With all the "How about" threads, I just felt that Artest needed his own. Looking at next year's salary, a trade of Artest for KT straight up works. I'd even throw in the #15 pick, if it was necessary. What about it? Would you make the trade & would they?
I would like to have Artest because we need his defense, but there's no way Indiana makes that trade. They want him to be their SF. We could have gotten him if he were still in Chicago though.
I would like Artest. However, after watching the Pacers-Nets series I noticed Artest doesn't like to pass to much. He's been like a blackhole. Even the announcers were wondering why he kept on shooting, especially since he was 5-25 at one point during the series. I think he would defintely need to realize what his role is if the Rockets got him. But yeah, I would be very happy if we could somehow snag him. He'd be kind of like Shandon Andersen, but...ya know...better on defense and offense.
I'd love to have Artest on this team. First guy off the bench for SF and SG. PAcers would do that wouldn't they? They have the following at SF: Bender Harrington Croshere Artest Mercer They're pretty stacked. If they can put Mercer at SG next year exclusively, lose Artest, and trade Croshere + the pick we give them fro a SG, they can be better. I've got to say though, they always seem to be underachieving. It's not the players...
I've heard from some that the Pacers were going to look to trade him in the offseason, because they were concerned about him being too emotional (has a real temper and such), but Zeke has been quoted about how that temper is a sign of his intensity and that you need guys like that to win...so I don't know what their stance on dealing him is.
He gets out of control a lot, but he never stops playing defense. I don't know if he'll accept a bench role on a poor team since he thinks so high of himself. I think torres and Morris could man that back up 2 and 3 slot of given the chance.
He'd be playing aruond 30 minutes a night anyway. Backing up 2 spots as the first guy off the bench? This could seriously help us decrease Cat's minutes and Rice's minutes too, while incresing Defense in both spots for 15 minutes a game. Hydra, I highly highly highly doubt Reggie will be there much longer with such a glut of young talent. Isn't he an FA? They'd be better off trading him to Utah. Then they can have the all-we didn't win a championship etam. Maybe Barkley will come out of retirement? LOL! But seriously, the Jazz woould be pertty good if Miller went there. Collins/Malone Malone/Marshall Kirilenko/Marshall Miller/Stevenson Stockton/Raul Lopez or John Crotty or Avery Johnson whatever
I've been following Artest since his first days at St Johns and the one thing this guy can do perhaps as well or better than anyone in the league is defend. You'll occasionally get the 18 -20 pt game , but more often than that, you'll get the 5 or 6 steal game. He would be a real asset to us whether it be a 6th man or starting 3. I think he is bettre suited (mentally at least) to start.
Both Artest and KT are restricted FA'S next summer. Therefore, BOTH would have to be resigned or I don't think the deal gets done. To some extent, this gives Artest a veto power over the trade.
GATER-why do you say that? Oski-if they want him to be their SF, what do they want with Al Harrington (recently signed long term), or Jonathan Bender? Not to mention Croshere there to play backup minutes. They're restricted NEXT summer-which means if you trade for them now, you get ROFR next summer. Also, if they were to get traded this summer, there would be time for their new teams to negotiate, and potentially sign an extension this offseason. NJRocket-which is why Artest is a good fit-we were LAST in steals this year, and opponents averaged the fewest TO per game against us-considering we went to 3 guards a lot, which is supposed to give us a quick, gnat-like defense that should cause turnovers, this is horrible. Artest is no Shann Anersn. Artest can actually play small forward. Artest is NOT a product of John Stockton. Artest has improved his offensive skills every year. I think we need a guy like Artest on this team-think of it as a balance to the wuv-fest. Artest wouldn't be afraid of hurting his friend's feelings if it would help the team. If we were to acquire a stud like Odom, Artest, etc, I don't think Rice would be opposed to coming off the bench as our "designated shooter". It may even help him if he comes in with the 2nd unit as a go-to guy. As for what they would want-IMO, they need a SG Indiana likely will target two players in the draft Kareem Rush, and Dejuan Wagner. Assume Wagner is there at #6. Would you trade the #6+KT for #14+Artest?
NIKE - Because the Rockets can be outbid for Artest by a team that has cap room. It is the reverse reason we didn't get Marc Jackson. With everybody loading up for the "Duncan Derby", there will be many teams with cap room next summer to outbid the Rockets.
In a heart beat! We could then combine the #14 & 15 to trade back up, if necessary, to get a center. Or, use both picks to trade down further for a center or to get rid of Rice. We could also pay Memphis back with the #15 pick & just draft the best available big man at #14. Rashard would help us offensively with our current system, but would command a sizable raise in salary this year. Artest would give us the offensive punch with defensive skills & cost less than Rashard next year.
GATER-3 words. Larry Bird Rights. They transfer over through trades. They only end if you get waived, renounced, or sign with a new team We'd be able to match ANYTHING. If we trade KT, the team that gets him will be able to give him a max deal if they want, no matter how far over the cap they are. For example, we could trade Steve to Cleveland for Miller, and we'd be able to offer Miller a max deal, and Cleveland could offer Steve a max deal. Which is part of why the Dallas-Denver trade scares me. Dallas will resign Lafrentz-Cuban can afford it-and be young, and good.
Gator, If the Rockets traded for him, we'd have his full Bird Rights, just like with Francis. That means we could pay him up to 25% of the team salary cap, even if it takes us over the cap. Last years max contract for a 4 year player was $10.625 million. I doubt that anyone would offer him anywhere near that much.
Nike, I just thought of something about this scenario. The Clippers have been quoted as being willing to give up Odom & their picks for the right to draft either JW or Wagner. I think that Artest & Rashard would be better suited for the Rockets system, but, if the Clippers offered the #8, #12, & Odom for the #5, #15, & Moochie (the closest salary match we have), would you take it? Or, would you try to pull off a multi-team trade like this? Houston sends Moochie/#5/#15 to the Clippers. The Clippers send Odom to Washington. The Clippers send #8/#12 to Houston. Washington sends Etan Thomas/Alexander to Indiana. Indiana sends Artest/Foster to Houston. Ahhhh, if it were only that easy. By the way, the trade works salary wise. TRADE ACCEPTED!
hottoddie-I'd give the Clips more-maybe send Etan Thomas their way, and replace Etan with Kenny going to Indiana. Looking at each team other than us... Washington: Thomas/Alexander for Odom. Close call. Washington may want more than Odom for that. Indiana: Artest/Foster for Alexander/K. Thomas. Another close one. Though, if they flame out in game 4 and Artest no shows, it could be possible. Alexander gives them the perfect heir to Reggie. Clippers: Odom/#8/#12 for Moochie/#5/#15/E. Thomas Also very close. Maybe take out the 12 and 15 altogether and it gets done for them? If the world was that easy...I'd then draft Borchardt at #8, and at #12 if a monster potential like Stoudemire fell, draft him, OR trade down to the late teens/early-mid 20s (picking up an extra first rounder for next year) and get my backup PG-lots of options with Dickau, Frank Williams, Marcus Taylor, etc. If not, use part of the MCE and lure a veteran like T-Bug, Blaylock, or Anthony. Francis/backup Mobley/backup Artest/Rice/Morris Taylor/Griffin Cato/Borchardt/Foster with whatever we get out of the #12 pick.
NIKEstrad, If we pulled back the #12 & #15 picks from the original trade, then I wouldn't think that we'd have to throw KT into the mix. I'd rather explore the possibility of sending the #15 pick/KT/Willis (resigned for 3 years) to Atlanta, in exchange for Nazr Mohammed. Unless Atlanta gets in the top 3, they won't have a first round pick this year. KT would allow them to move SAR back to his SF position & stop him from taking a beating by the bigger PF's. Willis would give them a solid backup at C/PF & would be a good PR move, since he had his best days there. With the #15 pick, they could possibly pick up Marcus, Ely, Haislip, Gadzuric, Borchardt, or maybe they'd go after the 6'6" Euro PG Jiri Welsch from Slovenia or Juan Dixon. With the rather large impending contract of Francis coming up & the fact that we're currently right at the cap, I doubt very seriously that the Rockets will draft two first round players with guaranteed contracts. If we could get Mohammed from Atlanta, then I'd think that we could afford to take Stoudemire & wait for him to develop. It sure is fun to dream, isn't it?
Artest should have been a first team all defensive player. He is the true Kobe "stopper", sorry Rube. Did anyone see that game when Kobe was trying to go for the game winning shot against him and Artest blocked it? Artest would be the perfect key "starting" role player at SF for the Rockets. My rockets dream offseason would be winning the lottery and drafting Ming then trading away KT and the #15 pick for Artest. I think we would be the best defensive team in the league with this lineup. C - Ming PF - Griffen SF - Artest SG - Mobley PG - Francis
