youre right, but they also can't expect a lot for a notoriously mercurial player that will expect a major raise next year. if artest were signed to a long-term, reasonable deal, then the kings probably would have traded him by now, even with his other issues. but having a notoriously mercurial player with a bad reputation, questionable commitment, and possible expectations of a big payday in the offseason is not exactly a recipe for GMs to line up at your door with great offers. basketball is a business in addition to being a game. artest is a risky investment. that hurts his value. i'm pretty sure that whichever team ends up with him (if he's moved) will give up relatively little.
Are you insane? Artest had a great game last night - he DOES NOT preform at that level (or close to it) on a nightly basis. Don't use one game to come to a conclusion about Artest of all people. Just WOW.
If we get Artest, who says he doesn't walk on us next season? Then what? Rebuild with Yao all over again? No thanks. I'm not cool with a half season rental. If we move T-Mac, it has to be in the offseason.
Basically you are saying you would take him for nothing. Would he be worth - nothing? Or would you or when would you regret having Artest as a member of the team?
I agree with you. There is probably no way to get better this season by trading Tracy. And it's too late to trade him for young players and tank. So we have to play this season out and hope for the best. But regardless of outcome, I would get rid of him. Not for Artest though. Not because I think Artest is that much worse but it just wouldn't take that much to get him (assuming the Maloofs would actually trade him to Houston). So if you can get him for Shane and something else, you do it. Personally I would love to have Ron and he hasn't had any serious off court issues the last few years. The ones that he has had have been overblown just because he is Ron Artest. Also regarding his passing, he is not bad. Sure, he is no T-Mac but he is like Bonzi somewhat - capable of making good passes. His assist numbers are actually much better than Bonzi's. I don't view either of them as selfish. Injuries.
Should we try to get Artest by sending the Battier + 1st + Head + etc. Would you guys want Artest if we had to give up Battier. I definitely think McGrady is way to much to giveup.
That's fine if they can't expect alot for Artest. Then, they'd just let him go sign with whoever he wants and they can sign someone they DO want. Why would they take MJ's contract plus some role players who might not crack their rotation?
i dont think they would. they would probably like expiring contracts and draft picks. not contracts like MJs. my statements have been in response to the post that said we couldnt get artest w/o trading yao, because i dont see that as being true. we could definitely get him w/o involving yao. but in my opinion we wouldn't want to, mainly because of what you just said: they wouldnt take what we would want to give.
I meant they wouldn't take anyone other than Yao in a straight-up trade. It was a knock against McGrady. But, it's possible they would take a package of some of our promising youngsters and maybe Battier.
Oh, forgot to add that there is no reason for them to take expiring contracts also, because they already have one in Ron Artest. If they want cap relief, they would simply let Ron go.
he should be given enough shots over tmac,tmac also need reduce his jump shots if he really want ring!!!
Okay, i just finished watching the first quarter vs. Blazers of their last meeting and T-mac's defence is just not there. He contested one shot and ran once after Outlaw when he finally realized Outlaw could outjog him or whatever. It's like playing 5 on 4 for the opposing team, T-mac may be a threat on offence but on D: no way. When his man is moving he's just standing between Yao / Scola and has man, the guy sprints across court and T-mac walks with him lol, it's almost hilarous to see. But in all seriousness, he gets me fired up. I can't even enjoy the game because i'm now looking for T-mac to play D to prove me wrong but it's sad and true that he doesn't. In his rookie years with the Raptors, check the stats, he could get 2 to 7 blocks easily. Of course stats don't say everything but enough to see that he's not doing that anymore. I'm going to give up on T-mac because i don't see it changing soon just because he's a superstar. If some1 else would walk on D like he does, he would get a fit but not T-mac because he's the star i think. Please, before you judge me and start to call me all kinds of things, watch only the damn first quarter against the blazers. Matter of fact, watch only the first 6 mins or last 3 or something. Download it via the tracker we all use here and see for yourself. If this continues i suggest we trade him for Artest in the off season, i will take Artest with all his Mad Max behaviour anyway i can take it right now. I rather have a crazy psycho mad man who at least plays aggresive than a guy walking around on D. It's like T-mac's playing gold or something, walking to the next tee or getting another club from his bad. It's really ridiculous and to me upsetting, if you're a real fan, like many claim to be, you should realize this and get at least a little bit upset because there's no defensive effort whatsoever. How the hell did T-mac get away with this under JVG, he was a defensive specialist right ?? Everybody had to give it their all and they were among the top teams in the league in defence, did T-mac walk around like this because it's hard to believe ? If so, it must be because he's the start and can get away with it. Please guys, take your time and watch the Blazers game (like a game where you don't mind who wins etc) and you have to see it or you just don't want to see it.
note that i said expirings AND picks, not expirings OR picks. i think its going to be fun to watch where he ends up. i think many bubble teams could make a case for getting him as a rental if they are truly convinced that they are just one player away. he would be like a mercenary for the stretch run. mortgage the future for a championship now. that sort of thing.
i hate to bring up some bad memories but didn't Derek Fisher shut down Tmac himself? no double team? this is a case we may need a third scorer. so lets say we play the lakers.. they can stick Fisher back on Tmac deny Yao the ball with a front court of Odom/Gasol/Bynum and hassle Rafer with Kobe then 'its on him' Tmac will shoot the ball cause he can't get it to Yao.
You're right about Tmac's defense. But, there's almost no way they're going to trade him now. If the Rockets don't make the second round, I'm pretty sure he's gone.
