Ron Ron
A comment from Rich 1906:
"After running the NBA Front Page of ESPN.com, I pose the following question to my fellow bloggers: Other than Kobe, Odom, and Bynum, who should we offer for Ron Artest? I'd say anyone else other than those mentioned above (maybe Odom) is tradeable. What do you guys think? I think AK and BK should make this topic. This would be a hot topic for me to read during my study breaks."
Well, Rich, I hate to call you out, but your question is moot from the get go. Without giving up any of those three (I agree, Odom is the most likely candidate), the Lakers ain't getting Artest. Period. Ain't gonna happen. Head case or not (the answer, FYI, clearly isn't "not"), the guy is an All-Star and recent defensive player of the year. He's arguably the best two way player in the league (name 5 other guys with that versatile an offensive game, plus lockdown D every night). Plus, Artest's salary isn't outrageous, so this isn't a huge salary dumping opp for Indy. Even if Ron Ron wants out worse than a Pelican Bay inmate, too many teams will have more to offer than L.A., unless he makes this his one and only destination (see next paragraph). And this is something y'all need to think about when proposing trades, because a lot of readers throw out potential deals that basically jettison Lakers they don't want for another team's studs. You need to ask yourself "Why would the other team make this trade? How does this trade make the other team better, too?" Once riddling yourself that question, it becomes apparent why a George/Vujacic for Artest swap (hypothetically speaking) ain't on the horizon.
That being said, I don't think Artest is coming here anyway. Regardless of his theoretical trade destination, once free agency hits, he's looking to play on the East coast, specifically New York. This would go on to create the NBA's single greatest source of unintentional comedy since A.I.'s "practice" rant. Artest joining the already miserable, totally combustible Larry-Isaiah-Starbury-Crawford-Curry-Jerome James combo (all of whom will still be there when the Tru Warrior arrives, since Zeke only takes long term, cancerous contracts): Wow! Just... Wow! Arma-freaking-geddon, my friends. We can only wish and pray it goes down.
So it comes to this: Is it worth losing Odom to get Artest for two years, tops? If you think so, then the Lakers package Odom for Artest and some stiff to match salaries. If not, no deal. But you have to assume Artest will bolt in two years (if he's not already tossed from the league by then). You can't count on Artest sticking around because he falls in love with purple and gold history. You can't count on Artest sticking around because he bonds with Kobe, Phil, Bynum, Kupchak, a Staples Center nacho vendor, whoever. You can't count on Artest for anything, because he's clinically insane. I don't mean that facetiously. The guy needs help. I don't even think he's a thug as much as he's just out of his skull, a fantasyland resident who occasionally travels to reality with a soon-to-be-revoked temporary Visa. If you're a shrink reading this, please reach out to the man.
But even if Artest weren't goony bird nuts, he doesn't want to be here for the long haul. And while the Lakers would undoubtedly be short term better with Ron Ron, I don't think it's worth trading Odom, now finally starting to grasp the triangle, for someone almost certain not to be part of the future. If the Lakers were one player away from a championship, maybe I'd do it. But they're not. They're rebuilding, and the idea of rebuilding while babysitting Artest seems counterproductive at best. Dude's a livewire. He brings a lot to the table, but may also be the single riskiest guy in the NBA to have on your roster. I totally understand why a team would be tempted, but they better have a tangible and immediate need for his services before pulling the trigger. I don't think the Lakers fit that bill.
Thanks for the discussion starter, Rich!
Well said Mitch... but going back to the original topic.
Just like Artest himself said, "I'm looking to go to a place where my offensive game can be exploded, I don't care much about playing defense anymore".
The Lakers certainly would appreciate some additional firepower but lets imagine that we are able to keep Lamar (that is about the only "Laker-Pacer" trade that would make sense for Indiana).
Then what? would you start up Smush,Kobe,Odom,Artest & Mihm.
Or would you start Artest in place of Odom?
My personal opinion is that bringing Artest just wouldn't make much sense to the Lakers as I'm very sure that Odom is very close to finally becoming one of the best and most complete small forwards in the league. One can make a point about it just by looking at the numbers he is putting up in the box score, but besides that you can see it in the court, he is becoming a much better defender and quickly becoming the team's best rebounder, he is posting up well against bigger defenders not to mention the way he explodes mismatches against smaller ones, all around he is a much better player than a year ago and I think he's got room for a lot more.
I don't think that having Artest on the same lineup would help Odom become what he is destined to become.
Posted by: Outsidergua | December 14, 2005 at 02:29 PM
TRADE:
We can get Artest for Slava plus a second round pick? Why don't we add a third round pick and have Indiana throw in Jermain O'Neal?
Posted by: G-money | December 15, 2005 at 08:08 AM
I really enjoy reading the different opinions being posted. What really strikes out at me is the strong opinions concerning Kobe. I can not believe the darts people throw at this guy. People seem to blame this guy for anything and everything, even when he has little or nothing to do with it. I wonder sometimes is this guy human or what? Kobe has shouldered the responsibilty for pretty much everything thrown at him and he still performs. Love it or hate it. Could you say that about Shaq, Vince Carter, Tracy "I want to retire because we are losing" Mcgrady. No. To date Kobe has broken up the Laker dynasty, pissed the refs and the entire league off, oh yah, let's not forget he soooooooo un-coachable. All I see is a flawed young man that has made mistakes in the public eye and has paid for it 3 fold. I really wish people could get over their hypocrisy, you might just miss history and a special player.
Posted by: Ron | December 15, 2005 at 04:48 PM
I am not for trading anybody on the Laker Roster for Ron Artest, but after a little bit of studying on what possibilities the Lakers may use to get him, this is the solution I came up with.
Lakers trades: Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm and Laron Profit
Indiana Trades: Ron Artest and Scot Pollard.
What you think?
Posted by: Razmataz | December 15, 2005 at 08:16 PM
What happened to the blog? Am I the only one with problems seeing the latest post and comments?
Posted by: KB8 Fan | December 16, 2005 at 03:29 PM
I wish they'd just trade Artest and get it over with so we could move onto something more interesting to talk about.
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | December 16, 2005 at 04:09 PM
I read the following article relating to trading Ron Artest to the Lakers. It brought up some interesting points.
Artest and Johnson to the Lakers for Andrew Bynum, Devean George and Medvedenko
Most people think that the Pacers would want to replace Artest with Lamar Odom, but two factors could work against Odom: (1) He's a high-maintenance star with a history of off-court issues himself, and (2) he's making $11.5 million this season -- almost $5 million more than Artest -- with three more years to go at $40 million remaining. But do the Pacers really want to take on additional salary by acquiring Odom?
A trade involving Bynum would enable them to escape their long-term commitments to Johnson and Artest ($29 million over four years) in exchange for the expiring contracts of George and Medvedenko, who would provide a combined $8 million in payroll relief when they become free agents this summer. George would help Pacers rookie Danny Granger fill in at small forward for Artest, and Medvedenko would give them another big body for the playoffs, but the key to the trade would be Bynum, the No. 10 pick in the draft who could develop into a useful 7-footer by the time Jermaine O'Neal is 30.
Remember when Walsh traded All-Star Dale Davis for the untested O'Neal in 2000? Hidden somewhere on an NBA roster -- it might be Bynum, it might be somebody else -- is a young talent whom Walsh and Bird believe could blossom into the next O'Neal. The Pacers may be able to acquire him by using Artest as bait, while trimming payroll along the way.
The Lakers need to be careful, however. If Artest wants out because he isn't becoming an All-Star scorer in Indiana, then how is he ever going to get enough shots playing alongside Kobe Bryant and Odom? But those fears would be mitigated by Artest's post-up game as well as his defensive role as the antidote to Manu Ginobili. Any team that dreams of getting past the Spurs needs to come up with someone to snuff out Ginobili -- and Artest is that someone, which explains why every NBA contender should consider taking a gamble on him.
Posted by: Razmataz | December 17, 2005 at 10:17 AM
Lakers acquiring RON ARTEST WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR L.A. HE'S THE EXACTLY THE KIND OF PLAYER PHIL IS LOOKING FOR AND THE LAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR. HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS AND HIS ALL AROUND GREAT DEFENSE TO GUARD SUPERSTARS LIKE LEBRON JAMES, VINCCE CARTER, TRACY MCGRADY.. ALL THE SMALL FORWARDS
BUT CAN THE LAKERS GET HIM...
WELL CURRENT RUMORS INVOLVE THREE TEAMS TORONTO, LAKERS, AND INDY,,
GEORGE WOULD END UP IN INDY.
ARTEST WOULD END UP IN THE LAKERS.
JALEN ROSE WOULD ALSO END UP IN THE LAKERS..
I DOUBT THIS WOULD EVER OCCUR.
I DON'T THINK L.A. HAS MUCH TO OFFER FOR INDY.
THE ONLY I REPEAT THE ONLY POSSIBILILTY IS THAT
TRADING DEAVEN GEORGE, SLAVA MEDVENKDO, PLUS FOR ARTEST
OR KWAME BROWN PLUS FOR ARTEST...
THE LAKERS AREN'T WILLING TO GIVE UP LAMAR ODOM AFTER ALL, THEY ACQUIRED HIM AND CARON BUTLER FOR SHAQ IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Posted by: Kevin | December 30, 2005 at 12:14 PM
COULD WE FIRE MITCH KUPCUK CUZ HE IS A HORRIBLE GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE LAKERS... GET JERRY WEST BACK PLEASEEEEEEEEEE WE NEED JERRY WEST.. HAHAHAHAA
Posted by: Kevin | December 30, 2005 at 12:16 PM
lakers will never acquire artest. we are going to build the team around the trio of kobe, odom, and bynum. consider the 05-06 season as a training phase of team chemistry that will eventually lead to the most dynamic force in basketball. KOBE-BEST PLAYER,ODOM-UNSELFISH 15POINT 9REBOUND 5ASSIST PLAYER, AND BYNUM-NEXT DOMINANT BIG MAN. wow, lakers find away to win again.
Posted by: durrel | January 09, 2006 at 02:16 PM
I think the lakers should give kwame Brown, for Ron Artest. But first let Artest know that this is kobes team. Let him know that he will be playing with the best player in the NBA. But dont ever give odom for artest.
Posted by: sharif | January 11, 2006 at 12:14 PM
Guess who is willing to trade for Ron Ron? Wait Wait Wait OK I'll tell you the Clippers are trading Corey Maggette straight up for him. It was anounced tonight on WISH TV in Indianapolis, Watch out Lakers the Clippers are going to ROCK!
Posted by: buddydeath | January 12, 2006 at 12:08 AM