Ron Artest, The Knicks: The Perpetual Question With the Same Ol' Answer

by Ziller on Jun 9, 2008 10:15 AM PDT Comment 22 comments

It's June, which means it's time for bored New York writers to bore us with the same question they bore us with every June: does Ron Artest want to be Knick?

Mark Lelinwalla of the New York Daily News, please do the honors.

The critics are still out on what kind of defensive identity the Knicks will develop under new coach Mike D'Antoni. Perhaps Ron Artest can help.

When the Daily News asked the Queensbridge product if he would like to play for the team he grew up watching, Artest flashed a huge grin.

"Who wouldn't want to?" Artest said in the tunnel outside the Garden's locker rooms following yesterday's WNBA game between the Liberty and Monarchs. "I'm not going to talk about that stuff till July 1. I don't play for the money, I play for the love."

Thank you, Mark. Your contribution has been immeasureable in its weight. You have expanded our knowledge more than you'll ever realize. We thank you again.

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Looking for a trade

I was looking for some sort of trade that would send Artest that way and net the Kings the #6, but the Knicks are completely filled with junk players. It’s unbelievable.

by Carl on Jun 9, 2008 10:40 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

But you could deal him to the Knicks (along with one or both 2nd round picks) for Malik Rose and the #6. Rose has an expiring contract, and now you’re picking at #6 and #12 (PG and PF?!?). Potential issue: You can’t trade Ron until July 1, so the Knicks and Ron-Ron would have to be firmly on board.

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by section214 on Jun 9, 2008 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And since they have to wait anyway

Artest (and Douby?) for Rose & Lee still works as well.

by smgmatt on Jun 9, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

Remember, Isiah Thomas is gone, so any trade scenarios regarding the Knicks now have to be sensible. I have my doubts that Donnie Walsh wants to deal with Artest again, but even if he did, there is no way he parts with Lee. Lee is a Donnie Walsh type of player. Look for Walsh to do whatever he can to deal Randolph and Curry to create more opportunity for D.Lee.

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by section214 on Jun 9, 2008 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He'll have trouble trading

Randolph or Curry, at least until Thomas lands a new job.

Section 214 is one lucky schmoe

by Kfan in Korea on Jun 9, 2008 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hope springs eternal

Minnesota and Memphis are still around…

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by section214 on Jun 9, 2008 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I should note before I ridicule the NY media too much that a rumor which floated around last week had me intrigued for Sacramento purposes, and which Hollinger repurposed for a Sun column here.

Basically, the Knicks hitch the #6 pick to Zach Randolph’s contract in exchange for a lower first and a set of contracts with expire in 2010 or sooner. (The Kings have plenty of those contracts—Moore, Thomas, Shareef, Douby, Shelden.)

Hollinger uses Philadelphia’s #16 pick. Randolph makes too much money for too long in my estimation—$48 million the next three years. I think I’d do it if the Kings kept #12 (toss in a second rounder instead) and dealt both K-9 and Artest. Seems like a suitable compromise, though I’d fear life with Z-Bo much more than life with Ron … which says a lot.

He’s expensive, he’s a black hole, he does nothing outside of scoring and rebounding. But he’s scores a lot, and he’s a really, really good rebounder. Like really good.

We’d have the inside track on worst defense in the league, though. I’d prefer to only do this if you could score Bayless or Mayo at #6, or package #6 and #12 to land Beasley and/or Rose.

by Ziller on Jun 9, 2008 12:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Contract Dump

I’ve seen that rumor as well, TZ. I also read (a while back) a rumor that they would package Lee with Rose to dump Rose’s salary, which seems strange since Rose in an Expiring Contract.

As for ZR & #6, the Kings wouldn’t be taking that much of a financial risk with this deal if they could trade SAR, K9, & #12.

2008-break even
2009-plus $2M
2010-plus $17M

Obviously that 2010 money is nothing to sneeze at, but I think it’s safe to say that ZR would be more than $2M more productive than K9 & SAR over the next two years, which should more than make up for it. Plus, he’d be an Expiring Contract in 2010, and as such might be useful in a Sign & Trade scenario if the Kings really do make a run at a big time free agent. Add a re-signed Beno, or Artest for PLAYER X transaction in there, and the Kings might make some noise.

Mayo/Bayless, Martin, Artest*, Randolph, Miller/Hawes

Footnote: * Artest would be on the roster for at least next year if he doesn’t opt out, or he could be re-signed if he’ll take a reasonable contract. Remember, he plays for the love!

I also like your idea of keeping the #12 and adding Artest, but in that case would we simply be swapping Artest for Alexander at #12, or is the plan still picking up a project 4 with that pick? Personally, I’d rather dump salary at the expense of that pick and see what else we could get for Artest (unless there’s a better market to also trade the #12 – trade down and get a player perhaps? – maybe a #12 & #43 for Klieza & #20, if Denver likes that more than Artest last year, as an off-the-top-of-my-head example)

by smgmatt on Jun 9, 2008 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgot to mention

I’ve also heard rumblings that Miami might be selling the Beasley pick to whomever gets Mayo. That would make this an even better scenario if that could be worked in, somehow.

6 (Mayo) & Miller for #2 (Beasley) & Blount (plus filler), perhaps?

This is all possible if Artest isn’t involved, too, since he can’t be traded until after the draft anyway.

by smgmatt on Jun 9, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ur off by a year sir

Randolph’s contract doesn’t expire until 2011.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 9, 2008 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry for the shorthand

Those years should read 2008/9, 2009/10, 2010/11. He’ll be an Expiring Contract in the season following the Great Free Agent Robbery of 2010 . . . which is to say that everything I wrote still applies.

But I’ll make sure not to cut off the second-half of those seasons next time, to avoid confusion.

by smgmatt on Jun 10, 2008 6:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I figured that's what you meant

But I just wanted to make sure it was clear for everyone else not very familiar with Z-Bo’s contract.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 10, 2008 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zach Randolph

6-9, 260 lbs., averages .27 blocks per game for his career, which is less than ‘Reef, K9(woof!), B52, Bluetooth (Mikki Moore…no hands), The Landlord, The Politician, Ron-Ron and El Flaco.

That is all.

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by section214 on Jun 9, 2008 1:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah… I know. But we’re talking about Kenny Thomas here, man!

by Ziller on Jun 9, 2008 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK

But I get to call him E-Z, because he’ll never reject you.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 9, 2008 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ZR - zzzzz

I think he does too much damage to the team chemistry that was building last year. Still hoping SAR does the right thing and takes medical retirement (insured contract) and that opens up some cap space. Too bad, the last few years have diminished what what was a great player once. Besides, we’re full at center now – which he essentially is. I want some tall athleticism baby!

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jun 10, 2008 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

BESIDES

The last thing the Knicks need is to increase the zoo-like atmosphere in NY. A new GM wants a certain perception that he’s bringin sanity BACK. I think any idea he’ll end up there is ‘almost certainly’ dead.

WE might do it – if we could dump some k-9 salary, which they won’t accept.

You never know for sure though, the madness might be catching.

eternal skeptical optimist

by lietothegirls on Jun 10, 2008 12:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade for more picks

We get Knicks # 6 pick and David Lee for Ron Artest and Douby and Golden State Needs a Veteran Big Man Brad Miller for their # 14 Pick and Brandan Wright.

by Beer_man on Jun 11, 2008 2:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nope

The Kings couldn’t get D.Lee for Artest straight-up (with filler obviously) . . . so how is sweetening the pot with Douby going to also land a high lottery pick (#6) as well? Section’s right about Artest for #6 & Rose . . . it’s probably our best shot at the pick, and even then it’s not very likely.

Brandon Wright is practically untouchable in Oakland . . . although last year I thought the Kings might have had a shot at him for Artest when the Warriors were on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Also, unless the Warriors lose a LOT of players this off-season, they’ll have ZERO room for Miller’s contract, and anything they sent Sac to match salaries.

by smgmatt on Jun 11, 2008 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those teams

don’t make those trades. The Knicks aren’t parting with D.Lee. I doubt that we could get the Knicks #6 and Malik Rose for Artest. The Warriors will resign Biedrens, so there wouldn’t be any time at GS for Miller, and they like B.Wright a lot.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 11, 2008 6:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Joey Dorsey , Bill Walker , De Von Hardin

Just thinking ( Burp ) Its that we Have Aging Players in Brad Miller , Shareef abdur- Rahim , Kenny Thomas , and it would be Nice if the Kings ( Burp ) would get More Draft Picks. along with our # 42 , # 43 to Grab High Flying Bill Walker , Joey Dorsey and De Von Hardin. The Kings can Grab any First rounder they want but these 3 Players i would Love to see in a Kings Uniform Especially Joey Dorsey he is a Human Bull dosier.

by Beer_man on Jun 13, 2008 11:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs