Source: Artest looks to be bound for L.A. ( ? )

[Javier]

Source: Artest looks to be bound for L.A.

By Sam Amico
Dec. 28, 2005


http://www.probasketballnews.com/pbnnews_1229.html

Indiana is nearing a three-team trade that would send swingman Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Lakers, a league source has told ProBasketballNews.com.

Meanwhile, Lakers forward Devean George would end up in Indiana.

The third team involved in the proposed trade is the Toronto Raptors, according to the source. The Raptors would send Jalen Rose to Los Angeles -- and in return receive Pacers forward Austin Croshere and at least one player from the Lakers.

The source added that George and an undetermined player from the Raptors -- or perhaps a draft pick -- would be to dealt to the Pacers.

"Basically, it's Artest for Devean George, with the Raptors getting involved to make it work financially," the source said. "When and if it happens, this will be a trade that consists of plenty of throw-ins."

Three weeks ago, Artest told the Indianapolis Star that he wanted to be traded. He later apologized to his teammates and told management he would like to remain with the team. But Pacers president Larry Bird told The Indianapolis Star on Monday that he felt "betrayed" by Artest, and said the Pacers will indeed trade him.

Artest has been inactive since his comments about wanting to be traded, which came after he was injured against Dallas on Dec. 6. Since then, the Pacers have been flooded with trade requests.

Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh told the Associated Press on Wednesday the team had narrowed its options down from about 10 teams this week, but did not indicate when a trade might occur.

Artest averaged 19.4 points and 4.9 rebounds through 16 games this season. He was suspended for 73 games last year after the well-documented brawl during a game in Detroit.

Croshere is averaging 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Pacers, while Rose is scoring 9.6 points in just 25 minutes per game -- his lowest averages in both categories in nine seasons.

George is also near his career lows in scoring (5.6 ppg) and field-goal percentage (38 percent).

The source said he was not given a timetable as to when the proposed trade might take place. "I hear they are very close to finalizing everything, he said, "but it sounds like there are a few kinks that still need to be worked out."

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Pretty good deal for the Lakers, but what benifit would the raptors have of trading Rose for Croshere? There better be some good incentives/add ons beacuse I can't see the reasoning for a Rose for Croshere deal striaght up, even finacially. And who would be the extra laker player traded?

3 way trades are always sweet deals for at least one team.

[ecrazy]

The Clippers were offering Chris Wilcox and Quinton Ross For Artest, and possibly Zeljko Rebraca
I say he's going to NY though anyway

[acbaylove]

"Basically, it's Artest for Devean George, with the Raptors getting involved to make it work financially,"

This shit is too good to be true. I'm probably the biggest fan of Artest in this board. Put him in those Lakers without removing Odom from the starting 5 and we have a very very good team. They're contenders, man!

Parker is a good defender on the ball.
Bryant is a hell of a defender, if he wants to.
Artest is the best perimeter defender of the League.
Odom is a great team defender who impressed me against the Heat.
Mihm is a good intimidator who can block shots and help from the wack side.

That's easly the best defensive team in the League. Odom could care about defence only, Artest will make 20ppg helping Kobe when he's doubled, and Bryant could care more about offence, leaving the best offensive man to Artest.

Please God make it happens.

[WestCoasta]

 

[acbaylove]

Oh c'mon! I understood Nik saying to a Odom-Artest trade. But why to a George-Artest one? C'mon now!

[7even]

Artest for George? Why not just waiving Artest? LOL.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

^You've got to be kidding me! George was a part of the 3 Laker championships, he's such a great role-player and very good defender. George would fill in the small forward spot for Ron Artest very well, and plus, Indiana would be recieving a player from Toronto as well...Indiana's not gunna get much for Artest, I mean, I'd honestly want Devean George over Chris Wilcox and Quinton Ross if I was Indiana...To tell you the truth though, I do not see Artest coming to the Lakers without Odom being involved in the trade...If the Lakers can do it for George, I say do it! take the chance, even if he is a fuck up...But if Odom has to be involved, I don't want Artest...The interesting aspect, though, is that we would be getting Jalen Rose as well (Lakers would have to send another player to Toronto, as stated in the article, possibly Slava?)...This team, if worked properly, could EASILY contend.

PG Smush Parker...Aaron McKie/Sasha Vuvajic
SG Kobe Bryant...Jalen Rose/Von Wafer
SF Ron Artest...Luke Walton/Devin Green
PF Lamar Odom...Brian Cook/Ronny Turiaf
C Chris Mihm...Kwame Brown/Andrew Bynum

Coach: Phil Jackson

Ron Artest: Defensive player of the year
Smush Parker: Most improved player of the year
Jalen Rose: 6th Man of the year
Phil Jackson: Coach of the year
Kobe Bryant: MVP

 

Would be nice, but I doubt it...

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

the only benefit raptors would get outta this is gettin rid of Rose's big contract and im guessin they'll try and sign a big name if they can durin the offseason

[rik]

the only benefit raptors would get outta this is gettin rid of Rose's big contract and im guessin they'll try and sign a big name if they can durin the offseason

My thoughts exactly they just free up cap room.

[africas seed]

the raps r benching rose neways so it wont be a big loss if they dealt him and his acontract away although i always thought that rose was underutilized in the raptors organization. this deal would be sick for the lakers as theyre getting a top 15 player and a top 3 and best perimeter defender in the game who brings toughness. george has been underachieving this yr.

[Don Jacob]

wow indiana is fuckin retarded....miracles do happen


hey hopefully this shit goes down lakers will be champs in 2 years if they can build around this 

[7even]

Im just pissed off when trades are so damn one-sided.. it's Chelsea-style to get Artest for George. Let alone Artest and Rose for George and Slava. You've got to be motherfucking kidding me.

[wcsoldier]

fake

LAKER REPORT
Mastering the Fadeaway
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer

The Lakers have lost three consecutive games by a combined nine points, showing an ability to hang close before fading late.

What, Phil Jackson worry?

"We're playing well," the Laker coach said. "What am I going to complain about? It's about playing well and competing and being in ballgames. We're losing games that are close and we have to learn to win those games. Those things balance out and we just have to stay the course."

The Lakers lost to three potential playoff teams: Miami by five points, Washington by three and Memphis in overtime by one. Still, some Laker players, Kobe Bryant in particular, have been agitated and demonstrative during the recent skid.

"They're young and dumb," Jackson said jokingly. "They're going to be emotional about it this time. They don't have a long perspective of a season and 82 games. We do. We've been through these seasons and we know they're long, enduring marathon runs."

The Lakers are 15-14, a game behind the pace of their 16-13 start a year ago.

The Lakers have been struggling in the second half, when a thin bench and sometimes stagnant offense catches up to them. They had 34 points in the second half Wednesday against Memphis and 29 Monday against Washington.

"It seems to me that in the third and fourth quarter, we just stop running our offense," guard Smush Parker said. "We stop moving the ball around, stop cutting, the ball stops being swung around. It is really hurting the team. The ball moves in the first half. Everybody got some touches and everybody was in the game [against Memphis]."

The Laker bench, already without Aaron McKie, Slava Medvedenko and Laron Profit because of injuries, was further thinned against Memphis when forward Devean George started in place of Brian Cook, who had flu-like symptoms.

The Laker bench had six points, all by Luke Walton. Reserve center Kwame Brown was scoreless and had four rebounds in 21 minutes.

An Internet report made the rounds Thursday, and local talk-radio lines buzzed amid speculation that Indiana Pacer forward Ron Artest and Toronto Raptor guard Jalen Rose would be traded to the Lakers, a combined salary package worth $22 million this season.

Laker officials adamantly denied the report, which had Devean George and another unnamed Laker as part of a three-team trade.

The Lakers would have to give up about $16.5 million in salaries this season to make such a deal work within league trade guidelines. George makes $5 million this season, which means the Lakers would also have to trade Lamar Odom to make the report accurate, an unlikely scenario, a team source said.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

the only benefit raptors would get outta this is gettin rid of Rose's big contract and im guessin they'll try and sign a big name if they can durin the offseason

So adding Austin Croshere wont benefit them? I honestly think they'd be gaining by losing Rose (uninspired play, hefty contract) and adding Croshere (nice outside shot, nice addition to front-court)...