Damn straight. I would take Artest, crazy eyes and all, in a heartbeat. He's hands-down one of the most talented players in the NBA, and he may be the best defensive player pound-for-pound. Not to mention that a trade for Artest would save our season.
Yeah, he's a nut job. He's a nut job that can ball. The trade that I think would be interesting to all parties would go something like this: Golden State wants to dump Dunleavy. Clippers are trying to dump Maggette. Clips and Dunleavy Sr. supposedly want Dunleavy, Jr. So Dunleavly Jr. goes to the Clippers. Clippers send Maggette to Sacramento. Sacramento sends Artest to us. We send expirings to Golden State along with our first round pick and the Clips Clips send their first round pick out. If Dunleavy, Jr. is still BYC, then obviously another player has to go out with him for things to even up. So, that means we have to use our TE to take back some more salary from Golden State, probably some of their bench fodder. If the Clippers are serious about getting Dunleavy, Jr. and if Golden State wants to dump Dunleavy, for expirings and a pick or two, and if Sacramento wants to remove Artest expeditiously, and if Houston is interested in Artest, then this deal is possible. I remember reading after the Artest deal went down that CD admitted we had been interested in acquiring him and JVG made some comment about he would take 5 Ron Artests or something like that. Of course, don't know if JVG is believable when he says that, but whatever. Wonder when we are going to hear from Sura? I think he is holding up a lot of stuff because he still wants to come back. Sure wish the Rox would just offer him a position in the front office or on the bench in order to facilitate his retirement so we can trade his contract. Sura and Padgett's expirings combined with Snyder's contract allow us to take back a little over $8 million in trade. We could take back another player with the TE and then go sign Azubuike or Jacobsen for the other roster spot. The bigger problem is teams will look at a trade like this and realize that they are handing us a dynasty and won't do it just because of that fact, not because they make themselves any better. They will prevent a trade even if it makes them better but if it makes a good team better. A bad problem to have when you are a good team but your superstars are injured.
I'd take Artest in a heartbeat !! When is the Trade deadline ? I don't want to wait around until we sink too low...Hell with a healthy Yao, Artest, Bonzi, and a half healthy T-Mac that would be scary for any team to play in the playoffs...GET ARTEST CD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are a good team with Yao and Mac. Add Artest, and we become great. Do it if at all possible. I'm sure the deal would have to be Battier, #1, and cap filler.
i doubt we could get him without mortgaing our future, but if he can be had for no more than jho, rafer, and one draft pick, then DO IT. if it's for any more than that (maybe snyder would be okay) then pass. not sure JVG could handle him and bonzi. i've heard JVG say good things about him before so maybe, but...
Actually, I disagree. Why couldn't you hypothetically play both Artest and Battier at the same time? You could play Battier at SF with Artest playing minutes at PF. Artest is a big guy, let's not forget. I don't care if i'm doing a John Madden impersonation right now but the guy is 6'7", 260 lbs and can effectively guard pretty much any player on the floor just so long as they aren't drastically quicker than him. I realize he would be a bit undersized as a PF but that's a risk i'd be willing to take. He's an enforcer and an intimidator that's physically as strong as anybody out there. So what if he's an inch or two shorter than the average NBA PF? Charles Oakley was 6'8 and 225 lbs and i'm pretty sure nobody ever pushed him around.
I think it is about time we thought about putting a splash into our team. I say if we have a chance to bring in a name like Artest then get him. I am even willing to throw battier into the trade if we can somehow get a pf/C along with the trade. Our Role players should be able to keep the game close even without Tmac and Yao. Yao and Tmac should be the ones winning our games and finishing them but it seems like they are doing all the work.
