West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: "THE" MoSav on June 30, 2008, 05:17:54 PM
-
Artest's decision looms
He either will stay with the Kings for the final year of his deal or opt out for free agency.
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:07 pm PDT Monday, June 30, 2008
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Print | E-Mail | Comments (30) |
The Sacramento Kings' Ron Artest
Photo Gallery: The Sacramento Kings' Ron Artest
The saga will soon be over, with Ron Artest's immediate future decided and the Kings back in control again.
Pardon Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie for the audible exhale.
By 9 tonight, Artest either will be in the final season of his contract with the Kings or an intriguing member of the free-agent market. The decision is his until the deadline passes, just as it has been since the season ended.
Though the prospect of Artest opting out remains unlikely, the uncertainty remains until it's official. Artest is in the driver's seat for one more day, and Petrie is stuck without a steering wheel.
Artest remains a most vital piece of the Kings in ways beyond the spot he fills, a major element of the organization's eventual structure. If he remains, he instantly becomes one of the more tradeable players in the league whose value might have risen substantially since the Kings considered moving him in February. On the heels of Boston's title and the reinforcement of the "defense wins championships" credo, Artest remains a specialist on that end and is coming off his first season averaging 20 points. During theNBA Finals, he even appeared at Game 6 in Boston and was trailed by speculation in the following days that the Lakers wish he had been in a Los Angeles jersey.
Beyond the Lakers, there is no shortage of teams with a desperate need to strengthen perimeter defense and add a proven scorer. There's San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and perhaps even Denver. The Nuggets passed up a chance to trade for Artest in February, and their first-round playoff exit against the Lakers showed how he could have helped.
With Artest's expiring contract (for $7.4 million) and his 2007-08 season in which he set career highs in scoring, field-goal percentage and three-point percentage, the risk isn't what it used to be. The Kings are well aware of this, hoping to reap the rewards for their patience.
Opting out makes little financial sense for Artest. The Lakers, for example, might be able to offer a shot at the title, but they would be restricted to a midlevel exception offer (approximately $6 million per season) for a contract - a plight shared by most of the league. Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said it was "obvious" opting out would result in a midlevel exception deal.
If Artest opts out, the Kings, who hold Artest's Bird rights, could execute a sign-and-trade deal in which he can sign a sixyear deal rather than the maximum five with other teams.
In an e-mail to The Bee last week, Artest sounded as if the allure of joining a title contender was enough to lose money. "I never knew so many teams would be coming after me," he wrote. "All I can say is I made a (big) turnaround."
Yet after the exchange with Artest, Stevens reiterated opting out remains unlikely. He was asked about a recentNewYork Post column that reported Artest would opt out.
"(Teams) are coming after him, but at the end of the day, people make comments all the time, reporters like yourself," Stevens said. "But like I've said, the Maloofs have been good to Ron and to us, and we want to try to do the same to them (by not opting out)."
In a later e-mail, Artest said he agreed with his agent's assessment.
"Yes, (Sacramento) is where I'm staying," he wrote. "But I still think about all my critics. ... (There) will come to a time when I can go where I want, basically. "It's a major turnaround. Everywhere I go, somebody or some fan wants me to play on their team - from San (Antonio) to Boston and even Detroit."
I agree he has really changed and last year was def his best year yet, he could def help a title contender and probably put them over the top, but dont surprsied if the Kings are a top team again in a few years..I am glad we stayed patient and kept him
-
I hear there's a chance he takes less money to come to LA. :o
If so, Lamar Odom=6th man of the year.
-
I hear there's a chance he takes less money to come to LA. :o
If so, Lamar Odom=6th man of the year.
yeah hes mentioned that, even in the article he says that, he doesnt say just LA he says LA detroit boston etc. But u can tell teams are way more intrigued by him now more then ever. I think he has a good thing in sac with alot of young talent and he knows that.
with him in LA, Lakers win it all hands down. LA with Artest would have easily beat Boston IMO. He can shut down and hes such a load offensivly now more then ever as well, and hes become such a better shooter...
-
When he Posts up he DEMANDS dbl teams, and when he drives same thing, either that OR GET OUTTA THE FUCKIN WAY!!!
-
I hear there's a chance he takes less money to come to LA. :o
If so, Lamar Odom=6th man of the year.
yeah hes mentioned that, even in the article he says that, he doesnt say just LA he says LA detroit boston etc. But u can tell teams are way more intrigued by him now more then ever. I think he has a good thing in sac with alot of young talent and he knows that.
with him in LA, Lakers win it all hands down. LA with Artest would have easily beat Boston IMO. He can shut down and hes such a load offensivly now more then ever as well, and hes become such a better shooter...
LA is his only other option, IMO...he's homies with Kobe and Odom is his boy from back in the day...he was on KLAC a few days ago talking about the possibility of signing with the team.
-
I hear there's a chance he takes less money to come to LA. :o
If so, Lamar Odom=6th man of the year.
yeah hes mentioned that, even in the article he says that, he doesnt say just LA he says LA detroit boston etc. But u can tell teams are way more intrigued by him now more then ever. I think he has a good thing in sac with alot of young talent and he knows that.
with him in LA, Lakers win it all hands down. LA with Artest would have easily beat Boston IMO. He can shut down and hes such a load offensivly now more then ever as well, and hes become such a better shooter...
LA is his only other option, IMO...he's homies with Kobe and Odom is his boy from back in the day...he was on KLAC a few days ago talking about the possibility of signing with the team.
well it better happen within a few hrs or hes under contract for the year
-
the sooner he leaves the Kings, the better. he's great from a talent standpoint but he's a damn distraction with all his bullshit.
-
the sooner he leaves the Kings, the better. he's great from a talent standpoint but he's a damn distraction with all his bullshit.
\
he hasnt caused any problems with the kings yet
-
lakers should trade Odem for him
-
lakers should trade Odem for him
Fuck that...we had many chances to do that. Odom is way too vital to our team to lose him.
-
^^^Yeah I dont want Odom. Id much rather have Artest
-
^^^Yeah I dont want Odom. Id much rather have Artest
You'll be lucky to land Odom, because Artest is not staying with the Kings after this season...mark it.
-
the sooner he leaves the Kings, the better. he's great from a talent standpoint but he's a damn distraction with all his bullshit.
\
he hasnt caused any problems with the kings yet
He's a distraction with his off court bullshit though. Plus he looks for his own shot too much. Watching him pull up for that brick 3 pt shot in transition is a thing of beauty isn't it? The Kings haven't had anybody making bonehead plays like that since Jason Williams.
-
the sooner he leaves the Kings, the better. he's great from a talent standpoint but he's a damn distraction with all his bullshit.
\
he hasnt caused any problems with the kings yet
He's a distraction with his off court bullshit though. Plus he looks for his own shot too much. Watching him pull up for that brick 3 pt shot in transition is a thing of beauty isn't it? The Kings haven't had anybody making bonehead plays like that since Jason Williams.
u must not have watched him last year, that shit was alot less common last year, hes getting better still..
-
^^^actually I watched him all last year. he did that type of thing all the time. not to mention his little domestic violence issues were a distraction.
-
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.
-
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
-
^^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.
-
Artest either does this shit on purpose or he has a really bad disorder. I'm not buying into this shit anymore.
-
lol... i bet hes thinking "damn i shouldve signed with the Clippers and played with B.D." ;D
but shit u could pay me 7.4 mil i'd come off the bench for the WNBA L.A. Sparks :)
-
^^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 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.
-
^^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.
-
^^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..
-
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
-
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.
-
^^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.
-
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...
-
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
-
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
-
Salmons was actually better as a starter for the Kings than Artest was...
-
Dealing Artest? (http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2008/07/dealing-artest.html)
By Elliott Teaford on July 3, 2008 8:19 AM
The Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat are expected to be among the teams interested in obtaining Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings once the NBA's dead period ends July 9. Kings general manager Geoff Petrie figures to receive plenty of calls about Artest and his expiring $7.4 millon contract, according to the Sacramento Bee newspaper. No reason to think Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak won't call, too.
-
Wow. I wonder whats gonna happen. I can really think of any possible trade scenarios. I pray to god we dont trade for Jason Williams.
-
TRADE HIM FOR SHAWN MARION!!! CMON GEOFF MAKE IT HAPPEN THROW BRAD MILLER IN THERE TOO!!!!
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
just trade all the white dudes on Lakers for Artest. dudes are practically useless.
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
would be dope as long as homie stays on his meds.
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
just trade all the white dudes on Lakers for Artest. dudes are practically useless.
No thanks...Gasol is white.
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
just trade all the white dudes on Lakers for Artest. dudes are practically useless.
No thanks...Gasol is white.
I meant the real whites. Gasol at least got an accent. he can stay.
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
:puke:
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
Mitch Kupchak would have to pull another Pau Gasol type mircale trade for this to happen.
-
Salmons was actually better as a starter for the Kings than Artest was...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Luke Walton+Vladimir Radmanovic+Draft Pick for Artest...I would love for this to happen. 8)
LOL if Petrie does that I will lose all respect for him.
-
If Luke puts up a 12-5-5 season like in '07, I can see a trade like that going down midseason...quit acting like Artest has any value. Right now, teams will be trading for him as an expiring contract, above all else.
-
If Luke puts up a 12-5-5 season like in '07, I can see a trade like that going down midseason...quit acting like Artest has any value. Right now, teams will be trading for him as an expiring contract, above all else.
Fuck that. He has value, he thought he was gonna get a long term contract and tha Kings basically said FUCK YOU. Id say id wanna leave too.
Teams are very interested in him, and the Kings better not settle for an inconsistent piece of shit like Luke Walton.
-
If Luke puts up a 12-5-5 season like in '07, I can see a trade like that going down midseason...quit acting like Artest has any value. Right now, teams will be trading for him as an expiring contract, above all else.
Fuck that. He has value, he thought he was gonna get a long term contract and tha Kings basically said FUCK YOU. Id say id wanna leave too.
Teams are very interested in him, and the Kings better not settle for an inconsistent piece of shit like Luke Walton.
we'll see what's up...my guess is that you're not gunna get equal value in return.
-
If Luke puts up a 12-5-5 season like in '07, I can see a trade like that going down midseason...quit acting like Artest has any value. Right now, teams will be trading for him as an expiring contract, above all else.
Fuck that. He has value, he thought he was gonna get a long term contract and tha Kings basically said FUCK YOU. Id say id wanna leave too.
Teams are very interested in him, and the Kings better not settle for an inconsistent piece of shit like Luke Walton.
we'll see what's up...my guess is that you're not gunna get equal value in return.
They definitely won't get equal value, but they can do better than Walton.
-
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
Nobody is denying that he's a great player, he just seems like a shitty person to have on a team