http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/1072665.html According to a league source, the Lakers already have contacted the Kings regarding Artest and are believed to be offering forward Lamar Odom. As of Tuesday evening, the Kings had not returned the call. They are expected to insist on forward Kenny Thomas and his $18 million of remaining salary (over two seasons) being included in that potential trade. Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie declined comment on whether the Lakers had called. "Right now, (Artest is) just a terrific player to have on your roster," Petrie said. "I don't really have any speculation one way or another (about his future). We'll see what other things – not specific to Ron – but if there's some other way we can improve the team or change the team, we'll take a look at it."
I think everybody saw this coming and for good reason. Adding Bynum to the equation slides Gasol to the four and kind of leaves Odom the odd man out since Odom is best suited playing PF. This move is great if the Lakers can control Artest. Artest is about as nuclear as they come but championships have been won with the Dennis Rodman's and Rasheed Wallace's of the world. Definitely worth the gamble.
If your Sac why would you want to do any business with the Fakers? Especially give them a final piece to a Championship run unless they think Ron Ron will go destroy their chemistry. I can see them trying to dump some salary but I hate seeing teams giving the Lakers what they need for a championship (see Pau).
If Artest keeps his head on straight then it's a good trade but that is a big if because if he doesn't pan out you lose the one guy other then Kobe that can create for others.
I don't want this happen. Artest would be a Dennis Rodman under the great coach Phil. Lakers would be unstoppable then.
Man, if this happens... I hope Kobe does something to piss him off and Artest whoops his a$$ in the locker room. I definitely see this move destroying their chemistry...
If this happens: Bynum Pau Artest Kobe Fisher Phil Jackson That team has the talent and the coaching to dominate every aspect of the game. If Ron can be tamed and Bynum is durable........Man look out. This team could win 65+ games The front runner by a landslide
Would the Lakers be looking for a longterm arrangment or a one year rental? If it is a short rental and no nice extension is dangled, then Artest will be less than happy. When Bynum gets a new contract in 2009 and Artest gets an extension, the Lakers payroll will be huge. If it was the Knicks that are used to large payroll, then it would be more the norm. The Lakers tended to be a bit more conservative Approximations for 2009 - 2010 Season done for illustrative purposes. The numbers can go higher (and likely will), but probably not much lower. Code: Kobe 20.0 million Gasol 15.0 million Bynum 12.0 million Artest 10.0 million Radmanovic 6.0 million Fisher 5.0 million Walton 4.5 million ---- 72.5 million That is roughly the same as the entire team payroll for this past season. After filling out the rest of the bench. it will put them in the 80 million area which seems like more than they would want to spend. The Lakers would probably like to move some overpaid players like Vlad and Walton, but the market might be difficult with 2010 upcoming.
My thoughts exactly. To a T in fact. I hope the Kings understand that if they agree to and complete this trade, they are handing the Lakers a few championships. It seems like some teams are sometimes blinded by some unseen force when dealing with the Lakers and they essentially get robbed. No need to name the players that they have traded for in the past and subsequently won championships because of those trades. What are these other teams thinking?
This would absolutely put the Lakers over the top. We must stop this. Morey, offer Scola, Brooks, Hayes, Steve Francis, Next year's 1st and 2nd. If you have to do it you could go: Scola, Brooks, Hayes, Francis, Bjax, 1st and 2nd for Artest and Kenny thomas. Artest is the perfect fit for both the Lakers and the Rockets. I think Sac would rather have Scola and the picks and get rid of Thomas than have Lamar. Getting Artest without giving up Battier solves multiple problems. We have depth at both SG and SF. We become more athletic. We will be absolutely killer on defense. Try scoring on the Rockets when this lineup is in: Alston Battier Artest Dorsey Yao. Thomas contract is 2 more years, coinciding with 2010.
Don't panic! almost sounds like some of us want to pull a Mavericks. Trade young talent (basically our future) for player with issues just because of what other teams do. Bad Idea.
Brooks our future? Low first and 2nd round picks our future? I want Artest, because he is a GREAT player. He has not been any trouble for 2 years. He never was a locker room cancer. He is a good teammate. If his off the court behaviour is solved, and there is 2 years of evidence that it is, he is a perfect fit for the Rockets. I don't like trading Scola, but you have to throw something of value to entice him to the Rockets. I would do this trade even if the Lakers weren't offering Odom, but when evaluating your roster it would be foolish not to understand what the competition is doing. If you are committed to the Yao/T-Mac nucleus then you basically have 2 years to beat the Lakers. If they get Artest and we stay status quo, barring injuries, we have no way to beat them.
Besides, Who would want 18 mill on the books + a 10 mill player? If thomas is in the deal, it's not going to happen. Way to many salaries.
I don't think Kobe and Phillip have what it takes to control Artest. The Artest/Rodman comparisons are not good considering MJ is one of the greatest lead by example human beings of all time when it comes to taking work seriously. Also, consider how far the Zen Master has fallen off in recent years (or maybe he never had it and MJ was even better than we thought). Point being Big Chief Triangle could not even motivate his team in the Lakers vs. Pistons Finals series several years back and he looked completely useless as both an Xs and Os guy and as a motivator in the Lakers/Celtics series that just ended. He got outcoached by Doc Rivers...nuff said. IMO, the game and the modern players are passing him by. Now with that said, all this team has to do is stay healthy and not kill one another and talent alone could easily carry them to a Championship. Bynum Gasol Artest Kobe Fisher (or any YMCA baller) best starting 5 in the league by 100miles.
Giving up Scola would mean a considerable drop-off at the PF position and if Landry doesn't come back (or even if he does but can't return to his pre-injury form), we are totally screwed. Giving up Battier for Artest would improve our starting 5 and keep the team more balanced. Depth at the wing positions is not that important when you have the dreadful possibility to return to a Hayes/Howard type of PF rotation. That has to be avoided at all costs. Unless you can get him for Bobby Jackson's contract (you can't), giving up Battier rather than Scola makes much more sense to me.
