Bee: Deal or no deal?

[sidney]

When it comes to the final days before the trade deadline, things can change drastically in a matter of hours. With that being said, Kings exec Geoff Petrie said Saturday afternoon that there was nothing of significance cooking at that time.
"Right now, for us, there’s nothing that could be called on the front burner," Petrie said. "I’m not even sure if the stove is turned on."
And the prospects for things heating up soon?
"We’ll see," he said. "It’s like any deadline, like when you file your taxes you wait until the very last day to get them in there. Right now, there’s nothing of any interest for us."
I was told by a source to keep a keen eye on Cleveland, which already had talks with the Kings regarding Mike Bibby that died down quite some time ago. The Cavs wanted point guard Andre Miller from Philadelphia, but Bibby is supposedly high on their list, too. Asked whether a three-team deal might be the more plausible means toward making a move, Petrie said, "Not necessarily. I mean right now we’re at ground zero. (And) the more moving parts you have, the harder it is to get things done in general."
- Sam Amick


http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/005672.html

 

[VF21]

Petrie said, "Not necessarily. I mean right now we’re at ground zero. (And) the more moving parts you have, the harder it is to get things done in general."

I'm so glad Sam was able to pin Petrie down like that...

 

[Warhawk]

I'm so glad Sam was able to pin Petrie down like that...

Well, he did keep Farmer Petrie from referencing the moon and barnyard animals. That's a plus, right?

 

[BMiller52]

What does Geoff mean with the ground zero comment?

 

[Smills91]

What does Geoff mean with the ground zero comment?

Starting from ground zero, meaning anything that's been discussed in the past is dead...and now he's looking for a fresh start.

 

[BMiller52]

Starting from ground zero, meaning anything that's been discussed in the past is dead...and now he's looking for a fresh start.

Oh I see now, thanks.

 

[Warhawk]

Starting from ground zero, meaning anything that's been discussed in the past is dead...and now he's looking for a fresh start.

Yeah, starting at ground zero means that you are starting from scratch with nothing in the works. Usually refers to a setback in previous planning - like "back at square 1".

It was in use long before 9/11 popularized the phrase "ground zero", if that's what you were thinking of.

 

[Vlade4GM]

if AT LEAST artest isn't traded by the deadline i'm going to lose it.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well, he did keep Farmer Petrie from referencing the moon and barnyard animals. That's a plus, right?

Was thinking the same thing.

"Ground zero" Geoff? "Nothing on the front burner?" That's just so cliche! Where is an oodling meteor when you need one?

 

[NikateeN]

if AT LEAST artest isn't traded by the deadline i'm going to lose it.

Then plan on losing it, the Maloofs love Artest, i dont see him moving soon.

 

[SLAB]

Ugh...Of all our players Artest is one of the guys you do not want to trade...The guy plays his heart out every night, doesn't complain, does his job, and most importantly is, in essence, the kids coach because who knows if they respect Muss any more.

If a trade happens it needs to be Miller/Bibby/SAR...They are what will get us anything in return...Because weather you like it or not, Thomas and Potopenko isn't landing us anything.

 

[Troy]

We are such a complete team, we don't have any holes to fill!

Put your feet up GP!

 

[Vlade4GM]

Ugh...Of all our players Artest is one of the guys you do not want to trade...The guy plays his heart out every night, doesn't complain, does his job, and most importantly is, in essence, the kids coach because who knows if they respect Muss any more.

If a trade happens it needs to be Miller/Bibby/SAR...They are what will get us anything in return...Because weather you like it or not, Thomas and Potopenko isn't landing us anything.

oh here comes another buy high sell low post. geez, how many times do i have to explain this? WE HAVE TO REBUILD, what makes you think artest would be helpful in a rebuilding situation? he's going to opt out after next year, that's the truth, he will opt out and he will get his money one way or another. we need the pieces we can get in return for him because he's our most tradeable commodity. you're not going to get much of value for miller and sar and to a lesser extent bibby. artest is going to be the one that will need to go in order to jump start us into a much needed rebuilding process. the fact that artest is playing really well right now and hasn't blown up means it is the perfect time to trade him because his trade value is at an all time high. why risk his value plummeting on us when we can just trade him now rather than lose him after next year for nothing? come on people THINK.

 

[SacKings384]

Vlade why are you not realizing that Artest makes very little money for his value? What are we going to get for him? Right now Artest is one of the last players on the team that needs to be traded...

 

[SLAB]

oh here comes another buy high sell low post. geez, how many times do i have to explain this? WE HAVE TO REBUILD, what makes you think artest would be helpful in a rebuilding situation? he's going to opt out after next year, that's the truth, he will opt out and he will get his money. we need the pieces we can get in return for him because he's our most tradeable commodity. you're not going to get much of value for miller and sar and to a lesser extent bibby. artest is going to be the one that will need to go in order to jump start us into a much needed rebuilding process. the fact that artest is playing really well right now and hasn't blown up means it is the perfect time to trade him because his trade value is at an all time high. why risk his value plummeting on us when we can just trade him now rather than lose him after next year? come on people THINK.

Honestly, because of Artest's past we are not going to get a heck of a lot in return for him. There is not a single player at his price range that could come over in a trade and make us instantly into a positive rebuilding mode. Is any team going to sacrafice their future for one guy who, according to everyone's though process, can exploder and tear your team apart...No chance...The best we could do is nowhere near what could take us anywhere, I guarantee that.

At his price, you need to keep him through the beginning of the rebuild, and if and when he does opt out, thats 7 million off the cap to go towards whatever.

He is cheap...He is good...He is a leader...He is a mentor...He is potentially the kind of guy you want for a rebuild, it's just a matter of hoping he's not crazy anymore...

And how do you know he's going to bolt? Has he talked to you personally? Has his posse contacted you? Because as far as I know, no one knows for sure.

Artest is not the issue in this whole thing...Everyone else is.

 

[VF21]

oh here comes another buy high sell low post. geez, how many times do i have to explain this?

...

THINK.

I know this may come as a shock to you, but people are entitled to opinions that may differ from yours.

We do NOT know for certain what Ron Artest is going to do. I don't think even he knows what he might do down the road. The possibility of him opting to stay in Sacramento, especially if the Maloofs make him a good offer, is still a very viable option. It might not be the option you would select, but that doesn't automatically take it off the table.

 

[NikateeN]

You can totally rebuild around Artest, he is a leader right now, more than any other King is at this point.

Yea there is a chance that he leaves, but if we start to rebuild and he notices some hope i think he will want to stay, and he can help the young guys/new guys with a lot.

We have a lot of problems right now but Artest is the least of them.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I know this may come as a shock to you, but people are entitled to opinions that may differ from yours.

no kidding

We do NOT know for certain what Ron Artest is going to do. I don't think even he knows what he might do down the road. The possibility of him opting to stay in Sacramento, especially if the Maloofs make him a good offer, is still a very viable option. It might not be the option you would select, but that doesn't automatically take it off the table.

my point was moreso that he was going to exercise his option if it got to that point, i guess i didnt make myself too clear. still the risk is still great that if we don't trade him we'll lose him for nothing. i dont refute that artest fits just fine into the long term mediocre patchwork plan, which by that point i wont even care.

 

[Vlade4GM]

You can totally rebuild around Artest, he is a leader right now, more than any other King is at this point.

Yea there is a chance that he leaves, but if we start to rebuild and he notices some hope i think he will want to stay, and he can help the young guys/new guys with a lot.

We have a lot of problems right now but Artest is the least of them.

why do people keep thinking that trades are all about getting rid of problems? I'M NOT SAYING HE'S A PROBLEM. i'm saying we need to trade him in order to get young and start over with some chips rather than an unpredictable vet.

leopards don't change their spots. artest is not a patient person imo, he'll want his money first and foremost and he'll want to be on a winning team. do you think he's going to want to stick around for a couple of losing seasons, babysitting a bunch of prospects? how long after he has that nice contract extension before he cuts the act and he starts complaining and demanding a trade? and we're going to need to get younger than artest. i'm not saying he's crazy old or something, but we'll need to be focused around younger players and not paying big money to vets that aren't cornerstones. artest is a nice borderline all-star player, but that's it. he's a complimentary 3rd best player on a championship team.

 

[VF21]

my point was moreso that he was going to exercise his option if it got to that point, i guess i didnt make myself too clear. still the risk is still great that if we don't trade him we'll lose him for nothing. i dont refute that artest fits just fine into the long term mediocre patchwork plan, which by that point i wont even care.

And MY point is that you don't know what he's going to do. This idea that we have to trade people before they just dump us smacks of "fear of rejection" issues that I just don't think fit in with the idea of rebuilding a successful team.

Artest has been a bright spot this year and has done NOTHING to give the Maloofs the idea they need to dump him. And that's what will matter. I don't see the Maloofs getting rid of him.

And quite frankly, I'm in no hurry to see him leave either.

 

[Bricklayer]

Well...

The Ron question remains a perplexing one. As recently as a couple of months ago he was a huge problem and looked to have one foot out the door. Then he abruptly righted himself around Christmas, and has easily been the best King for the last 6 weeks. Where it goes from there I have no idea. You simply can NOT be late on trading him. You can't do the Petrie let eveything fall apart before you move thing. Because if it does fall apart again for Ron, nobody is going to take him. Nobody. But the question now is is he going to blow up? Or leave? Either are possible. Neither is currently indicated. As I've mentioned, this exact situation is the one that he wasn't supposed to be able to deal with -- the losing. And yet he seems to be hanging in there. Not really leading -- indeed I think his coping mechanism has been to distance himself from all the "losers" around him and just do his thing. But not blowing up either. So it opens the possibility that he could hang in even during a rebuilding process. And if you had both he AND Kevin for that process, that would be a nice start. I still have major concerns though. Still think that there is simply no way you could trust what he said if he hits the FA market next summer, and wonder considerably if he would be able to cede the limelight if we actually did manage to draft a young stud who was clearly better than him and was going to lead the team.

 

[Vlade4GM]

And MY point is that you don't know what he's going to do. This idea that we have to trade people before they just dump us smacks of "fear of rejection" issues that I just don't think fit in with the idea of rebuilding a successful team.

Artest has been a bright spot this year and has done NOTHING to give the Maloofs the idea they need to dump him. And that's what will matter. I don't see the Maloofs getting rid of him.

And quite frankly, I'm in no hurry to see him leave either.

yea, i dont know it for a fact, so what? there are no certainties in sports, only different degrees of likelihoods and risks. that's all i'm talking here, waiting for artest's trade stock to plummet or him to walk is a dumb risk and one we shouldnt be willing to take. why bet on a guy with questionable character history and unpredictable emotions to be dependable like that? and frankly he's not young enough to be a big part of a rebuilding process (and he will have to be considering the money he's due to get). you think he really cares enough about sacramento where he's going to take a pay cut to stay and lose for god knows how long? contracts like artest is due to get are ones we should be staying away from unless they're a lot younger and/or cornerstone players.

why do you equate trading with "dumping", i'm not suggesting to "dump" him, but to get necessary parts for rebuilding. why does him playing better at the moment have anything to do with whether we should trade him or not? it just means that his trade value is higher. he doesn't fit a rebuilding process, if we are in one or are planning to go in one imo artest is the most obvious one to go. if they're going to keep doing the long term mediocrity route with patchwork then he fits in fine and by that won't we're screwed anyways i won't really care.

let me ask you a question, if he was playing now like he was earlier in the year would you be for trading him?

 

[NikateeN]

artest is not a patient person imo, he'll want his money first and foremost and he'll want to be on a winning team. do you think he's going to want to stick around for a couple of losing seasons, babysitting a bunch of prospects?

So is it just my imagination that he was on the Pacers for 5 pretty unsuccessful seasons?

 

[NikateeN]

why do people keep thinking that trades are all about getting rid of problems?

Probably because thats what most trades revolve around.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Probably because thats what most trades revolve around.

trading isn't all about dumping bad players. it's about moving one type of commodity for another type of commodity in an attempt to better yourself for the present or the future.

 

[Vlade4GM]

So is it just my imagination that he was on the Pacers for 5 pretty unsuccessful seasons?

were they the kind of losing seasons that the kings are going to have to endure if they rebuild? no, i don't think so. also, was artest in due for as big of payday as he would after next year during that time?

 

[SLAB]

I really don't see Artest bolting...Sure, he will opt out, but I think the Maloofs will do their hardest, and succeed, in keeping him here.

Artest is a Maloof kind of guy, and I think that they will want to keep him as the cornerstone...And I personally do not disagree with that one bit.

And answer me this...By trading our best all-around player/talent, what can we get to possibly better ourself? Sure, if we aquire a PF for him we are better by default, but then we have a gaping hole at the SF...Okay, fine...Fill that in with John Salmons...Then we have a huge gap where the super-utility man should go...I know for sure Cisco is not good/consistent enough for that role yet, and I really would not look forward to any lineup with John Salmons as a starter.

Then the new PF logjams our current situation and cancer sparks fly.

Honestly, Artest is really the last guy that should be on our trade list, and that shouldn't be changed unless some team goes crazy and offers, say David Lee and Nate Robinson or Al Jefferson/filler....And thats not going to happen...Count on it.

 

[NikateeN]

If hes gonna get payed more than its more reason to stay, he got less money in Ind and stayed, and whos to say we are in for some big losing seasons? I didnt know you could see straight into the future.

Anyway, im done with this topic now.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Geoff, I think its time to turn the freaking stove on, and throw that damn oodling hen right on the fire! Do something, dammit!!

 

[Jechtsphere]

I'm ok with artest here as long as when he does play offense he's not taking dumb shots, holds the ball and makes the offense slow, playing 1 on 1, I'd rather him be high in assists than rebounds...oh and stops thinking he's one of the best players in the league.

If we want to win we'll still need to build around that, you can't win with just some good players.

My opinion is he won't stick around, that's me though.