What more do we need to see? If Ron is willing, likes playing on this team with Yao and the other guys playing a tough defensive style like his own, then let's just settle the issue now and not worry if we'll lose Ron for nothing when the season is over. We can afford to give him a fair contract. We can jettison Ole Yeller after next season and have enough money left over to build a championship contender with Morey at the helm. (Ron's health issues, unlike Ole Yeller's, are not chronic and we can see now how well a Ron Artest healed from his ankle injury fits with the rest of this team. He gives us good defense, unwavering intensity, toughness (sorely needed on this team, Sura anyone?), good 3 pt shooter for Yao, and effective one on one offense for the playoffs when the pace slows down. He's not perfect, his checkered past and ballhogging tendencies mean he's not a max contract player and he's not a spring chicken either. But other teams realize this too and will drive his price down to a reasonable amount that we can sign him for. The point is he fits well in this Rockets organization so if Ron is willing I hope we commit to keeping him here for years to come now.)
Agreed. I prefer the team stand pat this season. Let's see whether a healthy TMac can magically come back playing with the flow of the team before the playoff. Trade Ron now for new guy(s) means another new roster for Rox to fix likely chemistry problem. Yao and Ron leading the team now with performance like tonight's game gives us entertaining games. I like that to continue until the playoff. As I said in another thread, that level of performance for 30 games until playoff will give Rox a very good opportunity of passing at least the 1st round of playoff.
Morey won't do it. Neither will Les. Artest is always a risk. He is no longer young. Doesn't have high hops. Demands a contract greater than what we will be willing to pay. With Shemac out for the rest of the season(and probably done as an impact player in the league), there's no way we would commit to an asterisk for a long term.
yes.. now that it's a season.. and if it is indeed career ending surgery.. then a career as well for Tracy.. and between.. Vince.. Mike Miller.. etc etc.. Artest suits this team's needs much more exactly..
No, if you want to keep him now, fine, but he is worth more as a tradeable asset in the offseason. Now that TMac is out, just run with what you have....Clyde said it best, he only has to defer to one guy now and that makes a big difference. DD
who would you be willing to commit to.. in this years upcoming FA market.. that we have more than an imaginary chance at actually getting..?
Resign him now for 1 extra year at the max. He takes it since he won't get max money anywhere else. The contract comes off the books in 2010 or is a valuable asset in a trade next season. No way do you let him walk for nada.
i disagree. i would trade him asap now. his ending contract / behavior / production makes his value pretty high right now. SELL HIGH. as for tmac, move his ending contract this summer. hopefully we add two young healthy players and that takes care of rebuilding.
