I'm assuming Maloney wanted his free money, as he knew no one else would be dumb enough to give him those dollars again. I don't think he would've agreed to have the contract torn up. Artest might though for free agency...
Well if you are a top 10 talent in your field, your company probably need to think twice before they fire you. Similarly, Artest is a top 10 NBA player, so he does have some leverage. If he is Ryan Bowen, he will be fired immediately. Actually T-Mac and Franchise did the same before, so I don't understand why all the fuss abt Artest.
And countless others (A.Davis, Webber, E.Manning, Elway off the top of my head). And some of those said they wouldn't play for the team that had their rights. Artest said he would report, but wouldn't be happy.
If it was anyone else I doubt you'd be saying this. Because of Artest's 'reputation' you're judging him unfairly. Yeah he messed up in the past and even he would admit that, but he did nothing wrong in this particular situation. Its like if he insisted on going only to L.A. even though Pacers are having doubts about Maggette's health. Everybody has their own interests, Pacers having the legal powers, while Artest has leverage with his words. The best thing is when all parties are truely content. They gotta come up with a compromise. It'd be better for Artest and his future team ANYWAY.
I'm pretty sure that the only way they can get Artest's money due off their books is to trade him. I don't think you can void a league approved contract even if both parties agree.
That's fine. He still hasnt done anything wrong in this case though (assuming he said he will report).
me either Juan. Some are so blinded by what he does on the court playing-wise when he wants to. I pray to god the Rockets dont end up with him since he seems determined to kill any trade value he has to such a point we may be able to afford him.
Artest Deal NOT dead! JIM GRAY ON ESPN RIGHT NOW. Artest okay's the trade. It's now pending approval.
I just don't see what he has done wrong in this case....or at least what he has done so differently that others that wore Rockets red (Franchise and T-Mac) haven't done before.
It's a big if for Artest to play well consistantly for anyone IMO. He didn't want to go the Kings according to his own agent. I'm glad he isn't going to be a Rocket.
Yeah I agree. It was just Utah who we had to topple, now it's going to be Utah, Sacramento, and Houston fighting for that 8th seed.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-pacers-artest&prov=ap&type=lgns INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Ron Artest may be headed to Sacramento after all. ESPN reported Wednesday that a deal sending the volatile Indiana Pacers forward to the Kings for sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic was back on, pending approval of Sacramento owners Gavin and Joe Maloof. The report that Artest had agreed to the deal came a day after a reportedly "imminent" trade between the teams fell apart. Artest met with Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh on Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse and apparently agreed to go to Sacramento. Pacers spokesman David Benner would not confirm the report and said the team would issue a statement or call a news conference if a deal were completed. Telephone calls seeking comment were left by The Associated Press for Walsh and for Artest's and Stojakovic's agents. The trade would end a lengthy standoff between the Pacers and Artest, who was deactivated in December after requesting a trade and was suspended most of last season for his role in one of the worst brawls in U.S. sports history. Artest was off to the best starts of his career this season and last. He averaged a career-best 24.6 points before the brawl in Auburn Hills last season and was leading the NBA with 2.6 steals per game and was second on the team at 19.4 points a game before he was deactivated this season. The Pacers have struggled without Artest. They were 10-6 in games he played and are 11-14 without him, losing five of their last six. Jermaine O'Neal has hinted that players might be concerned about possibly getting traded along with Artest, and it could be affecting their performance. Stojakovic was listed on the active roster for Sacramento's Tuesday night 109-103 loss to Philadelphia but was nowhere to be seen at tipoff. After the game, coach Rick Adelman said he didn't know whether he would play Wednesday night against the Knicks in New York.
