http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/266865.html
Artest says it looks as if trade won't happen
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
LAS VEGAS -- Ron Artest sat courtside at UNLV's Cox Pavilion on Tuesday, surrounded by his children and worried about matters far more vital than the latest trade rumor.
The Kings small forward fetched popcorn for his 3-year-old daughter, Diamond, just before the Kings took on Washington in summer-league play. Ron III, 8, finished the snack run with ice creams for Sade', 10, and Jeron, 6. And while juggling daddy duty with a discussion on his seemingly unsure hoops future, Artest managed to speak in ways both contradictory and curious as only he can.
Amid numerous reports from the New York media regarding a possible trade landing Artest with his hometown Knicks, Artest has done little to stop the chatter. In separate interviews this summer, he has said he wants to retire with the Indiana Pacers and the Kings, while his brother and Kings summer-league player, Daniel, was quoted as saying Ron would rather be in New York above all.
Artest told ESPN.com on Monday that he would not exercise the early termination option on his contract next offseason, something widely believed he would do. But in an interview with The Bee on Tuesday, Artest said he will let the season unfold before deciding.
"I'll do whatever my agent (Mark Stevens) wants, really," Artest said. "I mean I like it (in Sacramento), you know, but who knows. ... I'm not going to put myself in a position where I say, 'Yeah, I want to stay here (in Sacramento) all the time.' I trust (my agent)."
If Artest doesn't exercise the option, he will receive $8.45 million in the 2008-09 season.
"The thing about it is that $8 million is a lot of money, so I'm not going to worry about it, and I just want to play ball," he said. "I don't have to think about opting out. ... There's a big difference between $8 million and (potentially earning) $15 million, but they're both a lot of money, so it ain't nothing to worry about. All I've got to worry about is playing ball."
Stevens said Artest's happiness will play the largest part.
"It has always been my opinion that Ron has been underpaid and is underpaid, but that's not something I can blame Sacramento for because that's a contract that he signed with Indiana," Stevens said. "If Ron feels uncomfortable at the end of the year with his salary, and he feels that he should have more pay, then we'll deal with that. If he's happy, then we stay in the contract."
Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie told the New York Post on Monday that "Ron is going to be a King," and he denied reports claiming there have been substantive discussions with the Knicks regarding an Artest trade. Petrie did not return a call from The Bee, but Stevens said he doesn't "believe there is any validity to (the rumors) whatsoever."
And though Artest told the Post that Petrie had told him he would not be traded, the player hedged one day later.
"If (Shaquille O'Neal) can get run out from L.A., I can get out of Sacramento," he said. "Geoff is an honest dude. He lets you know there's a chance that things could happen, that I could get traded, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen."
As has always been the case when Artest's name is linked to the Knicks, he was flattered to be wanted in his hometown.
"All the people (in New York) want (the trade)," said Artest, who grew up in Queensbridge, N.Y., and attended St. John's. "It's been eight years (since he left the area) already, and it's always like, 'When's Ron coming back?' That makes me feel good."
Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin said he hopes Artest stays put.
"I love playing with Ron," Martin said. "When he came to the team, I felt like my game went to a new level, and it was because he was right beside me."
Asked about poor on-floor chemistry last season, Martin said it will only improve if Artest stays.
"I was just coming up, and we just had to get used to each other," he said. "People say how I was scoring so many more points when Ron wasn't in the game, but that's going to happen. I averaged more when Bonzi (Wells) was out (in the 2005-06 season), too."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Artest says it looks as if trade won't happen
By Sam Amick - Bee Staff Writer
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
LAS VEGAS -- Ron Artest sat courtside at UNLV's Cox Pavilion on Tuesday, surrounded by his children and worried about matters far more vital than the latest trade rumor.
The Kings small forward fetched popcorn for his 3-year-old daughter, Diamond, just before the Kings took on Washington in summer-league play. Ron III, 8, finished the snack run with ice creams for Sade', 10, and Jeron, 6. And while juggling daddy duty with a discussion on his seemingly unsure hoops future, Artest managed to speak in ways both contradictory and curious as only he can.
Amid numerous reports from the New York media regarding a possible trade landing Artest with his hometown Knicks, Artest has done little to stop the chatter. In separate interviews this summer, he has said he wants to retire with the Indiana Pacers and the Kings, while his brother and Kings summer-league player, Daniel, was quoted as saying Ron would rather be in New York above all.
Artest told ESPN.com on Monday that he would not exercise the early termination option on his contract next offseason, something widely believed he would do. But in an interview with The Bee on Tuesday, Artest said he will let the season unfold before deciding.
"I'll do whatever my agent (Mark Stevens) wants, really," Artest said. "I mean I like it (in Sacramento), you know, but who knows. ... I'm not going to put myself in a position where I say, 'Yeah, I want to stay here (in Sacramento) all the time.' I trust (my agent)."
If Artest doesn't exercise the option, he will receive $8.45 million in the 2008-09 season.
"The thing about it is that $8 million is a lot of money, so I'm not going to worry about it, and I just want to play ball," he said. "I don't have to think about opting out. ... There's a big difference between $8 million and (potentially earning) $15 million, but they're both a lot of money, so it ain't nothing to worry about. All I've got to worry about is playing ball."
Stevens said Artest's happiness will play the largest part.
"It has always been my opinion that Ron has been underpaid and is underpaid, but that's not something I can blame Sacramento for because that's a contract that he signed with Indiana," Stevens said. "If Ron feels uncomfortable at the end of the year with his salary, and he feels that he should have more pay, then we'll deal with that. If he's happy, then we stay in the contract."
Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie told the New York Post on Monday that "Ron is going to be a King," and he denied reports claiming there have been substantive discussions with the Knicks regarding an Artest trade. Petrie did not return a call from The Bee, but Stevens said he doesn't "believe there is any validity to (the rumors) whatsoever."
And though Artest told the Post that Petrie had told him he would not be traded, the player hedged one day later.
"If (Shaquille O'Neal) can get run out from L.A., I can get out of Sacramento," he said. "Geoff is an honest dude. He lets you know there's a chance that things could happen, that I could get traded, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen."
As has always been the case when Artest's name is linked to the Knicks, he was flattered to be wanted in his hometown.
"All the people (in New York) want (the trade)," said Artest, who grew up in Queensbridge, N.Y., and attended St. John's. "It's been eight years (since he left the area) already, and it's always like, 'When's Ron coming back?' That makes me feel good."
Kings shooting guard Kevin Martin said he hopes Artest stays put.
"I love playing with Ron," Martin said. "When he came to the team, I felt like my game went to a new level, and it was because he was right beside me."
Asked about poor on-floor chemistry last season, Martin said it will only improve if Artest stays.
"I was just coming up, and we just had to get used to each other," he said. "People say how I was scoring so many more points when Ron wasn't in the game, but that's going to happen. I averaged more when Bonzi (Wells) was out (in the 2005-06 season), too."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
