Bonzi, Artest or Sprewell: Who Should the Kings Take a Risk

[Purple Reign]

I believe that in order to acheive success you have to sometimes in life take a risk. The Kings did that in 1998 when they brought in C-Webb. It was by far Petrie's best move to date, which laid down a foundation of all of our expectations. Now in 2005, the team in my opinion needs to roll the dice once again with either Ron Artest, Bonzi Wells or Latrell Sprewell. With the departure of "Cat" Mobley, the Kings have a huge hole at the Off-guard position. They need a player that is big, that can defend, that is tough and that can bring a sense of attitude into the backcourt in particular but on the team in general.

All three of these players have exactly what the Kings need, all three of these players have a level of availabillity, all of these players though carry a lot of baggage both past and present.

LATRELL SPREWELL
Negatives
"Coach Choker"
Volitile on the court, has the attention of the referees
Seems to be the spoiled athlete ("I don't make enough money to feed my kids),
Has a little age maybe 35 or 36 years old, is he the same player he use to be

Positives
Every teammate seems to love him
"Big time Assassin - makes big shots and big plays
Plays with intensity and plays hard
Can shoot from the outside and finish at the basket
Once played for Rick Adelman, and Adelman likes him

BONZI WELLS
Negatives
"The Ultimate Portland Trailblazer",
A Coach's Nightmare - has not gotten along with either of his two coaches and if you can't get along with Maurice Cheeks, who can you get along with

Positive
Can Defend
Is long and athletic

RON ARTEST
Negatives
Numerous suspentions due to temper related issues
Stigma of going into the crowd and beating down a paying customer
Will cost the Kings dearly to get him (i.e. Peja)

Positives
2004 Defensive Player of the Year
Can score - averaged over 22ppg before suspension
Plays with unlimited intensity
Can play multiple positions
Every coach he plays for swears by him (Jarvis, Carlisle, Isaiah)
Great teammate

Would you take the risk or would you stand pat.

 

[Yoda]

Is this really who we are left with, other teams nightmares...with this chioce, I'll go with the rookies.

 

[Bricklayer]

I cannot even imagine why we'd want any part of Spree. He's done. And yet still a pain. It will be interesting to see who finally does sign him, if anybody. Basically, who's desperate?


I would chance either of the other two, if the price was right. Wells is cheaper, Artest is the huge impact player. Artest is the obvious choice, but it would all depend on the deals needed to get those guys.

 

[Londonking]

I wouldnt want to see any of our 'core' (Peja, Miller or Bibby) traded for any one of those three.

From what i can tell it would be very unlikely that we could get any of them without involving one of the above, so i voted to go with the rookies, though i recognise that Artest has the basketball attributes our team badly needs.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Meh Want Artest !

 

[Mad Iron]

It depends on what we'd have to give up, but Wells is the best option for the cheapest price. Still, I'd like to see what our younger guys are capable of. I'll stick with them.

 

[kings4life]

ok your saying you wouldnt trade peja for artest.well artest never chokes in the playoffs like peja.artest is not soft like peja.and your saying you wouldnt trade peja for artest.well i dont know what your thinking but i would trade him.bibby,artest,miller sounds like a better group.

 

[Rowdyone]

Meh Want Artest !

While I'd go with Artest I really don't think Indy is going to part with him. All of their off-season has been devoted to preparing their fans for his return by saying that they don't need to acquire any FA's because they have to solid contributors coming back off of injury (Jones) and suspension. Of course whats put out for public consumption isn't necessarily what they really think so, pehaps, GP can pry him loose.

 

[Yoda]

ok your saying you wouldnt trade peja for artest.well artest never chokes in the playoffs like peja.artest is not soft like peja.and your saying you wouldnt trade peja for artest.well i dont know what your thinking but i would trade him.bibby,artest,miller sounds like a better group.

While Peja was playing in the platoffs, Artest was producing rap albums. Ill take the choker over the non-playing album promoter.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

It would be great to get Artest, but there is no way IMO that Indy is letting him go. Spree is washed up and too injured. However, I really believe that the realistic option is Bonzi Wells.

 

[bibby-the-man]

Artest

 

[Kev.in]

I vote for Artest, but the way things are now, Indiana has to hold onto him. He's devoted to coming back a better, more stable player/person. Trading him now could definitely come back to burn them. They have to give him a chance and then decide whether or not to trade him. He's too good to just give up on and Peja isn't looking as attractive as he did this time last year.

 

[G_M]

Artest is probably the best defender in the league. Not only that, be he has become a "scorer." The problem is that he is NUTS! I mean clinically psychotic. No gurantee he won't stray off his meds, blow up and then he's out of the league.

Talent and heart wise I would take him over Peja in a SECOND!

 

[G_M]

It would be great to get Artest, but there is no way IMO that Indy is letting him go.

I seem to recall that Indy was shopping him last offseason. They have talked about that at length on 1140am. Is that not true? It seems odd that if they were interested in dealing him prebrawl that they wouldn't at least take a look at it now.

They drafted Granger and they have Jones also as a SF.

 

[Bricklayer]

I seem to recall that Indy was shopping him last offseason. They have talked about that at length on 1140am. Is that not true? It seems odd that if they were interested in dealing him prebrawl that they wouldn't at least take a look at it now.

They drafted Granger and they have Jones also as a SF.

Yep, but if that means that they can actually afford to let Artest go, they wouldn't need Peja as a SF to replace him. No idea WHAT they would need. But if it wasn't Peja and tinsely Jones emerged to make the PG look ok...hopefully not Brad? Maybe an OG, but the only one we had with real value just walked out the door.

Anyway, while Bonzi seems a comparatively safe and sane and realistic option, if Indiana really had no use/interest in our three core guys I would obviously give up any player, or combination of players, that Indiana wanted from the rest of our roster to get Artest. I just can't see them doing that though.

 

[VF21]

There's a big difference between the title of the thread and the actual question in the poll. I picked Artest, but only in the context of the question: "Which player would you choose for your starting 2 guard?" That doesn't mean I think the Kings should take a chance on him, especially considering the price we'd have to pay.

I would not touch Sprewell under any circumstances. I still think he should have been banned for life for choking a coach...

 

[foretaz]

as an indiana fan, most all of us are looking forward to seeing ron back on the court...it isnt a stretch to say the incident in november was a very drastic exception to what had become a decent improvement in the way artest handled himself...

spending a year away and getting the therapy in that time would seem to indicate that things will be even better....

im not sure if its accurate to say he was shopped last offseason....he was mentioned in a trade to get tmac....not sure thats shopping someone....tmac is arguably the only player better than artest at his position...

depending on who u ask, the kings and pacers had peja/artest conversations...

i would say this....i truly dont believe the pacers would take peja for artest...

maybe last year they wouldve , who knows...but with everything that has happened i think they probably believe hes a much smaller risk now....

frankly, i dont see a trade with the kings involving artest that would make much sense....bibby wouldnt be much of an upgrade over tinsley...why would we want peja instead of artest?....miller, well who knows...but there was a reason he was let go...primarily his contract and inability to stay healthy for a whole season....those things havent changed....

...of the list bonzi seems the most attainable....though im sure spree could be had as well-though i think bonzi is the better player right now....i just dont think artest could be had by the kings even if they wanted him pretty bad....

i like the kings...theyre one of my favs outside the pacers...i just think they are in for a long road....i dont see them winning much more than 30 games the next year or 2....they did what a lot of teams do.....they make a huge run at the title...and they were close a few times....but that run was made at the expense of the future, as often happens....and now its time to pay the piper , it would seem....

and while i understand the 2 guard talk with dc being gone as well as his replacement....but i think the front line is much more of a concern, despite having peja and miller....

 

[Bricklayer]

...why would we want peja instead of artest?....

I wouldn't do it either, but the answer (or at least the argument) would seem fairly obvious:

1) sane
2) outside shooting compliments Jermaine
3) plays a similar game to a certain recently retired OG and could probably run some of those same sets with more prolific socring at this point in his career.
4) always hope Bird could take him under his wing and show him a thing or two

 

[G_M]

i like the kings...theyre one of my favs outside the pacers...i just think they are in for a long road....i dont see them winning much more than 30 games the next year or 2....

Sorry, but with no changes to the line-up and normal health the Kings are still a 45-50 win team.

The Raptors and Knicks won 33 games last year!

 

[tyrant]

as an indiana fan, most all of us are looking forward to seeing ron back on the court...it isnt a stretch to say the incident in november was a very drastic exception to what had become a decent improvement in the way artest handled himself...

spending a year away and getting the therapy in that time would seem to indicate that things will be even better....

im not sure if its accurate to say he was shopped last offseason....he was mentioned in a trade to get tmac....not sure thats shopping someone....tmac is arguably the only player better than artest at his position...

depending on who u ask, the kings and pacers had peja/artest conversations...

i would say this....i truly dont believe the pacers would take peja for artest...

maybe last year they wouldve , who knows...but with everything that has happened i think they probably believe hes a much smaller risk now....

frankly, i dont see a trade with the kings involving artest that would make much sense....bibby wouldnt be much of an upgrade over tinsley...why would we want peja instead of artest?....miller, well who knows...but there was a reason he was let go...primarily his contract and inability to stay healthy for a whole season....those things havent changed....

...of the list bonzi seems the most attainable....though im sure spree could be had as well-though i think bonzi is the better player right now....i just dont think artest could be had by the kings even if they wanted him pretty bad....

i like the kings...theyre one of my favs outside the pacers...i just think they are in for a long road....i dont see them winning much more than 30 games the next year or 2....they did what a lot of teams do.....they make a huge run at the title...and they were close a few times....but that run was made at the expense of the future, as often happens....and now its time to pay the piper , it would seem....

and while i understand the 2 guard talk with dc being gone as well as his replacement....but i think the front line is much more of a concern, despite having peja and miller....

helps indiana's shooting. helps sacramento's defense, post game and toughness.

 

[Fillmoe]

id take artest in a quick second... wouldnt even hesitate to pull the trigger!

 

[VF21]

as an indiana fan, most all of us are looking forward to seeing ron back on the court...it isnt a stretch to say the incident in november was a very drastic exception to what had become a decent improvement in the way artest handled himself...

spending a year away and getting the therapy in that time would seem to indicate that things will be even better....

im not sure if its accurate to say he was shopped last offseason....he was mentioned in a trade to get tmac....not sure thats shopping someone....tmac is arguably the only player better than artest at his position...

depending on who u ask, the kings and pacers had peja/artest conversations...

i would say this....i truly dont believe the pacers would take peja for artest...

maybe last year they wouldve , who knows...but with everything that has happened i think they probably believe hes a much smaller risk now....

frankly, i dont see a trade with the kings involving artest that would make much sense....bibby wouldnt be much of an upgrade over tinsley...why would we want peja instead of artest?....miller, well who knows...but there was a reason he was let go...primarily his contract and inability to stay healthy for a whole season....those things havent changed....

...of the list bonzi seems the most attainable....though im sure spree could be had as well-though i think bonzi is the better player right now....i just dont think artest could be had by the kings even if they wanted him pretty bad....

i like the kings...theyre one of my favs outside the pacers...i just think they are in for a long road....i dont see them winning much more than 30 games the next year or 2....they did what a lot of teams do.....they make a huge run at the title...and they were close a few times....but that run was made at the expense of the future, as often happens....and now its time to pay the piper , it would seem....

and while i understand the 2 guard talk with dc being gone as well as his replacement....but i think the front line is much more of a concern, despite having peja and miller....

You've made some good points. I certainly hope the one I've highlighted isn't true...but I'm not going to sit here and say that isn't one of my biggest fears.

 

[G_M]

You've made some good points. I certainly hope the one I've highlighted isn't true...but I'm not going to sit here and say that isn't one of my biggest fears.

The thing is we still have several pieces from the "RUN." It's not like we traded away young studs chasing aging veterans just to put us over the top.

The only negative to being successful the way the Kings have been is years of crappy draft position and increased expectations.

Man, it was so much easier when we SUCKED!

 

[foretaz]

Sorry, but with no changes to the line-up and normal health the Kings are still a 45-50 win team.

The Raptors and Knicks won 33 games last year!

we will agree to disagree then...ur saying the kings will be as good as they were last year....

i cant see that...

k thomas at the pf all year versus webber the majority of the year...

probably a downgrade at the sg slot...

i hope im wrong....i really do....but i just cant see them being as good as they were last year....

and i can see them being very similar to the raptors or the knicks...

time will tell

 

[VF21]

Man, it was so much easier when we SUCKED!

In all honesty, I think I could accept the basement again better than the real chance of just being mediocre. Mediocre just blows...

Remember the really good old days when we actually thought Joe Kleine was our greatest hope?



Those were the days...

 

[foretaz]

helps indiana's shooting. helps sacramento's defense, post game and toughness.

it would only marginally improve the shooting, though i wouldnt argue who the better shooter is....though artest had improved to shooting 40 percent from behind the arc before he made his exit last season....

i realize it helps sacramento....doesnt do much for us

we can improve our outside shooting without ridding ourselves of the best defensive player in the league who will probably average 20 points a game as well....

 

[G_M]

we will agree to disagree then...ur saying the kings will be as good as they were last year....

Maybe not as good but there is a BIG GAPING hole between 30wins and what they did last year. The X factor would be injuries. They still have plenty of talent not just championship talent.

They were 1 game over .500 after the trade.

Believe me, I want them to make a couple changes I just don't see them going to 30 wins if they don't. Not only would Adelman and Petrie be fired but season ticket holder would flee in droves!

 

[foretaz]

Maybe not as good but there is a BIG GAPING hole between 30wins and what they did last year. The X factor would be injuries. They still have plenty of talent not just championship talent.

They were 1 game over .500 after the trade.

Believe me, I want them to make a couple changes I just don't see them going to 30 wins if they don't. Not only would Adelman and Petrie be fired but season ticket holder would flee in droves!

even 30 win teams have a couple of really good players...

a .500 club after the trade...and like i said, it appears there might be a downgrade at sg....as the team becomes less talented it becomes easier for defenses to key on the people they need to stop....

the most discouraging thing to me is this....everyone agrees they need upgrades.....but how are they going to do that? they have the MLE....but outside of that, what? trade? who do they have that anyone would realistically want that will in turn provide them with an upgrade?....i just dont see pieces there that will be able to get an upgrade accomplished....i dont see anything, if im portland, that i would give serious consideration to if i were to do a S & T for shareef....especially when they are in a cost cutting mode...same for memphis....and boston...

so then it comes to being able to lure a player there with the MLE or vet exception....and in all fairness, these guys appear to want to go somewhere else...bonzi is interested because hes interested in anyone that would take him.....so that might be a shot...he wanted indy or detroit.....i m almost positive indy wont touch him....and i have my doubts whether detroit would, but they might....

and thats probably their best chance....take a chance on a guy that doesnt have many options, and hope it pans out.....thats not a real great scenario...

 

[Yoda]

even 30 win teams have a couple of really good players...

a .500 club after the trade...and like i said, it appears there might be a downgrade at sg....as the team becomes less talented it becomes easier for defenses to key on the people they need to stop....

the most discouraging thing to me is this....everyone agrees they need upgrades.....but how are they going to do that? they have the MLE....but outside of that, what? trade? who do they have that anyone would realistically want that will in turn provide them with an upgrade?....i just dont see pieces there that will be able to get an upgrade accomplished....i dont see anything, if im portland, that i would give serious consideration to if i were to do a S & T for shareef....especially when they are in a cost cutting mode...same for memphis....and boston...

so then it comes to being able to lure a player there with the MLE or vet exception....and in all fairness, these guys appear to want to go somewhere else...bonzi is interested because hes interested in anyone that would take him.....so that might be a shot...he wanted indy or detroit.....i m almost positive indy wont touch him....and i have my doubts whether detroit would, but they might....

and thats probably their best chance....take a chance on a guy that doesnt have many options, and hope it pans out.....thats not a real great scenario...

What is your point? Why are you coming on a Kings message board insisting we such and are know a 30 win team?
Are you having a bad day?

 

[VF21]

Yoda - foretaz is a member of PacersDigest and he's giving a different viewpoint. I see no problem with it. He's not a troll; he's not here to cause problems. It's interesting IMHO to see how fans of other teams are viewing the current situation the Kings are in. Never hurts to put a different perspective on things, does it?