I think he wanted out because, in my opinion: 1)He heard Larry Bird was shopping him. Kind of like the I'll breakup with you first before you have a chance to breakup with me deal. Which is pretty dumb, because he should have just squared it away with LB before just going straight to te media with it. See how suprised the Pacers were when it initially happened. Lack of offensive touches, too much structure in the offense, his past screw ups, all sound like excuses to me. 2) Or more simply put, he's a selfish nutball. The team repeatedly went to bat for this dude despite everything he has done since he became a Pacer. So he may have been being shopped. Only a few players in the NBA throughout their careers can ever say that they haven't been shopped. Most of the time we don't hear about it and most of the time trades don't even come out of it. Even our beloved Hakeem was almost traded. Talent wise, at least 27 teams should be contacting Indiana. Maybe with the exclusion of the Spers and the Pistons. That's not the issue here. Is he going to all of a sudden become this model player? Hell no! Is the risk worth it? Anyone except TMac or Yao has to be considered, if Indiana is listening to that, no brainer. That being said, he won't end up here anyways. So it's all pretty moot right now.
If I were Indiana, and Artest insists on Houston: Houston Trade Breakdown Outgoing David Wesley 6-1 SG from Baylor 8.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg in 31.7 minutes Stromile Swift 6-9 PF from Louisiana State 8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.3 apg in 21.5 minutes Rafer Alston 6-2 PG from Frenso State 7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.1 apg in 31.3 minutes Luther Head 6-3 PG from Illinois 9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 26.4 minutes Incoming Anthony Johnson 6-3 PG from Charleston 4.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 18.6 minutes Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes Austin Croshere 6-10 PF from Providence 8.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 27.1 minutes Change in team outlook: -1.3 ppg, -1.6 rpg, and -3.7 apg. Indiana Trade Breakdown Outgoing Anthony Johnson 6-3 PG from Charleston 4.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 2.9 apg in 18.6 minutes Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes Austin Croshere 6-10 PF from Providence 8.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.0 apg in 27.1 minutes Incoming David Wesley 6-1 SG from Baylor 8.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg in 31.7 minutes Stromile Swift 6-9 PF from Louisiana State 8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.3 apg in 21.5 minutes Rafer Alston 6-2 PG from Frenso State 7.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.1 apg in 31.3 minutes Luther Head 6-3 PG from Illinois 9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.4 apg in 26.4 minutes Change in team outlook: +1.3 ppg, +1.6 rpg, and +3.7 apg. Successful Scenario Due to Houston and Indiana being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Houston and Indiana had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This gives Indiana a plethora of trade options with 3 quality point guards, as well as a number of shooting guards, gets rid of Croshere's contract for and small contracts (except Alston, but he could be traded for a guy like Mike James, right? ) Leaves Houston with depth problems, but that is always the price you pay to get a star... Not sure how effective Anthony Johnson is running the point, though... he did average 8.4 points and 4.8 assists a year ago.
I think he will end up in Dallas. It makes too much sense. They can package together any combination of Devin Harris, Jason Terry, Josh Howard, and Marquis Daniels. We simply cannot match talent like that. Pray that Ron Artest does not become a Maverick or there goes that McGrady advantage.
God, no, please don't give up Luther Head in a deal for Ron Artest. Luther Head is the second coming. I mean, thank God we refused that deal for Damon Stoudamire when Toronto wanted Rodrick Rhodes. Imagine what a lottery team we would have had with Olajuwon, Drexler, Barkley, and Mighty Mouse. Please, people. Think of the future. It's not like a team featuring McGrady and Yao will be able to attract a FA next offseason to fill the enormous shoes left behind by Luther Head.
Except Cuban said he would stay out of this bidding war. Mavs are playing well, there is no reason for them to mess with the chemistry.
LOL. Will's sharp writing always cracks me up, although I sometimes disagree with you. But that's really funny.
But so far the FA Tmac and Yao have attracted aren't good enough to push us up to another level. We are not gonna be able to sign a FA of top 10, or even top 25 talents in the league on our own.
FAs are supposed to be role players and complementary players. You want top 10 talents to push you to another level? Either our core is not really a core, or we have to pay for 5 allstars.
Ok, maybe I phrased it wrong. What I mean to say is that in the FA market, we cannot acquire top grade role players. I had high hope on Swift, and now I know why West chose to keep Battier instead of Swift. We need at least one more star player who can provide consistent scoring and play good D. I doubt we can get that in FA market giving our situation. If you look at Spurs, they have big 3 in TD, Manu, and Parker. All three can tear up opponents consistently. Then they have Bowen, Finley and NVE all can shoot well. If you look at Pistons, they have Sheed, Billup and Rip who provide the scoring and then they have Ben and Prince to play great D and score well within their capability. Our role players can not match up against those two teams talent wise, however you look at it. And I doubt we will be able to sign a Bowen or Prince type guy in FA market. And we only have big 2, compared to their big 3. There is big difference between big 2 and big 3. Sure we can compete with not so elite teams with what we have, but when we match up against real elite teams, we are in disadvantage. For close to half a game, we will have only one of Yao and Tamc on the court, while Spurs and Pistons, and even Phoenix, can put at least 2 great scorers on the court all night long. I doubt we can get there by playing in the FA market on our own.
CD just reported that the Rockets will not be going after Artest Check the thread in the GARM Lock this up!
Indiana is not run by Isah thomas you know?... noway they be enticed into a trade with those junk were putting forth.
