Artest Approves Trade: No word from Kings (merged)
- Thread starter Sum182
- Start date
If Ron lands here we'll be better, IMHO, on offense with Brad pulling their Center out to cover him and his high post jumper/Point Center passing leaving Ron and the PF (both of whom are good inside players but still on the smallish side) to score inside more than when Peja was here since he was primarily an outside threat lately. But on defense Brad's still a liability.
Artest Is Worth The Gamble
Al Tielemans/SI
With all of the hand-wringing, furrowed brows and awkward silences that have greeted the Indiana Pacers in their quest to trade Ron Artest in the last month, it's little surprise that most observers are wondering why in the world the Sacramento Kings want to add this headache to their roster. Considering Artest's attack on opposing players, fans, cameras and music listeners' ears (courtesy the Allure CD his Tru Warier company famously produced), why would anyone give the former St. John's star another chance to drag his career further down and a team's future along with it.
Then again, why not trade for him?
For the cruise ship-full of baggage Artest carries, he also brings the talent of one of the NBA's most complete players. The one-time Defensive Player of the Year was as ferocious a stopper as ever before his trade request in mid-December landed him on the inactive list. In 16 games, Artest averaged 2.6 steals a game and produced a +12.8 plus-minus rating, seventh-best in the league this season. His quick hands and linebacker style of defense went a long way toward making Indiana one of the league's stingiest teams as it limited teams to less than 44 percent shooting. His skills will go a long way towards improving the Kings' 46.2 percent field-goal defense.
In addition to helping stop opponents, Artest also has steadily grown in his ability to punish opponents, too. Scoring? How does 19.6 per game and a 46 percent conversion rate suit you? Rebounding? Almost five a game. Passing? A career mark of three assists per night. Throw in a respectable 33 percent from behind the 3-point arc and Artest's value as an offensive threat is inarguable. In fact, an argument can be made that the Kings would be getting a better offensive player in Artest than the one they would trade away, Peja Stojakovic, whose numbers this season are the worst since he became a starter in 2000.
Sure, Ron-Ron might require a phalanx of counselors to keep his head focused on the game for 48 minutes a night, but if Rick Adelman and the Kings can get Artest into a "happy place," his controlled fury could be the perfect antidote for a team whose collective heart has never matched up to Artest’s alone.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/paul_forrester/01/25/artest/index.html?cnn=yes
Al Tielemans/SI
With all of the hand-wringing, furrowed brows and awkward silences that have greeted the Indiana Pacers in their quest to trade Ron Artest in the last month, it's little surprise that most observers are wondering why in the world the Sacramento Kings want to add this headache to their roster. Considering Artest's attack on opposing players, fans, cameras and music listeners' ears (courtesy the Allure CD his Tru Warier company famously produced), why would anyone give the former St. John's star another chance to drag his career further down and a team's future along with it.
Then again, why not trade for him?
For the cruise ship-full of baggage Artest carries, he also brings the talent of one of the NBA's most complete players. The one-time Defensive Player of the Year was as ferocious a stopper as ever before his trade request in mid-December landed him on the inactive list. In 16 games, Artest averaged 2.6 steals a game and produced a +12.8 plus-minus rating, seventh-best in the league this season. His quick hands and linebacker style of defense went a long way toward making Indiana one of the league's stingiest teams as it limited teams to less than 44 percent shooting. His skills will go a long way towards improving the Kings' 46.2 percent field-goal defense.
In addition to helping stop opponents, Artest also has steadily grown in his ability to punish opponents, too. Scoring? How does 19.6 per game and a 46 percent conversion rate suit you? Rebounding? Almost five a game. Passing? A career mark of three assists per night. Throw in a respectable 33 percent from behind the 3-point arc and Artest's value as an offensive threat is inarguable. In fact, an argument can be made that the Kings would be getting a better offensive player in Artest than the one they would trade away, Peja Stojakovic, whose numbers this season are the worst since he became a starter in 2000.
Sure, Ron-Ron might require a phalanx of counselors to keep his head focused on the game for 48 minutes a night, but if Rick Adelman and the Kings can get Artest into a "happy place," his controlled fury could be the perfect antidote for a team whose collective heart has never matched up to Artest’s alone.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/paul_forrester/01/25/artest/index.html?cnn=yes
That last statement is sad but true (since Webber left) with the exception of Bibby. But what do you expect from national media: the truth, or the irrisistable, slick, athletic equivilant of a "You-momma-so-fat" joke?
On the other hand, how much of Artest's game is heart and how much is the happily malfunctioning circuit in his head?
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On the other hand, how much of Artest's game is heart and how much is the happily malfunctioning circuit in his head?
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Sum182 said:
Why? Peja hasnt done anything on the Kings. And the numbers talk by themselves.