Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

by louismg on Dec 28, 2006 6:10 AM PST in News

The Artest for Maggette rumors are still out there, despite Artest's solid play in yesterday's game against the 76ers, which saw the Kings draw to within two games of the .500 mark, and open two games in the loss column ahead of the last-place Clippers.

The LA Times reports the Clippers haven't received a trade proposal from the Kings, but that they would be interested if they got one.

The Kings contacted the Clippers last Friday to gauge the Clippers' interest in acquiring Artest, but as of Wednesday night had not made a formal trade proposal, Clippers sources said.

So the Clippers continued to consider potential deals with other teams involving Maggette, who is expected to be traded somewhere soon because of his poor relationship with Coach Mike Dunleavy.

The piece goes on to say that Maggette had been dangled in front of Philadelphia as part of a proposed offer to obtain Allen Iverson. The Clippers are apparently even more through with Maggette than the Kings are of Artest.

Meanwhile, it appears that we can cross the Orlando Magic off the list of teams where Artest could land (if they were ever on the list). The Orlando Sentinel says that the Magic have made a pact not to obtain players with "suspect characters". This means we can't expect to see the return of Hedo Turkoglu in a trade for Ron-Ron.

Smith was not interested in Allen Iverson, and he said the Sacramento Kings -- who are apparently looking to trade controversial F Ron Artest -- did not contact the Magic.

Smith said he would not have had any interest in dealing F Hedo Turkoglu for Artest. Their salaries come close to matching. Turkoglu played his first three NBA seasons with Kings.

Interestingly enough, in a Q&A with Sam Amick of the Bee, Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof says he's unfamiliar with any trade request made by Artest. In fact, he refuses to even mention if trade talks are ongoing. He does say that he expects the team can turn the season around, and that it's not yet time to blow the team up.

Q: How tough is it to retool a roster while continuing to stay competitive? And where are you at in terms of thinking maybe you need to make major moves, some would say blow this thing up and start building from the bottom?

A: I don't think we're at the point where we have to blow it up. I don't think we're at that point yet. Maybe later. Who knows? Who knows what the future brings?

Maloof is very high on Kevin Martin, and sees a bright future for Garcia and Douby. Much more in the above link.

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Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

For the record, I think Geoff Petrie is lying through his teeth about not being interested in trading Ron. There are two ways I can tell:

I know Petrie is smart, and it would not be smart to hold on to Ron if he's asking out, and two players have said he's asking out.
Gavin Maloof is a horrible liar. You can almost hear him stuttering when he starts talking about not being able to say whether a trade is on or off. Based on that vague conversation with Amick, you can tell there have been internal discussions about the deal.

by Tom Ziller on Dec 28, 2006 7:31 AM PST reply actions

Speaking of stuttering....

Do you all remember how Geoff Petrie stuttered after trading C-Webb in describing why it "was the right thing" for the team at the time?

What I don't understand is why Ron Artest would think that a trade to the Clipps would be better for him professionally. Afterall, all it would take is a little humilty for him & Mike to carve out "spheres of influence":

Mike:(hypothetically):"Look...you can be the defensive floor coach. You're the better defensive player, but..."

Ron:(graciously):"& I will be the defensive floor coach...though I'm not really sure you're the better offensive playa"...

Mike:"So I'll proove it to you...starting last night."

Ron:"You really think you can keep that up?"

Mike:"Hell ya. You think I wanna get traded to Toronto or whatever?"

Me again. Probably pie in the sky, but after all; I was one of the last one's off the Rick Adelman bus; so I'll play pollyana.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rhondda

by Rhondda Nunes on Dec 28, 2006 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

You know, honestly a better trade for us would be to deal Artest to the Nets. Artest would be back closer to home again and Richard Jefferson would like to step up and be the man in NJ and that isn't happening while Carter is there.

Instead of keeping Artest in the West; why not see if the Nets would take Artest and KT for RJ and Jeff McInnis? McInnis would be waived as his deal expires this year; but RJ would fit in nicely at the 3 on offense and defense (he is a better all around player than Artest is, but not in Artest' league defensively, if that makes sense).

Although if Artest wants to stay and he and Bibby have a come to jesus meeting I'm all for keeping the core together. We obviously have to make other small changes but if Artest wants to stay and make it work it wouldn't hurt to try.

But if Artest wants to leave, that deal above would make the most sense. The Nets could get better defensively and have a new starting power forward while losing Jefferson.

C - Miller
PF - Shareef
SF - RJ
SG - K-Mart
PG - Bibby

What's not to like about that line-up?

by bballblog on Dec 28, 2006 5:26 PM PST reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

That is indeed a nice starting 5.

by Kusian on Dec 28, 2006 5:56 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

Not to mention Bibby and RJ are both UofA guys....

by Tom Ziller on Dec 29, 2006 7:33 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

Golden State of Mind bloggers want Artest. Funny...no one is ever satisfied with what they have. And, you never realize what you had until it is gone.

Did anyone else see Mama Ron patting KMart on the back while the kid was on the bench blowing chunks? I'm torn on the whole trade issue. I don't want to have to play against Ron a few times a year. I want him to get his sh*t together and be a professional. I want to hear him call out the rest of the NBA and not his teammates. I want him to develop the younger guys on D. I want his King's swagger on and off the court. I want Rick's Ron Artest back.

Four things that may get Ron back on-board: 1. Winning. We are coming into an easier stretch and by the time we have a few W's on the books attitudes (and "injuries") may be miraculously healed. 2. I think it may be possible that Ron-Ron didn't like seeing Salmons rock our worlds while he was "injured." Ron's ego can't handle being upped. 3. Reactions/mumblings/cold shoulders from his teammates after he was "injured" might be enough to straighten Ron out. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who wants to be known aroung the locker room as being a kitty. 4. I have heard only positive things and support from the management and coaches about Mike's slump. Mike is winning if there is a battle. Ron's best move to regain his own support is to conceed by jumping back on the Bibby bandwagon.

There is interest in Ron around the league. I say we wait to up the pricetag by winning and see if Ron has a change of attitude. The Maloofs need to be gagged in the mean time. If things get nastier behind the scenes we can always move him. Hopefully East.

by pyro on Dec 29, 2006 12:43 AM PST reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

No, we can't always move him. If Ron flips his lead and does something that scares the rest of the league off, we're stuck with him.

If he fits back in and we win and make the playoffs, cool. But it's a big risk.

Mind you, this is coming from a huge Ron Artest fan, pre Sacramento days. I'm a Kings fan first and foremost though, and have already seen the Kings get rid of favorite players (Jason Williams, Chris Webber) with the hopes of getting better. I'm all for the team getting better even if it means getting rid of favorites (Artest, Bibby, K-Mart) because I want my team to win a championship.

If the Nets come knocking at my door tomorrow and I'm Geoff Petrie and they're offering Richard Jefferson, I take it as long as they're not asking for Kevin Martin or John Salmons.

by bballblog on Dec 29, 2006 1:23 AM PST up reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

I'm not sure how much interest there is in Artest around the league. Prior to coming to the Kings, he sat on the sideline for weeks. (The Kings only took him because they knew Peja was unhappy and was scheduled to be FA--better to take a chance on Artest rather than allow Peja to slip away w/o getting a player in return.)

I don't believe anyone would dispute Artest's defensive skill but offensively, he is a liability. (FG% - 36% and 3p% - 24%.) There is no shortage of small forwards around the league, and most of them can shoot. I will go out on a limb here and state that we are a better team when Artest isn't on the court.

Elgin Baylor, Clipper GM, may be the only one out there who wants Artest. I hope the Kings take advantage of this trade opportunity.

by aspen on Dec 29, 2006 2:38 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Artest Notes: Trade Rumors, Day Five

I think Pat Riley would be interested as well; but having looked at Miami's roster extensively only one trade makes sense that both Riles and the Kings would do:

James Posey (expiring contract), Dorell Wright (2nd year player with potential) and a first round pick.

by bballblog on Dec 29, 2006 3:48 PM PST up reply actions