West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: GENERIK on July 10, 2008, 02:36:47 PM
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Report: Lakers approach Kings about Artest
by FOXSports.com
Updated: July 10, 2008, 2:47 PM EST
The Lakers' toughness was repeatedly called into question during their NBA Finals loss to the Celtics. According to one report, they may think Ron Artest is the answer to that problem.The Sacramento Bee reports that the Los Angeles Lakers recently called the Kings regarding the availability of the All-Star forward, citing an NBA source. According to the paper, Lamar Odom was believed to be offered in return.
As of Tuesday evening, the Kings had not yet responded to the offer. Of course, Kings president Geoff Petrie declined to confirm whether the offer even existed.
"Right now, (Artest is) just a terrific player to have on your roster," Petrie said. "I don't really have any speculation one way or another (about his future). We'll see what other things — not specific to Ron — but if there's some other way we can improve the team or change the team, we'll take a look at it."
The Kings would need to include another player to make the salaries match up in a Odom-for-Artest deal. It is expected that Sacramento would insist on Kenny Thomas — and the $18 million remaining on his existing contract — being included in any potential deal.
The Kings' expected payroll is currently very close to the NBA's luxury tax limit ($71.15 million) and the team has stated that they do not plan to sign any further free agents.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
Yeah because of Artests mental issues but Ronnie is so much better than Odom that it might be worth it to take the risk.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
Yeah because of Artests mental issues but Ronnie is so much better than Odom that it might be worth it to take the risk.
LMAO@"so much better"...it has nothing to do with his mental issues, cuz I know Phil and Kobe can keep that in check. Odom is our primary rebounder and playmaker...I don't wanna see Artest chucking up 3 point shots on a fast break and disrupting our offense like he's very capable of doing. There's a reason the Kings played better with Salmons in the lineup...if we take on Artest, I want him to be mainly a defender with very limitted offense running through him. I'd really hate to lose Odom. He's been a huge part of any success we've had.
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^^Dude Artest was alot more in check w/ his offensive game last year, I watched alot of Kings game and my boy MoSav watched every single Kings game and he will also tell you that although he still is out of control at times he was better with his shot selection last year. If you guys have Kobe, Gasol and Artest there is no way you dont win the championship.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
Yeah because of Artests mental issues but Ronnie is so much better than Odom that it might be worth it to take the risk.
LMAO@"so much better"...it has nothing to do with his mental issues, cuz I know Phil and Kobe can keep that in check. Odom is our primary rebounder and playmaker...I don't wanna see Artest chucking up 3 point shots on a fast break and disrupting our offense like he's very capable of doing. There's a reason the Kings played better with Salmons in the lineup...if we take on Artest, I want him to be mainly a defender with very limitted offense running through him. I'd really hate to lose Odom. He's been a huge part of any success we've had.
LOL you're either overestimating the influence of Kobe and Phil or you're seriously underestimating the extent to which Artest is fucking nuts. I'll guess the latter as there is no way in hell you could possibly be accused of underestimating anything Lakers. Artest on the Lakers would be the beginning of the end of this incarnation of the Lakers.
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^^Dude Artest was alot more in check w/ his offensive game last year, I watched alot of Kings game and my boy MoSav watched every single Kings game and he will also tell you that although he still is out of control at times he was better with his shot selection last year. If you guys have Kobe, Gasol and Artest there is no way you dont win the championship.
I much rather have a front line of Bynum, Gasol, and Odom...The Laker staff should definitely evaluate that line-up and see how it works out before proposing any trades for the nutcase.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
Yeah because of Artests mental issues but Ronnie is so much better than Odom that it might be worth it to take the risk.
LMAO@"so much better"...it has nothing to do with his mental issues, cuz I know Phil and Kobe can keep that in check. Odom is our primary rebounder and playmaker...I don't wanna see Artest chucking up 3 point shots on a fast break and disrupting our offense like he's very capable of doing. There's a reason the Kings played better with Salmons in the lineup...if we take on Artest, I want him to be mainly a defender with very limitted offense running through him. I'd really hate to lose Odom. He's been a huge part of any success we've had.
LOL you're either overestimating the influence of Kobe and Phil or you're seriously underestimating the extent to which Artest is fucking nuts. I'll guess the latter as there is no way in hell you could possibly be accused of underestimating anything Lakers. Artest on the Lakers would be the beginning of the end of this incarnation of the Lakers.
Two words...DENNIS RODMAN.
Artest wants to win a title, and if he is happy in his shoes (which he would be in LA), I don't see him creating as much of an uproar.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
Yeah because of Artests mental issues but Ronnie is so much better than Odom that it might be worth it to take the risk.
LMAO@"so much better"...it has nothing to do with his mental issues, cuz I know Phil and Kobe can keep that in check. Odom is our primary rebounder and playmaker...I don't wanna see Artest chucking up 3 point shots on a fast break and disrupting our offense like he's very capable of doing. There's a reason the Kings played better with Salmons in the lineup...if we take on Artest, I want him to be mainly a defender with very limitted offense running through him. I'd really hate to lose Odom. He's been a huge part of any success we've had.
LOL you're either overestimating the influence of Kobe and Phil or you're seriously underestimating the extent to which Artest is fucking nuts. I'll guess the latter as there is no way in hell you could possibly be accused of underestimating anything Lakers. Artest on the Lakers would be the beginning of the end of this incarnation of the Lakers.
Two words...DENNIS RODMAN.
Artest wants to win a title, and if he is happy in his shoes (which he would be in LA), I don't see him creating as much of an uproar.
dont get me wrong, he's a hell of a talent, but he thinks he's better than he is and he is insane. If I were a Laker fan I would much rather keep Odom.
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I would much rather keep Odom.
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Odom isn't that good NIK. stop overrating him, hes decent but not much better, most Laker fans dont even like him on the team
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Odom isn't that good NIK. stop overrating him, hes decent but not much better, most Laker fans dont even like him on the team
Odom is cool, he has one year left on the contract, I'd keep him
it's just annoying when he takes off and goes for a dunk and then he's scared to do it again the next time
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Odom isn't that good. hes decent. most Laker fans dont even like him on the team
slap yourself
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I'd rather keep Odom and steal Posey. Though I agree with NIK (oh shit... this is soooooooooooooooooo weird) that I would rather keep both Odom and Sasha and see how Bynum turns out. IF, and I mean IF we need toughness mid-season then pull the trigger on a trade, but for now, lets see how Bynum does.
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I really hope this isn't true...I'd love to have Artest, but not at the cost of a Lamar Odom.
Yeah because of Artests mental issues but Ronnie is so much better than Odom that it might be worth it to take the risk.
LMAO@"so much better"...it has nothing to do with his mental issues, cuz I know Phil and Kobe can keep that in check. Odom is our primary rebounder and playmaker...I don't wanna see Artest chucking up 3 point shots on a fast break and disrupting our offense like he's very capable of doing. There's a reason the Kings played better with Salmons in the lineup...if we take on Artest, I want him to be mainly a defender with very limitted offense running through him. I'd really hate to lose Odom. He's been a huge part of any success we've had.
LOL you're either overestimating the influence of Kobe and Phil or you're seriously underestimating the extent to which Artest is fucking nuts. I'll guess the latter as there is no way in hell you could possibly be accused of underestimating anything Lakers. Artest on the Lakers would be the beginning of the end of this incarnation of the Lakers.
Two words...DENNIS RODMAN.
Artest wants to win a title, and if he is happy in his shoes (which he would be in LA), I don't see him creating as much of an uproar.
exactly, he was under control all year, he just wana win i guarantee he doesnt pull bs on the lakers...And he doesnt play outa control when hes got Kobe on his team, thats just my feeling. But yes his shot selection was much better not to mention his best Fg% 3pt% and Ppg were teh best of his career this past year. Id love this trade, only because Artest wants to leave, otherwise, id rather keep Ron.
Possible Lineup
Beno PG
Kmart SG
Salmons Sf
Lamar PF
Hawes C
thats what id like
but im sure Salmons would come off the bench and Mikey would be the 4, but i could see the lineup up top being our lineup down the stretch, much like last year when artest would play 4 down the stretch, with Cisco actually at the 1 alot at the end last year giving us a lot of long players and athletic players at onetime
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^^That would be a great looking team!! Hawes has such potential!
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^^That would be a great looking team!! Hawes has such potential!
I dont think people realize he could be and is gonna be. Kid has post moves already that players in the NBA DONT HAVE..
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When he got quality playing time last year his stats speaked for themselves, the guy is going to be very good, such a great future
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Calm down, King fans...I'm pretty sure this was just a rumor.
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nah they were talking about it PTI ATH and Sportscenter
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lamar odom> Ron Artest
end of discussion.
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lamar odom> Ron Artest
end of discussion.
Stick to football Jake
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Anyone that thinks Odom is a better player than Artest should not be allowed to watch Basketball.
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C- Bynum 7'1
PF-Gasol 7'0
SF- Odom 6'10
Sg- Kobe 6'6
pg fisher 6'1ish
C- Bynum
pf- Gasol
sf- Artest 6'7
sg- kobe
pg- fisher
point 1 i like the first line up better because no one is going to stop us in the interior...you better be the best 3 point shooting team in the NBA....defensively that would be nice to have kobe and artest on the wing(s)....however we're not going to be as stable inside if we were to have odom down low. and that was one of our problems in the finals. how would we be solving that problem with artest? we toughness inside and i think with the return of bynum down low we take a lot of pressure off odom and gasol. defensively artest is better in one on one situations and on the wing, but i like the length, strength and rebounding if we have the first line up.
point two....they're the same age, average the same thing in almost every category (except rebounding which goes to odom, and odom even slightyly leads in the other categories) but odom does this with a more reserved role on every team he's been on, as opposed to artest. so why get rid of odom when you're going to get almost the same production? i believe the rebounding prowess of odom is more valuable than what artest can bring to the table.
point three.....they're both mental cases. Artest is like one of those ghetto kids in the movie theaters where you tell him to shut up and he only gets louder...i don't see him doing us many favors on the Technical foul side of things . we already have kobe leading the league in those...how apt is Artest willing to get lead by kobe too....artest is a maverick, he plays on his terms...this is kobe's team, i don't like the mixing of those two chemicals......odom sometimes plays with his head up his ass but he's a great great great great team player. when he's beatin' with his 20 -20 , 20- 15, or 15-10 games .....i'd much rather take the risk of odom fucking that production for a game or two out of the month than artest ruining the chemistry in the locker room/court/media......
also i'd only want artest on the team if we can still keep odom and bring artest off the bench...or start him sparingly
odom> artest.
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homie is way to big of a gamble IMO
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.however we're not going to be as stable inside if we were to have odom down low. and that was one of our problems in the finals. how would we be solving that problem with artest?
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
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Anyone that thinks Odom is a better player than Artest should not be allowed to watch Basketball.
Anyone who thinks Artest is on another level than Odom should not be allowed to discuss any sports.
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
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.however we're not going to be as stable inside if we were to have odom down low. and that was one of our problems in the finals. how would we be solving that problem with artest?
Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
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i was talking about interior defense, and i'd still take odom's production than artests. it's all about chemistry and odom is a better fit for the lakers than artest.
now with that said
odom in the low post while hie's beatin' like at the end of the regular season>Artest at any high point of his career in the post
odom when his head's up his ass in the low post> Artest when his head's up his ass
^(one would be on the bench while the other would be in the locker room)= an ass on the bench>an ass in the showers
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
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We'll be crazy not to pull the trigger on this deal .. I have constantly repeated Lamar experience at the SF won't work and for three reasons :
- it takes away his biggest strenght i.e rebounding (obviously he's not going to average 10 a game while playing outside the paint)
- his inability to post up the SF opponent ... he had trouble to dominate against players as Finley and Posey on a consistant basis in the playoffs ... Lamar has never been a legit threat down low and will never be.. Lamar at the 3 = shooting a lot of three pointers and outside shots at a weak FG percentage
- at the fourth position , he's an underrated defender but at the 3, Lamar is just very weak, his lateral speed isn't good at all ..
on the other end Artest is a physical monster, will rape people down low and I'm sure he would be motivated to assume his role to lock down opponent best scorer ... good chance with a D of Artest outside and then Bynum as an anchor in the paint ..
I'm sure Paul" wheelchair" Pierce would be a lot less hyped to see Ron Artest than fucking Vlad Radmanovic
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I'd rather have Posey. But I do want Odom gone. If Miami is still interested in a Odom for Marion deal then we need to make that happen.
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^^^^ no way I'd trade Lamar for Marion ... we need to clean up that SF position .. the dream would be to get rid of Vlad and Luke and to acquire somebody like Battier or Posey
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to gamble on a bi-polar ass muh fucka like artest is crazy. it would destroy the chemistry this team has.
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^^^^ no way I'd trade Lamar for Marion ... we need to clean up that SF position .. the dream would be to get rid of Vlad and Luke and to acquire somebody like Battier or Posey
i would love to see lukes under achieving ass,contract go
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
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I'd rather have Posey. But I do want Odom gone. If Miami is still interested in a Odom for Marion deal then we need to make that happen.
LMAO. :puke:
It seems like some people have quickly forgotten that Odom is one of the main reasons we even made it to the Finals. :stupid:
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Keep Odom he is very aggressive on the offensive and defensive baords due to his lenght and strenght i dont know why people want to get rid of him altough he did struggle in the finals and needs to work on his free throws in the off season
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^Exactly...The Lakers as a team struggled in the Finals. Lets get rid of everyone!
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
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I'd rather have Posey. But I do want Odom gone. If Miami is still interested in a Odom for Marion deal then we need to make that happen.
LMAO. :puke:
It seems like some people have quickly forgotten that Odom is one of the main reasons we even made it to the Finals. :stupid:
Do yourself a favor and don't even mention Odom and Finals in the same sentence. I didn't even notice him out there.
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I'd rather have Posey. But I do want Odom gone. If Miami is still interested in a Odom for Marion deal then we need to make that happen.
LMAO. :puke:
It seems like some people have quickly forgotten that Odom is one of the main reasons we even made it to the Finals. :stupid:
Do yourself a favor and don't even mention Odom and Finals in the same sentence. I didn't even notice him out there.
how bout Gasol,Rad,Fish,sasha,luke....like NIK said they struggled as a team,not just LO.
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
A way better perimeter defender, not way better post defender...you're making a big mistake by claiming Artest has the advantage in post production.
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
A way better perimeter defender, not way better post defender...you're making a big mistake by claiming Artest has the advantage in post production.
hes a a SF, its more important to be able to defend on the perimiter
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
A way better perimeter defender, not way better post defender...you're making a big mistake by claiming Artest has the advantage in post production.
hes a a SF, its more important to be able to defend on the perimiter
I agree, but we were comparing who's post production was stronger, and that's clearly to Odom's advantage.
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
A way better perimeter defender, not way better post defender...you're making a big mistake by claiming Artest has the advantage in post production.
hes a a SF, its more important to be able to defend on the perimiter
I agree, but we were comparing who's post production was stronger, and that's clearly to Odom's advantage.
I suppose, but id still rather have artest 8)
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
A way better perimeter defender, not way better post defender...you're making a big mistake by claiming Artest has the advantage in post production.
hes a a SF, its more important to be able to defend on the perimiter
I agree, but we were comparing who's post production was stronger, and that's clearly to Odom's advantage.
I suppose, but id still rather have artest 8)
That's nice...I'd rather have Odom. I know you'd get excited if Odom were traded to the Kings. ;)
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Are u serious? Did u ever watch a Kings game? Anytime artest posts up he draws a dbl team, no SF can guard him on the post and most pf's cant either. Hes super phsycial down low, hed be way more of a force in there then Odom. U can also get open shots off him playing in the post he could cause all kind of nightmare problems..
Are you trying to say Artest gives you better post production than Odom? LOL...Come on, now.
Yeah. Come on now nothing, u cant possibly think odom plays more physical then Ron...LOL
Post production=rebounding, interior defense, post-up game...Artest's main strengths are clearly on the perimeter. LOL.
Artest has a better post game now too, he makes people get the fuck out the way, he had a great year...He doesnt rebound as well as Odom, thats a big strength, but he still plays more physical and a way better defender..
A way better perimeter defender, not way better post defender...you're making a big mistake by claiming Artest has the advantage in post production.
hes a a SF, its more important to be able to defend on the perimiter
I agree, but we were comparing who's post production was stronger, and that's clearly to Odom's advantage.
I suppose, but id still rather have artest 8)
That's nice...I'd rather have Odom. I know you'd get excited if Odom were traded to the Kings. ;)
yeah cuz Artest doesnt want to be there, and id rather get a good player like odom who can get 11 rebs and 16 pts a game rather then some bum like eduardo najera, if ron was happy and wanted to be there id rather have him
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and Odom could start at PF and that would allow salmons to start and shine ;D
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Looks like I was right...the deal wont happen because Lakers don't wanna part with Odom:
Artest hopes for trade from Kings, will act as own agent (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3485534)
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
LAS VEGAS -- Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest joined teammates Kevin Martin, Beno Udrih and Shareef Abdur-Rahim as celebrity spectators for the Kings' first game in the NBA Summer League on the campus of UNLV.
But Artest isn't feeling like a King.
In a series of e-mails he sent to ESPN.com late Saturday and early Sunday, Artest continued to lament his decision to pass on an opportunity to become a free agent July 1 by announcing that he is now representing himself without an agent and expressing hope that he will soon be traded to "a team out there that can be more committed than Sacramento to me."
That team is believed to be the Los Angeles Lakers. Almost from the minute they were routed by the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals -- which Artest attended in Boston to root for friends Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom -- it has been strongly expected throughout the league that the Lakers would revisit their longstanding trade interest in Artest and eventually acquire the enigmatic forward sometime this summer to address the defense and toughness issues that the Celtics exposed.
But NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Sunday that the Lakers -- fond as they are of Artest and confident as they are that they can get the best out of him through Phil Jackson's coaching and Artest's respect for Bryant -- are reluctant to part with Odom in an Artest swap. That stance, if the Lakers hold firm, would almost certainly prompt Sacramento to look elsewhere for a trade partner.
The most consistent trade chatter involving Artest suggests that the Kings would want Odom in return for Artest and Kings forward Kenny Thomas.
Artest, for his part, is now openly pushing for a move, telling ESPN.com that he's suddenly feeling a chill from Kings co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof in the same desert where, just two summers ago in 2006, Joe Maloof proclaimed him to be the new "face of our franchise."
Questioning his future with Sacramento in an all-over-the-map manner, as only he can, Artest needed just a few sentences to put Kings coach Reggie Theus on par with Jackson, second-guess the Kings' decision to fire Rick Adelman in May 2006, speak of a hypothetical move to his hometown New York Knicks and describe the Lakers' Jackson as an ideal coach.
"It's weird because [the] Maloofs [were] high on me [after] the initial trade," Artest wrote, referring to the January 2006 deal that brought him from the Indiana Pacers to the Kings in exchange for Peja Stojakovic. "But during this opt-out time in my career I have not heard from them. That should have been a sign to me that my future in [Sacramento] is N/A or undetermined.
"In a way I wish this [coming 2008-09 season] would have been [Theus'] first year and [Adelman] would have left this summer, because it could have showed how much [of] a winner I am. Guys like Rick Adelman and Rick Carlisle [brought] that out of me. Isiah [Thomas] was going to bring that out of me if he didn't get fired [by the Knicks]. A coach like Phil Jackson can bring that out me."
"Reggie more than qualifies," Artest continued. "[But] as much as I have to prove I can win like a Rasheed [Wallace] or [Kevin] Garnett in the first year [with their] respective [new] teams, I can make an argument [that] firing Rick Adelman was not the best thing to do. It put me in a position where I had to start over. The good thing is, I should be in my prime at 32 years old, so I have time and, with faith in God, I can move ahead with progress to reach success."
On the first day of free agency, after seeing Elton Brand and Baron Davis unexpectedly put themselves on the free-agent market when it was widely assumed that they wouldn't opt out, Artest told ESPN.com that he immediately regretted his decision not to opt out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted agent. The 28-year-old instead elected to play out the final year of his contract with the Kings at $7.4 million, as he had vowed for weeks. But he apparently did so believing that the Kings would consider signing him to a contract extension this summer, even though there had been little indication from Sacramento management that it was preparing to make such an offer.
Artest emerged from a July 1 meeting with Kings president Geoff Petrie saying that he "made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract" after it was made clear to him that his long-term future lay elsewhere.
"I don't see myself with [the] Kings beyond 2008-09," Artest said then.
He lately apologized publicly in an e-mail to ESPN.com and The Sacramento Bee "for being mistakenly frustrated with the Kings" and called it "a mistake that I made," but the conciliatory tone didn't last long.
"After being around the Kings and letting the missed opportunity soak in, it makes me hungry to play good basketball this year," Artest wrote Sunday. "My agent at the time [Mark Stevens] did not pay attention to the last minute of the opt-out hour and David Falk and all these other agents pulled a fast one. They were so smart to opt out [at] the last minute.
"I hope I can go with a team who can commit to me on whatever the terms may be. Even in Indiana when they were worried about extending me, I still produced for them. I do believe [there is] a team out there that can be more committed than Sacramento to me. Now that I'm my own agent, I can get a better feel on how teams really view me because I can represent myself.
"When my agent at the time asked me not to opt out so the Kings can get something in return, I thought it was the right thing to do. I didn't want to leave them out there after all they did for me. But [by] doing that, I'm left out in the cold and still being experimented on like a lab rat. Wherever I'm at next year I can't wait to work.
"When Rick Adelman got fired and Bonzi [Wells] didn't get re-signed, that messed up my legacy as a King because we were headed in the right direction. Now it's like I have to re-identify what type of team play I can bring to a team.
"I was blinded by friendship. Even Mama Maloof [Colleen Maloof, Joe and Gavin's mother] told me she wanted me to stay. I never knew that meant one more year. I thought it meant several. When Mama [Maloof] talks, you listen, and it's a must you consider and take heed to what she is saying.
"I didn't know I would be on this roller-coaster ride. Even my coaches convinced me things will be OK. I guess they didn't know, either, that would mean a couple more years. I feel like I let my family down by not being a smarter businessman."
The Kings would undoubtedly counter that it's the team, like Artest's previous employers in Chicago and Indiana, who have been subjected to the roller-coaster ride by the rugged forward's unpredictable nature. Artest revitalized the Kings in his first half-season in town, powering Sacramento into the 2006 playoffs and a feisty first-round loss to the San Antonio Spurs that was more competitive than most experts predicted. But legal troubles and friction with then-coach Eric Musselman in 2006-07 were followed by Musselman's dismissal after just one season on the bench, with Artest revealing late in the season that he strongly contemplated retirement to spend more time with his family.
Artest missed the first seven games last season to serve a league suspension after a no-contest plea to infliction of injury on his wife. He went on to miss 18 more games through injury, but Sacramento weathered its myriad dramas and health issues -- as well as the midseason trade of Mike Bibby to Atlanta -- to exceed most preseason forecasts and post a 38-44 record under Theus. Artest wound up having one his best statistical seasons -- averaging 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 57 games -- and has claimed often that the Kings would have been right there with the eight 50-win teams in the West if not for the injuries suffered by him, Bibby and Martin.
He has been actively working to address doubts about his reliability, which are most commonly associated with Artest's suspension for the remainder of the 2004-05 season for his role in the infamous Pistons-Pacers brawl in November 2004. Heavily involved with the NBA Players Association's humanitarian efforts in Africa and elsewhere abroad, Artest likewise signed on last season as a spokesman for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and has done volunteer television work in recent months for the Maloofs-owned Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA.
Artest also unsuccessfully reached out to USA Basketball officials earlier this month in a bid to convince them to consider him as an 11th-hour candidate for this summer's China-bound Olympic team.
In spite of Artest's eccentricities and controversial past, most NBA executives agree that Artest will attract plenty of interest from contending teams between now and next February's trading deadline with his reputation as one of the league's top all-around players when focused ... and his very tradeable salary. Sacramento had serious Artest talks with the Denver Nuggets at the February trading deadline and Petrie's fellow GMs surely haven't forgotten the initial impact Artest had on the Kings when he arrived.
But even if the Lakers did budge from their current stance and consented to include Odom in a deal with the Kings, chances are nothing could happen before Friday at the earliest, as L.A. must first decide whether to match the Golden State Warriors' four-year, $17 million offer sheet to forward Ronny Turiaf. The Kings could also elect to take their time before consenting to move Artest in hopes of generating better trade offers as the summer progresses and other teams' free-agent options begin to dwindle.
good shit
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^^^^ no way I'd trade Lamar for Marion ... we need to clean up that SF position .. the dream would be to get rid of Vlad and Luke and to acquire somebody like Battier or Posey
Exactly.
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The latest rumor for Artest is that the Mavs are interested.
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for who?
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for who?
who knows...Kidd? Josh Howard, perhaps?
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for who?
who knows...Kidd? Josh Howard, perhaps?
OH PLEASE OH PLEASE GET JOSH HOWARD!! ;D
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The Lakers are, indeed, interested in Artest, but contrary to widespread rumors they have not yet made an offer. Not Lamar Odom, not anyone. They're waiting to see what happens with Ronny Turiaf, after which we could see some movement on the LA front. HoopsWorld
As far as the continuing frontrunners in the Artest sweepstakes, I've been told by a source close to the Lakers that there are no ongoing discussions. The next relevant date remains Friday, when the Lakers' deadline to match Ronny Turiaf's offer sheet passes. It's at that point the Lakers may decide to take on Kenny Thomas to fill Turiaf's old role or quite possibly engage a third team in the deal so as to avoid his contract. As for whether the Lakers have offered Lamar Odom, that hasn't officially happened but I'm told he is absolutely available. Sacramento Bee
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We're not gunna part ways with Odom for Artest. Mark it.
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"It's at that point the Lakers may decide to take on Kenny Thomas to fill Turiaf's old role"
::)
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Kenny is still athletic and can still play, he rebounds and plays good defense
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trading odom for artest is the best decision LA could make
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^^ exactley, artest is a underated playmaker himself.
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^Artest is not really known for his playmaking abilities. If it were the best decision, Lakers woulda' offered him up already...Mitch knows what he's doing.