Ron Artest for Peja-- who comes out better if it happens?

Can someone please explain the Pacers' thinking in the McGrady sweepstakes, because I still don't understand. They weren't willing to trade Artest and Harrington for TMac, but then turn around and give Harrington away for free in the sign and trade when they didn't even need to. They receive a much lesser player in Stephen Jackson. Now, they're willing to give up Artest for Peja when they wouldn't for T-Mac? Huh?

 

yeah...

pretty much an even trade. peja is pretty damn good man...

 

Peja, Miller, Jackson, Croshere.. damn that is some serious outside shooting power

they key question for me, is can Artest fit into the Princeton offense???

 

I would give the Pacers the edge if they get Peja. He was an MVP candidate last season and he would make things so much easier for O'Neal on offense. The Pacers will miss Artest and his defense, but I woudn't be too worried about the D with Carlisle there.

 

peja is a choker...thats all that needs to be said

 

The Pacers would be a much scarier team with Peja, but they would still need other pieces to make it over the hump(a pg that can shoot and a more serviceable center than Foster).

 

BIG edge to Sacramento. Not even close. You guys talk like all Artest does is play defense. He's a solid #3 guy on offense, if not a potential #2. Meanwhile, the next time Peja plays D will be the first. Add that to his resume of playoff greatness, and the Pacers BETTER get B-Jax thrown in the deal.

 

yea, and you forgot how big of a nut Ron is, too! that guy single handedly got Indiana OUT of the playoffs by losing his cool too many times.

 

i love Peja's game, but there is no way he is a serious MVP candidate... at least until he raises his game in the playoffs instead of disappearing

 

But that's still better than having no cool, as seems to be the case with Peja. At least that's the way I see it.

 

Peja is the better player.

Artest is just too much of a loose cannon.

JR Rider comes to mind

DD

 

And you obviously haven't seen Peja play enough if you think "the next time he plays D will be his first." Please. You don't know what you're talking about. No, he's not a great defender, but he's certainly not terrible. Everyone just assumes he is because he's a shooter and he's white. I know I've never seen anyone outside of Garnett and Duncan give Dirk a harder time. Think about it, the guy is 6'10, 235 and he moves like a guard, and he's a better rebounder than Artest. How is that "not even close?"

 

if i was drafting a team from the beginning i'd take peja over artest.

 

I think Peja and Artest are pretty much tied as players.

However, Peja will make Indiana better, while I'm not sure Artest could fit into Sacramento's offense. With Christie and Artest, no perimeter player would want to play them, but their offense would suffer a little bit.

Look at it this way though, if Webber can play decent defense, their defense REALLY improves:

Brad Miller
Webber
Artest
Christie
Bibby

While they still have a good shooter in Bibby, solid post players in all frontcourt positions, and defense almost everywhere.

 

I pretty much agree with Sane's analyses. Roughly equal talents but Artest is a loose cannon. I'd want something more if I were Sac.

One kind of odd thing is Indy just added S Jack to do a lot of Peja's role, and Christie does the same for Sac. Some I am not sure either trade makes the teams better.

Good capitalistic trade if I am Indy. If I am Sac I want at least Fred Jones or a future #1 thrown in.

As far as Indy offer for Tmac, Harrington and Artest plus filler would not have equalled the Houston offer and i think neither would have prevented that trade despite of what Bird said. They only way Indy could have beat the Rocket's offer was starting their bid for Tmac with Jermain Oneal.

 

I think Pacers would come out ahead...The Kings already have a great defensive player in Christie, and Artest can be very sporadic on offense, as well as inconsistent...Peja would be the perfect fit to complement Jermaine O'Neal, plus the Pacers run a lotta screen plays for their shooters so Peja should have a field day...I see the Pacers coming out ahead in this deal if it goes through...

 

Yea, I just don't get why they would trade Harrington for Jackson. It seems like one of those change for the sake of change moves. Harrington is the far better player. And if they dealt for Jackson rather than signing him to the MLA for the sake of saving money, why not trade Harrington in a different package deal and atleast get some value for him while signing Jackson to the MLE. I'm puzzled by that trade by all angles.

 

I have to disagree. If I'm Orlando, I would much rather have a package of Artest, Harrington, and Foster than the Houston one. Those are two rock solid, YOUNG swing men to build your team around. Francis is 27 and most would probably argue that Artest is the more desireable player. Mobley is 28 and can opt out next summer. They just traded for Battie or could have drafted Okafor and kept Gooden had they wanted a big man defender, so Cato isn't a factor. I'de probably even rank a package of Artest and Bender over the Houston one - makes me think that either Artest wasn't on the table PERIOD or that T-Mac's intent on signing with Houston had a much bigger part to do with this deal than we all were lead to believe from the start.