tracy's contract for a good player like Redd....so we would have Redd, Artest and Yao. Or some type of combo of Maggette, Jackson, Crawford, or Monte (they are all rumored to be traded this summer), one dead weight contract turns into 2 good players to add to artest, yao and company. Signing Artest is a must then move Tracy's contact to bring in another good player or 2
Tmac has a 21million coming off the cap in 2010. Most likely we'd have a ton to spend on anyone but I think Yao will have to accept his option and he would be willing to if he saw we are trying to get him a better team. Also who says Kmart doesn't play defense? He'll play defense with Artest and Battier on the team, you look at Wafer. His defense was horrible but it is getting better because he's around the best. If Kmart came here he'd play defense or at least he'd give his best to.
Wade would be a perfect fit. Joe Johnson would also be good. Neither of them are coming here. Will we even have any money left in 2010 after re-signing Artest and Scola?
Redd had nothing to do with that..Yi just rode Yao's coat tail over here. All I am saying is people put to much stock in this 2010 ****. Everyone on the list including Joe Johnson will be old and on the down side. Lebron, wade, are not coming to houston sorry. I like Scola and Landry so really don't want to see Amare nor Rupaul. we need a nice wing to go along with Artest. I would try and deal with Golden State personally, they could move 2 of the contracts they want to move for Tracy's contract. they want to move Crawford, Maggette, Jackson, and Monte. Are you telling me that any 2 of them added to what we have now wouldn't scare the **** out of everyone?
Lebron is the only guy I could see who wouldn't want to play here because he wants to play in a huge market like NY. Dwade hasn't made any intentions that he wants to play in a huge market. If we keep stacking talent and Beasley doesn't have a good year, he's probably going to leave for a more talented team. Amare is going to want a max contract on a good team also, but wants to play a big role. Bosh is from Texas, so it's silly to say he wouldn't want to play for a Texas team.
Artest keeps calling Yao "the leader" despite Yao's lack of leadership at times. Do you guys think he is just being diplomatic or he truly thinks Yao is the leader of the team? Considering the fact that Artest calling TMac out for his lack of effort, my two cents is that Artest respects Yao and his work ethic. I wish he can motivate Yao to have a tougher mentality especially when the refs and his stamina are against him.
Why are people saying Wade wouldn't come here even if we build a good team? Houston isn't Milwaukee folks. It's a key NBA franchise it isn't a place players avoid. Remember when Tmac came here, he WANTED to come here and he was a superstar player. Wade would come here if we keep this talented team together because it'd be obvious to him that, Wade+Yao+Artest+Brooks+Scola is a hell of a team. Thats not even counting guys like Landry, Lowry, Battier coming off the bench who are signed beyond 2010. Any FA that wants to win would be stupid to not want to play here. Unless Yao keeps getting hurt then that could scare them off.
would an mle type of deal be an insult? 16 for one year with a second year team option @ 11, or 40 for four?
Diplomatic: He probably burst a blood vessel on the 6th foul in yesterdays game. That last foul is no sign of leadership. Need I list the reasons, I think u already know.
