Najera would be a decent compliment to our front line, but he is not a post-up guy, more of hustle and get offensive boards kind of guy. Like Harpring, he can also play the hack man role.

Najera is similar in talent to Mikki, and similar also in age at 31, but is a better passer and is a little less turnover prone.

If you are complaining about Artest shooting too much, you won't be happy with Kleiza. Averages a little more than an assist per game, while Ron averages more than 4 a game. But he's a better outside shooter, better free throw shooter and, perhaps surprisingly, is a slightly better rebounder. He's also a little less turnover prone. He's also only 23.

If they throw in first-rounder for 2009, it's probably a decent deal. Then, if you can deal Bibby for another big man and a competent point guard, you probably have a decent core group to go forward with.

Mention of this deal might get the other teams that are interested in Ron on the horn, and maybe we can get something better.

But it works.

Dallas gets Kidd.

New Jersey gets Miller and Bibby.

The Kings get Harris, Stackhouse, Bass and Dampier.

I like Harris and Bass, but the other two only make sense if you can then package them in another trade.

Can you imagine Harris and Martin racing down the court? Could be a lot of fun.

Dallas gets Kidd.

New Jersey gets Miller and Bibby.

The Kings get McGrady, Harris and Bass.

Houston gets Stackhouse and Dampier.

Not sure Houston is interested it this unless a pick is thrown in, or maybe someone like Sean Williams, and they probably would want a different piece than Dampier since they have Yao.

It also leaves the Kings without a true center. In other words, the same thing we have now. Or maybe we start giving Hawes and Justin Williams more burn. Actually, that's not a bad thought.

Artest.

You remember, the head case Kobe wannabe who is opting out at the end of the season if he's still here...

Any trade scenario you come up with that doesn't include Artest gone by the deadline (3 weeks from today) is a non-starter.

I'm not saying Bibby and Miller aren't tradeable, but they probably have more value to our team than they do out in the open market. Personally, I'd like to see us keep Miller as long as he's going to play the way he has been. And Bibby has been playing more like a point guard since his return, and you won't find a better in trade.

As for Nene, I've never been a fan, he seems fragile, and his contract is a nightmare. So if we're voting, count me as a solid NO.

That would mean we dump Miller, Bibby and Artest and end up with:

• C - Hawes, Williams.
  
• PF - Moore, Bass, Najera.
  
• SF - McGrady, Kleiza, Garcia.
  
• SG - Martin, Salmons, Garcia, Douby, Jones.
  
• PG - Harris, Udrih, Douby.

And I'm not big on the addition of TMac, either. He's an often-injured small 3 who needs a lot of shots.

Najera is a banger, but he can only play limited minutes and isn't really big enough to guard any elite-level 4's.

And would you really be comfortable starting Hawes and having his only back-up be Williams?

I'm not.

We'd be a pretty dynamic lineup with Tmac and have a good supporting cast for when he is injured.

I'd take the Artest for Najera/Kleiza deal in a minute - 1st round pick or not.  Not that I'm high on either guy, but it gets rid of Artest before the inevitable blowup.

It looks like Najera comes off the books at the end of the year and Kleiza is dirt cheap, so maybe it assures you the ability to re-sign Udrih even if you can't/don't move Bibby. But it flies in the face of Petrie's notion that you don't trade a more talented player for a less talented player.

Nene is a career 11 and 6 guy and barely blocks a shot a game. Petrie loves him so I'll defer to him as the expert, but I'm just not seeing it.

Too bad Camby isn't part of the equation. He makes $8 million next year and $7.7 million the year after that, and for that you get 14 boards and 4 blocks per game. That would look pretty nice playing alongside Brad.

Oh, and be sure and click on the update that TZ added. Very funny stuff.

I think as far as Denver goes for them Najera & Kleiza would be ideal as a trade partner. That 1st round pick might be a sticking point if only because the Nuggest are cheap. They may not feel Artest is the type they should be dealing for.

If I'm the Kings I don't take excessive salary for Artest in return. Only if I can dump his salary starting next season is he even worth trading to Denver for.

I don't think T-Mac is a great fit in Sacramento, but when you try to get involved in a Jason Kidd trade with Houston as a trading partner, that's the likely name to pop up.

You guys are saying we wouldn't want T-Mac. I just think Houston may be coming to that conclusion as well.

My real interest is in Devin Harris, because it looks like he is going to be available and he is a star point guard on the rise. He's better than Bibby, who is probably going to be dealt, and he's better than Udrih, who can still be a nice backup. Harris can also play some 2 guard.

I also like what I have seen of Brandon Bass. Dallas has given him increasing playing time and he has responded well. I'm not saying he's the second coming of Dwight Howard, but he's a lot more productive than Mikki Moore and a lot cheaper and younger.

If we pick up Kleiza, Francisco or someone of our wings including Bibby is going to be trade bait.

Bottom line in my opinion: we need to improve at the 1, 3, 4 and 5 positions to be more competitive in the West. We have some chips (Miller, Bibby, Artest, extra wings) to offer to make that happen, but Petrie needs to pull the trigger. Not just to make a trade, but to make a difference in this team's future.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-29-73/Linas-Kleiza-s-Big-Night-is-No-Fluke.html

I never thought I would endorse a trade for Ron Artest, but this is how disappointing the Nuggets have been this season.  I would trade Kleiza and Najera for Artest, but there is no way I would throw in a first round pick as part of the deal.  The Nuggets traded for AI to win a title and this team as constituted will not do that.  They still probably wouldn't with Artest on board, but they have a much better shot.

Also, after sampling that you tube video I think someone needs to update Kleiza's top ten plays.  I remember a shot he had at Arco earlier this season...

GP "Isiah, I hear your still interested in Artest."

Isiah "Well, I've got to do something to save my job. But I'm not giving up Lee."

GP "Right, right. That guy you never play more than twenty minutes a night.What I was actually wondering is if you're looking at picking up anyone else?"

Isiah "You mean like for some kind of three team deal."

GP "Something like that. I've already talked to McHale and I've got his wish list."

Isiah spouts off a dozen big name players with huge contracts. GP writes furiously.

Isiah "Stay in touch man. And let me know what happens."

GP hangs up the phone and finished crossing the names Isiah gave him off a list of possible trade options. Interestingly enough, most of them are on McHale's list too.

GP "Well at least I won't screw up too bad."

Unfortunately the link to the article has expired. Oui.

The other trade though (including a first rounder) is cool with me.  In Petrie I (frighteningly) trust.