After 1 and half season how do you view the Ron-Peja trade?

[Kingster]

I really just can't believe the lack of foresight and pretty much just lack of intelligence in the moves/non-moves over the last two-three years. It's just baffling how we could've gone from such a great team, to a team with a bunch of dolts running it. I mean they just totally got suckered into the fantasy of Ron Artest. Trade for Ron Artest ok, but you don't make him your future. You don't give Artest that much responsibility because you know damn well what he's going to do with it. Not knowing is just straight up naive. The only explanation I can see for all this is VF's explanation that they're trying to hold on desperately to fans and ticket sales. I'm one who believes fans would enjoy a true rebuilding process and a true team effort rather than this psychotic patchjob we got going for us right now.

It's so stupid that many have said that the Maloofs - those impulsive Maloofs - are running the show. And that ties in very nicely with attempting to hold desperately to the fans and ticket sales. Desperation seems to be a word that lately keeps coming up with this organization. That's what makes me worried about the offseason and whether they are going to do the patchwork job or blow it up and rebuild with youth. All of this also ties in with Brick's analysis of the spoiled fans. If there are so many fans out there that can't handle the thought of rebuilding in order to have a fine team down the line - if they really are that unsophisticated as to believe there is a "free lunch" - then the Maloofs might just do the patchwork job to keep it from imploding for as long as possible, wishing, wishing, wishing, that some incredible trade in the future will prevent the ultimate implosion.

 

[Kingster]

I don't buy that Artest is the All-Star when he wantes to be and on the right team with the right coach, the guy could be amazing. On this team with no identity and franchise guy and also with a lame duck, short non-NBA coach with little NBA coaching experience and who yells at his players and shows them never ending Power Point presentations and gives them spiked Kool Aid....Artest predictably is not the player he can be.

On a team like SA or Miami, he would have a great chance to be a unbelievable player. Having Shaq, Mourning, and Wade along with a good dynamic coach with great history of winning in Riley along with supporting role players and I don't see a better team for Ron. He would be good on SA as well, but Bruce Bowen is there defensive stopper, the guy is 36 and Ron is like 10 years younger so I could see them wanting him and Pop would definately be the zen master.
Please don't send him to the Lakers though, that's all I ask...Kobie and him would be a scary pair along with Odom!

The problem with Ron-Ron is that he is a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" type of player, all because of his personal issues, not his basketball talent. Yes, he could be the perfect player for a very short time - like 3 months - for the right team with a solid core - like Miami or SA. But that limits the pool of teams that are interested in his services, and it also limits the time they are interested in renting those services. And if his market is so limited, then his market value is also limited. Right now, the Kings org is just hoping that the greater fool theory still lives...

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

It's awful. I am a homer for players that are drafted and groomed by their original team. Ron Artest has been the iceberg and the Kings are the Titanic.

And what the hell would you call Muss??

 

[piksi]

And what the hell would you call Muss??

hopefully "Jack Dawson"

 

[Kingster]

It wasn't Petrie's decision to trade for Artest, but the Maloofs going over his head and pursuing Ron even after they heard that he didn't want to come to Sac and they didn't let up and flew to New York to talk to him personally.

That is the theory. It's never been verified, at least to my knowledge. If it's true, then it raises some questions: (1) If Petrie isn't going to stand up and say, "NO FREAKING WAY!" to a trade for Ron Artest, then when exactly will he say it? (2) If the Maloofs did overide Petrie on this, is this an ongoing trend that we can look forward to? (3) As you say below, if the Maloofs are going to overide Petrie on this very important personnel decision, then why should Petrie stick around?

The Maloofs also made it very clear that they wanted a outgoing coach and wanted to rid themselves of RA who Petrie has had a long history with, not only with the Kings, but the team to the North as well. If the Maloofs keep going over Petrie and/or challenge him then he will walk and probably end up in Portland again, quite possibly with RA there as well.

The story I heard on this was that Petrie was the guy who wanted Muss. Petrie really didn't want the Monarchs coach and he proposed Muss as a good alternative to the Maloofs. If so, it could be a very interesting situation with Petrie and the Maloofs and the coaching decision. You could have this situation: the Maloofs blame Petrie for not hiring the right coach - a coach who can handle Artest (Have we heard that before?). And then you could have Petrie wondering how he got saddled by the desperation move of the Maloofs in bringing Artest here over his objection, if not his adamant opposition. We're going to see just how mature the different parties are over the offseason.

 

[Geoff]

That is the theory. It's never been verified, at least to my knowledge. If it's true, then it raises some questions: (1) If Petrie isn't going to stand up and say, "NO FREAKING WAY!" to a trade for Ron Artest, then when exactly will he say it? (2) If the Maloofs did overide Petrie on this, is this an ongoing trend that we can look forward to? (3) As you say below, if the Maloofs are going to overide Petrie on this very important personnel decision, then why should Petrie stick around?



The story I heard on this was that Petrie was the guy who wanted Muss. Petrie really didn't want the Monarchs coach and he proposed Muss as a good alternative to the Maloofs. If so, it could be a very interesting situation with Petrie and the Maloofs and the coaching decision. You could have this situation: the Maloofs blame Petrie for not hiring the right coach - a coach who can handle Artest (Have we heard that before?). And then you could have Petrie wondering how he got saddled by the desperation move of the Maloofs in bringing Artest here over his objection, if not his adamant opposition. We're going to see just how mature the different parties are over the offseason.

Most everyone was a bit optimistic about Muss when he got to Sacramento (PPT works wonders), and it helped that most people view him as the lesser of two evils when compared to Whiesenant (sp). Muss convinced the Maloofs more than he did Petrie. Based on what I've seen this year, I honestly feel that Petrie has been a figurehead in just about everything that has gone on. Whiesenant was the Maloof's choice until Muss came in, and after that nothing much has gone on.

 

[bperiod]

The trade has been a wash to me...we were going down regardless. Ron-Ron got us to the playoffs last year, but it was only a matter of time until he imploded...he always will, no matter where he is, we gambled and LOST. However, I have ALWAYS thought Peja was overrated, had no heart and was given a pass a lot of times from fans. (ie. Blaming Chris for his shoddy play) Well..all I needed to know about Peja is right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwO6KmCcTVE

Now let's move on, and look forward to rebuilding a winner.

 

[VarianSyn]

A wash. Specifically if you look at Peja since the trade. It's not like he's been doing that great.

Still, some of Ron's personal issues are plaguing his advancement. At one point, he's got to get a grip on them all and work them out. That's the problem with making a major mistake in life, while under the limelight of the NBA. It haunts you forever.

 

[piksi]

The trade has been a wash to me...we were going down regardless. Ron-Ron got us to the playoffs last year, but it was only a matter of time until he imploded...he always will, no matter where he is, we gambled and LOST. However, I have ALWAYS thought Peja was overrated, had no heart and was given a pass a lot of times from fans. (ie. Blaming Chris for his shoddy play) Well..all I needed to know about Peja is right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwO6KmCcTVE

Now let's move on, and look forward to rebuilding a winner.

Any clips of the 14 FREE throws that we missed ?

 

[Vlade4GM]

A wash. Specifically if you look at Peja since the trade. It's not like he's been doing that great.

Still, some of Ron's personal issues are plaguing his advancement. At one point, he's got to get a grip on them all and work them out. That's the problem with making a major mistake in life, while under the limelight of the NBA. It haunts you forever.

what peja has done since is not the point, he would've been let go.

 

[Bricklayer]

what peja has done since is not the point, he would've been let go.

Would he really? I wonder. That was why the move was (finally) a reasonable one -- Peja was Petrie's boy. He ignored all signs with him, did not take care of business with him in either of the two preceding summers, appeared to try to build a team around him as a #1 option, and we were careening down a path of stupidly big $$ contract to Peja. Or of letting him walk of course. But that was far from a sure thing. And even if it did happen, the relatively small $$ figure he carried meant that we certainly weren't going to sing an Artest level FA with it.

That was an example of Maloof meddling I actually supported, well...actually the only one.

 

[bperiod]

Any clips of the 14 FREE throws that we missed ?

No, sure don't...but I don' t think any of the ft's we missed were an airball by the league's leading free throw shooter either. A wide open AIRBALL, at crunch time when he at that time was considered the BEST 3pt shooter in the league? If that's not choking I don't know what is....hit the rim..gimme an in & out..shoot short..at least I can say you were tired....but an an airball by A MILE?!
OK, sorry...this is old news but it has always bothered me how that cat always got a pass. I will leave it alone now..whew...got kinda bothered with that flashback.

 

[piksi]

No, sure don't...but I don' t think any of the ft's we missed were an airball by the league's leading free throw shooter either. A wide open AIRBALL, at crunch time when he at that time was considered the BEST 3pt shooter in the league? If that's not choking I don't know what is....hit the rim..gimme an in & out..shoot short..at least I can say you were tired....but an an airball by A MILE?!
OK, sorry...this is old news but it has always bothered me how that cat always got a pass. I will leave it alone now..whew...got kinda bothered with that flashback.

we shot Fts 16-30 in that game. It should have never come to that shot.

On the other hand - according to You a wide open three is much easier to make than any of those 14 missed FTs

 

[VF21]

It's gotten to this? We're going to reopen old wounds about Peja?

1. The dude choked. The airball was horrible.
2. Lots of players choked. If I recall, Doug Christie had lapses, too.
3. IT'S OVER!!!

If people remember the airball, that's fine. I remember the airball. But I also remember the rainbow three from the popcorn stand that took my breath away. I remember seeing Peja and Vlade and Chris and Doug and Mike having the times of their lives. The problem with the airball was that it was right about then when NO ONE thought Peja would miss.

Some people will never think as much of Peja as others. It's not a personal or nationalistic thing, although it sure tended to be one back when Peja was here.

Can't we just let it go???

 

[bperiod]

It's gotten to this? We're going to reopen old wounds about Peja?

1. The dude choked. The airball was horrible.
2. Lots of players choked. If I recall, Doug Christie had lapses, too.
3. IT'S OVER!!!

If people remember the airball, that's fine. I remember the airball. But I also remember the rainbow three from the popcorn stand that took my breath away. I remember seeing Peja and Vlade and Chris and Doug and Mike having the times of their lives. The problem with the airball was that it was right about then when NO ONE thought Peja would miss.

Some people will never think as much of Peja as others. It's not a personal or nationalistic thing, although it sure tended to be one back when Peja was here.

Can't we just let it go???

LOL..everything you said is true..just having a bit of fun..geez...just some good old fashioned flashback complaining...that's all I have these days.

 

[KingsInBrazil]

your right, we woulda went into rebuild mode. the trade was good last year. what we should've done was trade artest in the offseason since his value was at its peak.

Why would we trade the league's top defensive player in his peak? Specially with the idea the Maloofs had when hiring a defensive minded coach... Sadly everything went wrong.... Bibby's bad shooting year, an aging and unathletic Brad Miller, undersize and lack of offense on Kenny Thomas, lack of leadership by Musselman AND Artest's problems off court...

about Brad and Thomas a lot of ppl could predict, but Bibby's bad shooting and Artest's off court problems we couldn't guess...we just have to get over it...

 

[bigbadred00]

Why is the speculation that Ron will definitely be leaving? With Ron last year and Bonzi we had a very solid team, maybe even good. When Bonzi was let go, this was an entirely different team. Kevin is great, maybe our best player but him and Bonzi bring 2 totally different styles.

I still think we won on the deal. Maybe we aren't 500 or much over it but we we when we had Peja. Honestly, who could we have gotten on the FA market to replace Peja that was so great last offseason?

Honestly, I think one of our biggest problems has been our problems drafting. In the past the team was much better, recently other than Kevin our drafting hasn't been that great. Then again, we haven't been very high in the draft due to our success.

I guess you could blame Ron, but he's played well and with +/- he's easily been our best player. It's not his fault that Bibby hasn't been that great post-Webber. It is not his fault that we don't have great big men. Honestly, do you expect Ron to win with our current roster and the coach changes? Do you think that's fair at all. He's played pretty well. His shooting % isn't ideal but it's improved as of late.