RON ARTEST A NEW MAN

[Turf Hitta]

Artest says it was a 'mistake' not to opt out of deal with Kings


After seeing Elton Brand and Baron Davis unexpectedly put themselves on the free-agent market, Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest is second-guessing himself for not doing the same.

Artest told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he wishes now he had opted for unrestricted free agency, like Brand and Davis, instead of electing to play out the final year of his contract with the Kings next season at $7.4 million.

Artest also conceded that his long-term future is likely not in Sacramento, saying via e-mail: "I don't see myself with [the] Kings beyond 2008-09.

"I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract and I have to live with it," Artest said. "I had some misleading information [in making the] decision on not opting out. [But] I still thank G-d for all his blessings and being able to play basketball and help people."

Artest let his opportunity to become a free agent pass Monday as he had been vowing to do for weeks. The 28-year-old preferred to put off free agency until next summer, figuring that he'd likely only generate contract offers this summer starting at the mid-level exception -- which was $5.4 million last season -- and believing that a big 2008-09 season would increase his chances of securing a long-term deal from either the Kings or someone else.

this type of shit is a distraction too. gotta be great for team chemistry to know that the best player on your team doesn't want to be there. this guy is a head case and needs to go.

[7even]

Artest told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he wishes now he had opted for unrestricted free agency, like Brand and Davis, instead of electing to play out the final year of his contract with the Kings next season at $7.4 million. ESPN.com

Artest also conceded that his long-term future is likely not in Sacramento, saying via e-mail: "I don't see myself with [the] Kings beyond 2008-09. "I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract and I have to live with it," Artest said. "I had some misleading information [in making the] decision on not opting out. [But] I still thank G-d for all his blessings and being able to play basketball and help people." ESPN.com


LMFAO

[S P I C E]

^^LOL this guy is crazy,  I love his talent so much but he isnt a good fit on any team,  I cant believe he would come out and say this now,  he is crazy.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Artest either does this shit on purpose or he has a really bad disorder. I'm not buying into this shit anymore.

[Bch]

lol... i bet hes thinking "damn i shouldve signed with the Clippers and played with B.D." 


but shit u could pay me 7.4 mil i'd come off the bench for the WNBA L.A. Sparks 

["THE" MoSav]

^^LOL this guy is crazy,  I love his talent so much but he isnt a good fit on any team,  I cant believe he would come out and say this now,  he is crazy.

makes me sick. Hes not even our best player..Get him outta here, at this point id even take Odom. I was listening to the radio last night and they were saying LA is a team VERY intereseted

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^LOL this guy is crazy,  I love his talent so much but he isnt a good fit on any team,  I cant believe he would come out and say this now,  he is crazy.

makes me sick. Hes not even our best player..Get him outta here, at this point id even take Odom. I was listening to the radio last night and they were saying LA is a team VERY intereseted

LOL@thinking you're gunna get Odom.

[Turf Hitta]

^^LOL this guy is crazy,  I love his talent so much but he isnt a good fit on any team,  I cant believe he would come out and say this now,  he is crazy.

makes me sick. Hes not even our best player..Get him outta here, at this point id even take Odom. I was listening to the radio last night and they were saying LA is a team VERY intereseted

LOL@thinking you're gunna get Odom.

talent wise, Artest> Odom, but when you factor in mental health, Odom wins 10 times out of 10. Artest is fuckin loony.

["THE" MoSav]

^^LOL this guy is crazy,  I love his talent so much but he isnt a good fit on any team,  I cant believe he would come out and say this now,  he is crazy.

makes me sick. Hes not even our best player..Get him outta here, at this point id even take Odom. I was listening to the radio last night and they were saying LA is a team VERY intereseted

LOL@thinking you're gunna get Odom.

i dont think that. and i dont want him neways if i had my choice, i just said itd be better then artest at this point..

[Kool Beenz]

artest is the whole reason i watch the nba
i hope he goes to a better team soon
he is very underrated because his team sucks
and fuck bibby he is a sell out

[Turf Hitta]

artest is the whole reason i watch the nba
i hope he goes to a better team soon
he is very underrated because his team sucks
and fuck bibby he is a sell out

why? because he got traded? it aint like he demanded a trade or nothn.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^^LOL this guy is crazy,  I love his talent so much but he isnt a good fit on any team,  I cant believe he would come out and say this now,  he is crazy.

makes me sick. Hes not even our best player..Get him outta here, at this point id even take Odom. I was listening to the radio last night and they were saying LA is a team VERY intereseted

LOL@thinking you're gunna get Odom.

talent wise, Artest> Odom, but when you factor in mental health, Odom wins 10 times out of 10. Artest is fuckin loony.

I still like what Odom brings to the table over Artest...Artest is a great defender, but watching him chuck up threes on the fast break is really hard to watch. I wouldn't mind him on the Lakers, but his game would have to be heavily restricted.

["THE" MoSav]

artest is the whole reason i watch the nba
i hope he goes to a better team soon
he is very underrated because his team sucks
and fuck bibby he is a sell out

why? because he got traded? it aint like he demanded a trade or nothn.

exactly!!! He was heartbroken when he got traded, but he became big for ATL.
And the team doesnt suck. we had wayyyy to many injuries and still won 38 games in the west. And dont say Artest needs to go to a better team, kings are plenty good he just needs to get his head str8. for a 15 gm period  had NO bibby, Ron, and Kmart. THATS FUCKIN INSANE id like to see ANY Other team win without there big 3.
Udrih, Salmons, and Garcia got to shine during this time and played extremly well, especially who proved as a starter he can score 20 a gm no problem, actually in over the 40 gms he started he avg over 21.5 pts per game and as a 6th man he avg like 8 ppg. Much better starter, when Rons gone he gonna be able to shine. And Cisco is a cold blooded instant offense off the bench as he also went for 30 a few times as a starter...

["THE" MoSav]

Jan 14    vs. DAL    W 122 - 120    42    9 - 16    0 - 1    4 - 4    0    4    4    3    0    0    2    2    22
Jan 12    vs. IND    L 105 - 111    42    4 - 10    1 - 2    6 - 6    0    1    1    4    0    1    4    3    15
Jan 10    vs. MEM    W 116 - 113    44    12 - 21    0 - 4    4 - 5    4    7    11    7    0    0    2    0    28
Jan 08    vs. ORL    W 104 - 100    43    8 - 14    0 - 1    5 - 5    1    2    3    3    2    0    4    2    21
Jan 05    @ CHI    L 93 - 94    28    6 - 10    0 - 0    1 - 1    1    4    5    3    1    0    7    4    13
Jan 04    @ CLE    L 93 - 97    43    10 - 14    1 - 4    1 - 2    1    6    7    5    1    0    2    3    22
Jan 02    @ NYK    W 107 - 97    44    13 - 18    1 - 2    5 - 5    2    9    11    6    6    1    3    4    32
Date    Opponent    Result    MIN    FGM-A    3PM-A    FTM-A    OFF    DEF    REB    AST    STL    BLK    TO    PF    PTS
Dec 30    vs. PHX    L 102 - 117    43    9 - 18    1 - 3    4 - 4    2    5    7    3    2    0    5    3    23
Dec 28    vs. PHI    L 80 - 92    43    8 - 19    1 - 4    5 - 5    1    0    1    2    0    0    5    4    22
Dec 26    vs. BOS    L 69 - 89    41    6 - 11    1 - 1    0 - 2    0    4    4    3    2    2    4    3    13
Dec 23    vs. DEN    L 105 - 106    39    5 - 17    1 - 3    3 - 3    0    6    6    3    1    1    0    3    14
Dec 19    @ MIL    W 102 - 89    39    6 - 14    1 - 2    4 - 5    2    3    5    4    2    0    0    2    17
Dec 18    @ NJN    W 106 - 101    43    13 - 18    2 - 3    3 - 5    2    2    4    7    3    0    2    5    31
Dec 15    @ WAS    L 79 - 92    32    3 - 6    0 - 1    4 - 6    0    7    7    1    1    0    3    2    10
Dec 14    @ PHI    W 109 - 99    40    8 - 16    1 - 1    2 - 3    1    2    3    5    1    0    5    1    19
Dec 12    @ BOS    L 78 - 90    38    3 - 8    1 - 2    3 - 3    1    2    3    1    2    2    2    2    10
Dec 10    vs. MIL    W 96 - 93    38    9 - 14    3 - 3    1 - 2    1    2    3    5    1    2    2    1    22
Dec 08    @ DEN    L 97 - 101    36    9 - 14    2 - 3    5 - 5    1    5    6    3    4    0    7    2    25
Dec 07    vs. LAC    L 87 - 97    41    4 - 13    1 - 2    1 - 1    1    9    10    5    1    0    3    4    10
Dec 04    vs. UTA    W 117 - 107    27    6 - 9    0 - 0    9 - 11    1    5    6    2    1    0    0    1    21
Dec 01    vs. HOU    W 107 - 99    29    5 - 7    0 - 0    3 - 3    0    4    4    4    1    0    0    3    13


Salmons stats during a month stretch as a starter

["THE" MoSav]

Jan 14    vs. DAL    W 122 - 120    42    9 - 16    0 - 1    4 - 4    0    4    4    3    0    0    2    2    22
Jan 12    vs. IND    L 105 - 111    42    4 - 10    1 - 2    6 - 6    0    1    1    4    0    1    4    3    15
Jan 10    vs. MEM    W 116 - 113    44    12 - 21    0 - 4    4 - 5    4    7    11    7    0    0    2    0    28
Jan 08    vs. ORL    W 104 - 100    43    8 - 14    0 - 1    5 - 5    1    2    3    3    2    0    4    2    21
Jan 05    @ CHI    L 93 - 94    28    6 - 10    0 - 0    1 - 1    1    4    5    3    1    0    7    4    13
Jan 04    @ CLE    L 93 - 97    43    10 - 14    1 - 4    1 - 2    1    6    7    5    1    0    2    3    22
Jan 02    @ NYK    W 107 - 97    44    13 - 18    1 - 2    5 - 5    2    9    11    6    6    1    3    4    32
Date    Opponent    Result    MIN    FGM-A    3PM-A    FTM-A    OFF    DEF    REB    AST    STL    BLK    TO    PF    PTS
Dec 30    vs. PHX    L 102 - 117    43    9 - 18    1 - 3    4 - 4    2    5    7    3    2    0    5    3    23
Dec 28    vs. PHI    L 80 - 92    43    8 - 19    1 - 4    5 - 5    1    0    1    2    0    0    5    4    22
Dec 26    vs. BOS    L 69 - 89    41    6 - 11    1 - 1    0 - 2    0    4    4    3    2    2    4    3    13
Dec 23    vs. DEN    L 105 - 106    39    5 - 17    1 - 3    3 - 3    0    6    6    3    1    1    0    3    14
Dec 19    @ MIL    W 102 - 89    39    6 - 14    1 - 2    4 - 5    2    3    5    4    2    0    0    2    17
Dec 18    @ NJN    W 106 - 101    43    13 - 18    2 - 3    3 - 5    2    2    4    7    3    0    2    5    31
Dec 15    @ WAS    L 79 - 92    32    3 - 6    0 - 1    4 - 6    0    7    7    1    1    0    3    2    10
Dec 14    @ PHI    W 109 - 99    40    8 - 16    1 - 1    2 - 3    1    2    3    5    1    0    5    1    19
Dec 12    @ BOS    L 78 - 90    38    3 - 8    1 - 2    3 - 3    1    2    3    1    2    2    2    2    10
Dec 10    vs. MIL    W 96 - 93    38    9 - 14    3 - 3    1 - 2    1    2    3    5    1    2    2    1    22
Dec 08    @ DEN    L 97 - 101    36    9 - 14    2 - 3    5 - 5    1    5    6    3    4    0    7    2    25
Dec 07    vs. LAC    L 87 - 97    41    4 - 13    1 - 2    1 - 1    1    9    10    5    1    0    3    4    10
Dec 04    vs. UTA    W 117 - 107    27    6 - 9    0 - 0    9 - 11    1    5    6    2    1    0    0    1    21
Dec 01    vs. HOU    W 107 - 99    29    5 - 7    0 - 0    3 - 3    0    4    4    4    1    0    0    3    13


Salmons stats during a month stretch as a starter

scored over ten every game and ten times he went over 20 pts