If McGrady was going to play, there was nothing wrong with wanting to trade Artest. They weren't good matches and Artest has more value and is easier to move. But now that McGrady is gone and we see what this team can do, it's a great fantasy to think that McGrady's contract can bring in another all-star, giving the Rockets a few good years ahead. Yao isn't necessarily old Artest isn't old Scola isn't old Battier...wore down a bit Brooks is young Average age, without Brooks, is like 29? That's not bad. 3-4 year window to get another piece in. I like the odds, especially with GM Morey on the job. He doesn't sit still.
good thinking. the key is if artest will be willing to sign around the mle and if morey can rid of mcgrady's contract to get a "high caliber" player. that, and also what we do for the remainder of the season.
IMO, Ron is a simple guy.When he stays in the locker room that is full of faction, he may be the cancer. But if teammates about him are hard-working, and care about the playoffs or even champions, he is gonna be one of the most addiduous.
I dont think it would be wise to sign Ron for around what he is making right now. Players have a tendency to get angry and become self destructive when then feel they are not being payed what they deserve and feel under appreciated. If we make it to the second round and he plays a big role in it, I think he should get a vince carter type deal, 4 year contract with the 4th year being the team option. But I know with out of doubt he will want at least a contract better then what maggette got.
I did... not because I dont like how Artest plays... (although he can play smarter at times) the team was imploding at the time... Tmac although out of the line up.... had not announced the fact that he was going to get his elective surgery ... and most were thinking we could have got better value with his expiring contract next year anyways.... not knowing we had at least a Tmac for Vince deal in the works.. most believed....Artest was basically one of the few players other teams would want.... couple that with with the fact that Artest contract was expiring this year... and even today...there still is no guarantee we can sign him... trading Artest was and still would be the most logical move by the Rox organization...
That he has a history of doing self destructive things, and it would be foolish for the Rockets to offer him a long term guaranteed contract.
That is good to, but Ron's value as a tradeable asset got cut in half by not trading him at the trade deadline. Because to me, he had value as a player AND as an expiring contract. Now, all he has is his value as a player and that would require teams wanting him on their squad. And Ron is a risky venture in tough economic times....I think he may have to settle for a lot less than what he thinks. DD
i hope he doesn't get traded.. Don't want to retire his jersey.... oh yeah, and I also like his game. The Ron/Batman tandem is awesome
I still want to trade him. I was not one of the people who thought McGrady would play better if Artest was gone, because I always believed McGrady was too injured. I also think trading one person away to make someone else play better is a terrible idea. But, I didn't want us to sign Artest, I had hoped we would trade Artest at the deadline, and I hope we trade him or let him walk this summer. Obviously, his improved play is saving our season (not that we'll win a champinoship like this) now that McGrady is down for good. But, he will eventually be more trouble than he's worth. I don't want him to have a long Rockets contract. addiduwhat?
is the economy in usa really as bad as the media portrays? i don't see u being affected.. vacation in santa monica...sippin wines...rockets talk living ghetto fabulous!!!
ron can bully all he wants, we play jazz again?! we done again. jazz is one of, boston, cleveland, l.a., san antonio, phenoix one of the six teams imo that can win it all comes playoff time. yes the suns have a shot.
People wanted him traded because: 1: He did not fit well with TMAC 2: He was not healthy, and was terrible on offense and below average on defense 3: He was expiring contract with pretty good value 4: Even with him completely healthy, and playing great, we're no serious threat for a title this year Its easy to say that it is a good decision we kept him when he's shooting lights out this week, but he still has yet to fit completely with our offense and I still dont know if we should offer him a long term deal if it is costly for the future. Lookin back, if were to get good value for it, I might still have traded him. Love Artest and his play of late, but honestly, if we dont resign him, or use his expiring money on another player (dont even know if this is possible with the cap), then I'd still rather have traded him.
Your tone is rude, but I will try to ignore it, because its a good question posed obnoxiously. What we were thinking boils own to this: The longer-term health of this franchise is not worth a mini-run at the West this year. Even now, an A+ season from this team gets us to the second round. I don't think it is reasonable to expect this team to get to the WCF. I don't think it is reasonable to expect this team, as constructed, to make it there next year either, with or without Artest. You can sit here and tell me that we are in the same class as the Spurs / Lakers, or even 50/50 against Nuggets / Blazers / Hornets. I appreciate your enthusiasm and fandom. I just don't happen to agree. I think this team is too flawed, and too vulnerable. I want them to win. But I think realistically, the Houston Rockets are better preparing for the next three years, which is Yao's probable window. Given the point guard situation, the McGrady situation, the questionable-guts - aka choking - situation, the who-shoots-at-crunch-time situation... I dont see this year's playoffs as a smart target - I see 2010 and 2011 and 2012 as better targets. So, I might reverse the question - what, exactly, are you thinking about those years? My impression is that you are rooting for this team hard enough to not care. Which is cool. It's just not how I am approaching it. For people desperate to root for the team right now, it is probably enough. For those of us interested in a healthy and sustainable franchise and utilizing the assets we have, it's fools gold. We need to bite the bullet and realize that what we have is nice, just not good enough to do any serious damage in the Western Conference. Enjoy the regular season and first round! Again.
The OP acts as if people were asking to cut Artest and get nothing in return. Maybe he should look at the definition of the word "trade". What a joke of a thread.
Great post. Without McGrady, we need Artest to salvage this season. But you won't go anywhere with Artest as your second highest scorer. Besides, Clutch did mention that he had some locker room issues and Morey was actively shopping him. I don't think Artest is in our future. Giving him a long term contract is not good for the franchise. The question now is, will we just let him walk after this season or will we be able to get something by SnT?
