Setting aside how much he would improve the Roxs, there are two other reasons to get Artest. First, you keep him out of the hands of Phoenix, Denver, or another WC playoff team. Second, imagine you're Kobe or Manu or Josh Howard, and you have to play a seven game series where either Artest or Battier will be on you every single second. How does that make you feel? Kyle Korver would cry just thinking about it. That's the edge that Artest brings you. Oh, and all this "we've won 9 games in row" junk? There are lots of teams ahead of us who are making moves to get better. The WC is stacked and we've got to go all in if we have any hope of competing in the playoffs.
call me a skeptic, but I've been a rockets fan for a long long time now. This team although playing great right now has yet to play consistently great against the big guns Suns, Mavs, Spurs, Hornets, and Jazz.... This run is nice but I'm still very skeptical about this teams ability to play the best of the best. We need to make a deal. Tmac doesn't make this team that much better. If you swapped TMAC for Artest what would you really be giving up, besides a heartless wimp. I hope I'm wrong, but its going to be another one and done season for the ROX. We need to make a major move now or in the offseason... keeping up with the joneses...
I can tell that you haven't watch Ron against the Rockets, my thread says we need a Beast like Artest. Don't ever mention Rafer in the same breath. Ron has been Mr. Consistency on the floor since coming to the NBA. Check his stats. Rafer, Shane, Tmac, and whoever is play the PF position nut up when the 4th quater comes and we need play. Artest would clear out and take the ball strong to the bucket with a foul or bucket. That's what we need to keep us from falling on our faces in the playoffs.
Thank you furious for making sense, we still can score with Ron and our defense would be murder on the 2's and 3's in the league. McLady doesn't play D anymore.
You honestly think giving up Tmac helps this team. Say what you want about him being a wimp, or taking bad shots, but he without question gets the Rox the best open looks. He is the best passer on the team by far and gets Shane a bunch of open threes, and Yao a lot of open shots off pick and roll. Im all for getting Artest, but only if it is for expiring deals and a non impact rotation player (brooks, bonzi).
How do you call a guy who got suspended for 70 games Mr. Consistency. Not to mention, I gave credit for him killing the Rox. But your quote that he would clear out and take the ball strong to the bucket all the time is BS. There have been plenty of games where he gets pissy and makes stupid fouls and does nothing. If he is this beast all the time, why doesnt he do it to other teams. Why is Sac under .500. He is a very talented player who next year, will in all likelihood not be playing for the team he finishes the season with this year. I would love to have him on the Rox but not if it means we give up one of our main rotation guys, much less one of our stars (Mcgrady)
man, we are going to have a "trade tmac" thread EVERY game from now on i guess. and only the same old posters who speak up in these threads. can't we just merge so all of the same people can just talk to one another?
Artest is the Rockets killer. I watched him play against other teams, he was not always as good. But for some reason, he just killed us each and every time.
don't you remember that they played very well against the Spurs in the 1st round? took them to 6 hard fought games.
I'm not sure why people are saying we can get Artest. We can't get him for anyone on our roster besides Yao.
As long as we don't trade Yao, T-Mac, Battier, Scola and probably Landry and Brooks for him - I would love to get Artest.
same was true even back when he was still with the pacers, just hits his groove when he plays the Roxs
Once again we have a thread clearly pointing out a need playoff type player. Once again we have posters talking about battiers greatness. Now I don't think come playoff time I'd expect tracy to play like last night. What was on display were the same problems the rox had last yr in the playoffs. In the 4th qt, teams will get physical with yao, help on tracy and no one else can make plays. I don't know how many times I have to read this script. If tracy isn't making plays, no one else on this team can. The system can't turn players into playmakers. Artest is a playmaker. I don't care how many pts yao and tracy score. Its all about the ring. If yao wants the ball, the offensive rebound is a good source. This board tends to overvalue players on this team. Battier nor artest contract status shouldn't be a deal breaker. Artest is everything the rox need. A 3rd scorer, tough, great defender, matchup type guy. Plus he's a lttle crazy. U think teams would push yao around a hard foul him with artest on the floor? When was the last time anyone on the rox have given a hard foul? Its simple, if the rox want to be 1st rd fodder, stay like you are. If the rox want to be elite, get artest.
yeah we could. he's free to walk after this season. so for many teams he would just be a half-season rental. that hurts his trade value. the team that trades for him is pretty screwed too. if he does well in his half-season he'll want a big contract. if he doesn't then you didnt get any return on your investment. tough spot for a gm to put himself in . . . kinda like carlos beltran or randy johnson w/the astros.
However, a player leaving gives a team that much cap relief to sign another free agent. I think the only time that a team has to worry about a player leaving is when the free agent market is weaker than what they can trade said player for. In other words, we can't give the Kings our crap and expect them to take it simply because Artest might walk next year.
