ok so ive been looking at some trade threads and others noticing everyone is saying artest will get traded on or before the deadline in february, my question is why??? let me share my own opinion... 1. what has he done wrong except miss a few games? 2. him and yao and maybe a few others including battier and von wafer are the only players who seem to want to win games rather than just play or sit out 2 weeks... 3. we've only had him for half a year so how do we know how he will play in the next couple weeks or month or so, maybe he is the guy to put our team over the top in the playoffs...he did almost single handedly beat the lakers in the first round a few years ago on a bad kings team 4. hes a great guy
The Lakers are a`very different team since then. He doesn't seem to find his role yet and he is probably not going to sign with the Rox anyway , so might as well get something for him anyway. Also, the Rox still have Battier to fill his role. I like Ron but he hasn't fit this team, hopefully he can comeback and fit in before the deadline, so Morey can make his decision by then
It's big BS. I think Artest fits the team and made Rockets even better D team. Shots in the offense are questionable but I'm ok with it since it's more difficult for him to fit the offense rather than defense. So all the stories about contract year and bla bla isn't good. And what can you get for Ron Artest at this point? You want bunch of role players? Also do you think after Morey made all team happy especially TMac and Yao is going to give up suddenly on Ron Artest and trade him?
I like the guy. He doesn't fit this team as it is currently assembled because it is in shambles. Ron is like a dominant dog. If someone doesn't lead the pack his personality drives him to start leading and unfortunately that includes him freelancing on offense. To me, all of the negatives about him here in Houston are not really his fault. He has played injured (not just hurt but injured) and has volunteered to play any role ask of him. What more do people want? Get this team healthy and I think Ron is going to fall right into the ranks and give the Rockets what they ask/need of him. I still think this team needs him to have even an outside shot of getting deep in the playoffs. Plus, I just like it when he gets a bit nasty with other teams. What he brings to this team is much more than points and defense.
lol bring Tmac off the bench please... Put Artest in a starter role, with Rafer, Scola, Battier and Yao. Bring Wafer, Landry, TMac, Brooks, Barry off the bench and you got a solid rotation and a deep bench.
I think it would be a really bad move to trade Artest. I don't know why we would trade him anyways, besides his questionable shooting selection he gives us some great defense and intensity. The only person I would even think of trading Artest for is Gerald Wallace. But just because his ankle situation + the T-Mac soap opera, people are just having a knee jerk reaction to all the frustration of this season. I think after Artest's 7-10 days rest, and T-Mac's conditioning is over with this team will come together and finish strong and get maybe the 3rd or 4th seed in the playoffs. Plus if T-Mac doesn't pull it together we can start Von over him, not likely that that would happen with Adelman, but if his problems continue that is what SHOULD happen.
Personally I don't see us trading Ron. The main reason is because he is in a contract year so I don't think any team would give up much unless they could lock him up to a long term contract. IMO when Ron is healthy he should be the teams best option late in the game when we really need a shot. From the years of watching him in the league I just have more faith in him than Yao or Tmac to consistently be able to take over a game. That said he is in a contract year so how much money he will demand is anyone’s guess. Ron is definitely in the top three in the NBA when it comes to "if you ain't first your last" attitude. I'm still not sure if he can coexist with Tracy and Yao.
Artest is a major piece, we shouldn't trade him...i mean imagine wut our team could be in the playoffs, WE HAVE RON ARTEST, look at the intensity he plays with on defense, i tink we've overlooked him because of the injury...but during the Celtics game look how he threw Paul Pierce out of his game just on defense, Ron brings alot to the table, and during playoff time he could help us against any team in the west ...and T-Mac excpects to have jumping ability back in his left knee, i think that was the only thing holding him back, he basically went to the rack with his off hand EVERYTIME. The guy said he was "petrified" to jump off hiss injured knee, now if we get him with his athletic ability back we're golden, plus YAO..i mean this team is not out of it all yet
It's not hate. If over the next few weeks the Rockets decide they can't challenge for the title they need to try to salvage asset/s out of Artest's expiring contract. They traded away future assets to win it all this season, but if that's not happening. At least try to get something back. Ron will be 30 next season (end of this year). That age is a good marker for sharp declines in wings. Adding to the risk is more frequent injuries. They're also looking at negotiating Artest's last signigicant contract. He has to make the most of it. That doesn't help if they're preparing to keep their options open for 2010.
Thank you!!Why is everything even remotelly negative about a player have to be "Hate"? Sometimes personal opinions about a player have NOTHING to do with him being traded or criticized. Hate this guy, that guy, grow up!
HUH????!! Trade Ron!? Why are people even agreeing to this? Did we not see how valuable he was to us in Boston and against Utah?? Even Yao talked about the toughness he brings to this team when he is on the court after that game, so he's taking some time off to get better from his injury, how does that make him not fit into the team? He hasn't gotten into any trouble off the court, he hasn't gotten into trouble on the court. And why are we even talking about giving up and perhaps if this team decides we cannot challenge...we are 24-16 in the 7th seed....and that's playing with our key players out...I understand the negativity but jeez...we are no where close to talking about not contending and giving up.
I've always admired T-Mac's game... and I hated Ron well, because he wasn't on our team. This is what I've seen from Ron this year: Pointers - guiding Von Wafer, Brooks, Landry and Hayes on defense. Many times they come back from break and there's Ron giving pointers on how to better D up there man whether he was in the game or wearing a blazer and riding the bench because of an injury. That is an invaluable resource. Ron knows how to D up pretty much anyone. Passion - Ron plays with intensity that is hard to match. I swear I hated when he'd guard T-Mac. I knew when that happened that it was a 1/100 chance that McGrady would explode for 30+ points. Toughness - Battier plays good D and can take a charge, but he's not tough the same way Ron is. I cannot wait to see Ron help us against the Jazz. I've been hoping he'd come back for the upcoming game, but he's out. Ron will put a motherfarker on the floor. The Mediator - I thought Artest would be ruthless and almost psychotic because of his reputation. Ron seems to be the calmest person on the team when things seem like they might erupt into technicals/ejections. He pulls players away and often will put himself between his teammates and the threat pretty much daring the threat to come at him. Again, nobody else on this team is capable of that. Just my 2 cents.
Forgot to tack on after "I admired T-Mac's game, but hated Artest because he wasn't on our team"... I'd rather see T-Mac go over Artest. We can replace what T-Mac offers to the team... easily. Especially for $20 million.
I've never written anything to Artest's defense, i've never had to...I just dont see where he failed...number 1 reason for our less than stellar year so far is TMAC, and look at my name, i'm not being anyone's apologist, i'm just tellin it like it is.
trade artest!!!! are you guys out of your mind, him and scola are the few players who give 110% every game, his defense is incredible, but I do agree he needs to fit better offensively but that's not his fault with a constantly changing lineup
Shoot is Battier filling his role? I am sorry but when Artest starts the game defensively, everyone plays defense, he inspires. I like Battier a lot but he has decreased his defense, injuries or not (Artest has injuries as well). Artest is the vocal leader we need and I gaurantee he is just as good a locker room leader as Battier. So if anyone needs to be trade if not Tmac then Battier. Shoot send him to Detroit for something, he already said he would like to retire there. Yao and Artest go together better then Yao and Battier anyway.
