Artest to Denver For Linas Kleiza and Eduardo Najera
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I hate to continue to draw allusion to one night. But the last time Kleiza started at PF, he droped 41...on the jazz. It may not be his position of choice, or one in which he would play best at, but saying that he is too unathletic to play it.. that made me laugh. Do some research, then come back to me and tell me he can't play.
If you read the posts around here, you'd find that Kleiza is not worth a washed-up player with a string of 25 DNPs and a very late first round pick to play backup SF on a team in the hunt for the Eastern Conference title. Even to suggest such a thing will earn you a LOL and a derisive comment about GMs hanging up the phone. Frankly, I wouldn't have thought that myself, but I'm willing to learn a thing or two from the GMs-in-training around here.
I saw the 41, I saw his game winner. I have seen him play a number of times. Lets not forget he is 6'8, and is not known for his athleticism rather he is known for his shot. And while we are talking about research, can you tell me where you possibly would conjure up the notion that he would start over Salmons...
We certainly don't need Kleiza and it's possible he get stuck behind more traditional SFs or PFs in Sacramento.
But the guy is a good player. No denying that. Whether his odd game (a PF on defense, a SF on offense) fit our style, I'm not sure; but he's worth a look imo. He's more athletic than he's been given credit for (good leaper, good foot speed, but slow lateral quickness) and he fests on fastbreak points. And if he doesn't pan out, no big deal; he's only paid a fraction of KT's salary.
But the guy is a good player. No denying that. Whether his odd game (a PF on defense, a SF on offense) fit our style, I'm not sure; but he's worth a look imo. He's more athletic than he's been given credit for (good leaper, good foot speed, but slow lateral quickness) and he fests on fastbreak points. And if he doesn't pan out, no big deal; he's only paid a fraction of KT's salary.
Sunday (2/10) tidbit from Denver is Artest for Najera and Kleiza (again). Fans seem for it and Melo is in favor of RonRon now that Nene is out indefinitely recovering from his cancer. We all know Najera is a genuine enforcer and decent rebounder who can score a bit as well. Kleiza has increased his minutes to 25.7/gm while scoring 12.2 and getting 4.5 rebs. His Lithuanian BB heritage is a plus. Has good NBA body 6-8/245, not unlike RonRon plus he is only 22 yr. Najera is an expiring. I'd like that move.
Oh yeah, the salaries work as well.
Oh yeah, the salaries work as well.
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Throw in JR Smith and Im for it.
Ron Artest/Quincy Douby
For...
Linas Klieza/JR Smith/Eduardo Najera
Bibby/Beno/Garcia
Martin/Smith/Garcia
Salmons/Klieza/Garcia
Moore/Najera/Williams
Miller/Hawes/Williams
*Kings release Dahntay Jones to possibly sign a 3rd legit PG.
I've always been enamored by JR...But he has been a bit of a pain in his career...Maybe he needs a change of scenery? A different coach? That's also a pretty dynamic 1/2 punch from the 2-guard position...Smith can light it up! And he's only 22! Youth and talent and potential are all good things at this point.
Denver does it because they get Artest for pieces that aren't huge to their puzzle. Also, maybe Denver thinks Douby can learn some tricks of the trade from fellow midget 2-guard Allen Iverson?
No Smith, no deal for me.
Ron Artest/Quincy Douby
For...
Linas Klieza/JR Smith/Eduardo Najera
Bibby/Beno/Garcia
Martin/Smith/Garcia
Salmons/Klieza/Garcia
Moore/Najera/Williams
Miller/Hawes/Williams
*Kings release Dahntay Jones to possibly sign a 3rd legit PG.
I've always been enamored by JR...But he has been a bit of a pain in his career...Maybe he needs a change of scenery? A different coach? That's also a pretty dynamic 1/2 punch from the 2-guard position...Smith can light it up! And he's only 22! Youth and talent and potential are all good things at this point.
Denver does it because they get Artest for pieces that aren't huge to their puzzle. Also, maybe Denver thinks Douby can learn some tricks of the trade from fellow midget 2-guard Allen Iverson?
No Smith, no deal for me.
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^^^^ no way!!! ^^^^
Why get another SF? I thought the trades are supposed to be made to make us better or fill a need? Keliza does not fill any need. He isn't a PF (Although he plays PF some times, he not a prototypical PF). So we trade a SF, for a SF, and Salmons continues to rot on the bench.
I think that might be a sticking point with why this trade hasn't been completed yet... I bet the Nuggets are offering Keliza, and Eduardo, and the Kings are wanting Nene, and Kleiza or something..
Probably end up with Nene, and Najera. I am crossing my fingers!
EDIT: OK, I can see SLAB being correct IF something different was offered. Lets say that We traded Artest, and Garcia for Kleiza and Nene... This would make total sense. We fill a need at PF, move a couple SFs and clear space for Salmons to start.. Our Bench all of a sudden is a pretty nice bench.. Moore, Kleiza, Beno, Hawes, and Douby being the main five players off the bench. Kleiza can fill in at SF/PF, Moore at PF/C, Beno at SG/PG, Hawes at PF/C, and Douby at PG/SG.
Why get another SF? I thought the trades are supposed to be made to make us better or fill a need? Keliza does not fill any need. He isn't a PF (Although he plays PF some times, he not a prototypical PF). So we trade a SF, for a SF, and Salmons continues to rot on the bench.
I think that might be a sticking point with why this trade hasn't been completed yet... I bet the Nuggets are offering Keliza, and Eduardo, and the Kings are wanting Nene, and Kleiza or something..
Probably end up with Nene, and Najera. I am crossing my fingers!
EDIT: OK, I can see SLAB being correct IF something different was offered. Lets say that We traded Artest, and Garcia for Kleiza and Nene... This would make total sense. We fill a need at PF, move a couple SFs and clear space for Salmons to start.. Our Bench all of a sudden is a pretty nice bench.. Moore, Kleiza, Beno, Hawes, and Douby being the main five players off the bench. Kleiza can fill in at SF/PF, Moore at PF/C, Beno at SG/PG, Hawes at PF/C, and Douby at PG/SG.
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I'm watching the Denver Vs Cleveland game and they just brought on Ric Bucher and he said that Denver is agressively going after Artest, but that the Kings are requesting Kleiza in the trade, and Denver so far is unwilling to include Kleiza. I know this is probably old news, but I hadn't heard that Denver is refussing to give us Kleiza.
It's Ric Bucher so you have to wonder if he's trying to make something out of nothing. Petrie is so tight-lipped about this kind of stuff that it seems unlikely Bucher has heard anything. Remember Ric Bucher = "I know for a fact Chris Webber won't re-sign with the Kings. He told me personally he's going to sign with Detroit."
Chris Sheridan from ESPN Insider says the Kings are proposing a deal something along the lines of Nene and Kleiza (and presumably Najera for salaries) for Artest and KT. So far Nuggets have been reluctant and are only offering Najera and a 1st for Artest.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insi...nist=sheridan_chris&page=TradeDeadline-080212
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insi...nist=sheridan_chris&page=TradeDeadline-080212
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What do you mean he can't D it up? He's not much of a weakside shotblocker, but he's one of the better post defenders in the league because he's both strong and quick, which makes him extremely versatile on post D. In his career he averages about 2 blocks per 40 minutes, which is better than anyone we have right now.
And yeah, he's been injury plagued, but as has previously been noted, they've been of the freakish variety -- a torn ACL from a bad fall, a bruised leg, a messed up hand, cancer... it's not like he's had microfracture surgery.
I agree the weight gain is somewhat troublesome, but it happens with some players.
Sometimes you have to take risks in trades, and a risk on an athletic 25 year old power forward is one I can get behind.
And yeah, he's been injury plagued, but as has previously been noted, they've been of the freakish variety -- a torn ACL from a bad fall, a bruised leg, a messed up hand, cancer... it's not like he's had microfracture surgery.
I agree the weight gain is somewhat troublesome, but it happens with some players.
Sometimes you have to take risks in trades, and a risk on an athletic 25 year old power forward is one I can get behind.
The latest from Amick:
As for Denver, it's far from certain that the Kings want Nene, for reasons varying from his health concerns (testicular cancer) to his contract ($8.84 million this season and a deal that goes through 2011 with a player option for the 2011-12 campaign). At the same time, getting Eduardo Najera's expiring deal doesn't mean all that much considering Artest has said he'll opt out this summer and his money would come off the books anyway. Getting third-year small forward Linas Kleiza and draft picks - which the Kings are seeking in all talks - are the key here.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/010566.html
If that's correct it sounds like they're thinking more like vlade4gm
As for Denver, it's far from certain that the Kings want Nene, for reasons varying from his health concerns (testicular cancer) to his contract ($8.84 million this season and a deal that goes through 2011 with a player option for the 2011-12 campaign). At the same time, getting Eduardo Najera's expiring deal doesn't mean all that much considering Artest has said he'll opt out this summer and his money would come off the books anyway. Getting third-year small forward Linas Kleiza and draft picks - which the Kings are seeking in all talks - are the key here.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/010566.html
If that's correct it sounds like they're thinking more like vlade4gm
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