Mike Kahn lists the Ron Artest trade as the best aquisition of the offseason thus far. The analysis offers nothing new but the article shows that the trade has made some take notice. 2. Not exactly the Kings' ransom The Sacramento Kings traded Ron Artest to the Houston Rockets for the draft rights to Donte Green, Bobby Jackson, their 2009 No. 1 draft choice and cash. The mercurial Artest now gives the Rockets a superior defender and very good offensive player to go along with the combination of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming ... almost instantly making the Rockets solid contenders to win the Western Conference in 2009. Artest has a history of playing exceptionally well for his first season with a new team until he goes off the deep end, and there was little reason for the Kings to hang on to him for another year when he'll be a free agent next summer. That said, it's even more incentive for him to raise him game and stay focused for the coming season as the Rockets get comfortable with each other. On the other hand, this was a team that won 22 consecutive games last season — the last 10 without Yao — reflecting what great chemistry they had. In that respect, Artest may very well be nitroglycerine. Here's the article
Yeah they won 22 in a row and still didn't get out of the first round. So chemistry is nice but winning is better.
I think i can accept that the sonics moving to Oklahoma was the biggest move of the summer. But the sonics will be the relatively the same record wise.
Chris Broussard had some thoughts about it too: http://www.snsportsbeat.net/2008/08/conversation-with-chris-broussard.html
the teams chemistry is strong enough to withstand one wild card player, as it did with bonzi and vspan in years past. now, neither of those guys was as outspoken as artest, but the team finds a way to function on the court. nice to think this was the biggest move of the summer notwithstanding a franchise relocation.
Team in playoffs was without Yao, Rafer Alston and with injured Battier and Tracy McGrady so... I like the Artest trade, it brings hope, but really hope after some failures like Mike James for example or Bonzi Wells.
