SoupIsGood
Bench
Dangit. I really thought (hoped?) Artest would be traded by Christmas. =/ Get to it Walsh.
thesanityannex said:Here is the story from Hoopsworld.com 12-26:
Bonzi Wells & Kevin Martin - Its been suggested that Jermaine O'Neal was told of an offer from Sacramento that included good friend Bonzi Wells and "the kid they drafted last year". A source close to the Kings says Bonzi has come to the realization that he wants to compete, and is finding the laid back atmosphere in Sacramento annoying and has hinted that he'd want a trade. The numbers work salary wise given the new 25% rule, for Sacramento they get Artest who they have coveted for some time, without giving up Peja - Indiana gets a player Jermaine O'Neal approves of, and a young player in Kevin Martin who they have scouted in each of the past too summers. Bonzi comes off the books next summer, so it's not a long term marriage if it doesn't work out, and Kevin is cheap - toss in a draft pick and this is the best deal floating around.
Denver Post - The Nuggets are now major players in the Ron Artest sweepstakes, according to an NBA source Monday.
The Indiana Pacers are expected to deal the controversial Artest, a 2004 NBA all-star, in the near future. The potential Artest deal likely would include numerous teams for financial reasons. If the likely multiteam deal is consummated involving the Nuggets, expect injured forward-center Nene to be included.
"We're just waiting to hear from (Pacers CEO) Donnie (Walsh) on something," Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said via telephone Monday.
Stevens recently predicted Artest would be dealt after the holidays and has been talking to Walsh regularly. With Christmas now past, the Pacers have intensified their hopes of trading Artest. He recently asked to be traded and then recanted the statements, but the Pacers still plan on moving him.
The Eastern Conference Pacers also seem intrigued about moving Artest to the Western Conference. Rumored interested West teams include Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Golden State and Minnesota. The Pacers reportedly also could be interested in adding a player who is in the final year of his contract to cut salary. Nene and Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard, who has asked for a trade, are in the final years of their contracts.
"Anytime you deal a player, you would like him to go out of the conference," Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird told The Indianapolis Star on Monday. "We're looking at the West, but if it's the East, that's how it's going to be.
"Whether we get a draft choice or a player, we're going to make sure it's the right deal. We've done enough to back Ronnie. We're in a position where we have to protect the franchise now."
thesanityannex said:Here is the story from Hoopsworld.com 12-26:
Bonzi Wells & Kevin Martin - Its been suggested that Jermaine O'Neal was told of an offer from Sacramento that included good friend Bonzi Wells and "the kid they drafted last year". A source close to the Kings says Bonzi has come to the realization that he wants to compete, and is finding the laid back atmosphere in Sacramento annoying and has hinted that he'd want a trade. The numbers work salary wise given the new 25% rule, for Sacramento they get Artest who they have coveted for some time, without giving up Peja - Indiana gets a player Jermaine O'Neal approves of, and a young player in Kevin Martin who they have scouted in each of the past too summers. Bonzi comes off the books next summer, so it's not a long term marriage if it doesn't work out, and Kevin is cheap - toss in a draft pick and this is the best deal floating around.
Francisco d'Anconia said:What if team A was Sacramento and Player X was Bonzi? Would we like Watson/Nene for Bonzi?
LPKingsFan said:Also of note: Larry Legend says Artest is a top-12 player in the league. Is any current King close to even top 24? What superstar are we going to get, and how?
Francisco d'Anconia said:What if team A was Sacramento and Player X was Bonzi? Would we like Watson/Nene for Bonzi?
LPKingsFan said:Doubtful. While it would solve our weaknesses in the paint and at backup PG, would remove what's left of our leadership, and it doesn't solve the Peja situation (looming contract negotiations, trade? etc).
SF Chronicle - Ike Diogu showed up for practice Tuesday knowing that changes were needed to get the Warriors back on the winning track. He just didn't figure that he'd be front and center among those changes.
In a move sure to please Warriors fans, Diogu will replace Adonal Foyle in the starting lineup beginning with tonight's game against Boston. Coach Mike Montgomery informed his team of the anticipated switch before practice, though he still caught his rookie by surprise.
"I was kind of like, 'Wow.' I didn't expect that at all," Diogu said. "The last two games, I've been playing a lot, but the games before that, I wasn't really playing. So that's just how it is.
"Some nights, you're going to be on. Some nights, you're going to be off."
For the moment, Diogu is on. He has scored 39 points in his last two games, leapfrogging Foyle and second-year player Andris Biedrins in the Warriors' rotation. Montgomery is now gambling that Diogu can help spark a team that has lost five straight, all with the same story line.
Denver Post - Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest has accepted he is going to be traded but says he has no preference where. If he ends up being dealt to the Nuggets, he isn't expected to have a problem coming to Colorado.
A deal for Artest could include as many as four teams, and the Nuggets' injured forward-center Nene is expected to be a part of any Denver deal.
Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said a deal is expected "sometime at the end of this week." The Nuggets have acknowledged interest and have been talking regularly to Pacers CEO and president Donnie Walsh.
"I've been to Denver before. It has nice scenery," Artest said Tuesday. "I really don't have a comment on the rumors. It's not my place. I like Carmelo (Anthony). I'm cool with (Marcus) Camby. I like a lot of their players.
"As of right now, I'm still a Pacer. I'm always going to have tremendous respect for Donnie."
AleksandarN said:Are you kidding me. We get an upcoming PF like Nene and get a point who is 1.) able to run the point 2.) play defensive. This would be ideal for us in many ways. Also like you pointed out with Pedja Bonzi is in the same situation(contract wise). This deal would help solve alot of problems and we could Fransico and Martin as SG. This would be a great starting lineup and bench if the trade happened.
Bricklayer said:No.
Not Bonzi. Best thing we have going. To build you have to KEEP your good pieces and trade the bad ones for more good ones. I like Nene's potential, but there is uncertainty there. Coming off an injury, a free agen, and how good will he be? I'd pull the trigger to get him with any and all guys who aren't working out, but not for efectively our best player thus far this season. AT some point you have to reward the guys busting their *** and winning games for you by actually letting them stay in town.
SoupIsGood said:Quote : Source: Artest looks to be bound for L.A.
http://www.probasketballnews.com/pbnnews_1229.html
By Sam Amico
Dec. 28, 2005
Indiana is nearing a three-team trade that would send swingman Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Lakers, a league source has told ProBasketballNews.com.
Meanwhile, Lakers forward Devean George would end up in Indiana.
The third team involved in the proposed trade is the Toronto Raptors, according to the source. The Raptors would send Jalen Rose to Los Angeles -- and in return receive Pacers forward Austin Croshere and at least one player from the Lakers.
The source added that George and an undetermined player from the Raptors -- or perhaps a draft pick -- would be to dealt to the Pacers.
"Basically, it's Artest for Devean George, with the Raptors getting involved to make it work financially," the source said. "When and if it happens, this will be a trade that consists of plenty of throw-ins."
Three weeks ago, Artest told the Indianapolis Star that he wanted to be traded. He later apologized to his teammates and told management he would like to remain with the team. But Pacers president Larry Bird told The Indianapolis Star on Monday that he felt "betrayed" by Artest, and said the Pacers will indeed trade him.
Artest has been inactive since his comments about wanting to be traded, which came after he was injured against Dallas on Dec. 6. Since then, the Pacers have been flooded with trade requests.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh told the Associated Press on Wednesday the team had narrowed its options down from about 10 teams this week, but did not indicate when a trade might occur.
Artest averaged 19.4 points and 4.9 rebounds through 16 games this season. He was suspended for 73 games last year after the well-documented brawl during a game in Detroit
Croshere is averaging 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Pacers, while Rose is scoring 9.6 points in just 25 minutes per game -- his lowest averages in both categories in nine seasons.
George is also near his career lows in scoring (5.6 ppg) and field-goal percentage (38 percent).
The source said he was not given a timetable as to when the proposed trade might take place. "I hear they are very close to finalizing everything, he said, "but it sounds like there are a few kinks that still need to be worked out."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.