=LarryLegend=
Starter
I think i just threw up in my mouth.
To be within 25% we actually need a second player included in the deal, whether it is Kleiza or not (Najera earns $4.9mil).
I could see things working any number of ways, including bigger deals involving Nene as well as Najera with us sending something like SAR back with Ron, or JR Smith as the second player insteasd of Kleiza -- a player I doubt we want, so maybe we try to get a third team involved to take him.
I can't believe this deal is being held up by a player named Linas.(actually the bigger issues might be Ron's nuttiness added to an already twitchy crew, Karl feeling the noose tightening about his throat with an uncoachable lockerroom, and the utter salary cap hell the Nuggets would be looking at next year with all their big dumb contracts stacked up ($22mil to Iverson, $14mil to Melo, $14mil to Kenyon, $10mil to Nene, $8mil to Camby) and Ron looking for a big raise as well
I think you are being a bit over dramatic.I think i just threw up in my mouth.
Whatever happens with Kleiza or Artest, you have to love this high stakes game of chicken. We often knock his inaction, but Petrie did very well holding off from trading Bibby when there was a lot of pressure to do so. He's got some guts.
I could be wrong here, but I think JR is expiring this year. If we don't like him we could just use him as an expiring and let him walk. Only thing is, I'm not sure Denver gives up a 1st round pick along with Smith and Najera.
He's also a pariah with the I.Q. of a shrubbery, and the way the Nuggets are acting, I think they may be higher on Kleiza. How, they think Rn, Melo and Kleiza are all going to be able to play together out there I do not know.
on a side note, do you think lue is really hurt? if its a sprain....does he still move?
Can't see anyone having much interest in Lue. At least, they wouldn't be willing to make us an offer that would be better to us than Lues expiring. I'd take a second rounder, but don't think any takers. I think the injury was just that, an injury.
Amick just updated his blog post:
(10:40 a.m.):
Add San Antonio to the list of teams that will try to steal Ron Artest.
I don't see Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie biting, but I'm told that the Spurs will (or maybe have) offer the expiring contracts of Francisco Elson and Brent Barry (combined $8.54 million) for Artest. A draft pick would likely be available, too, but this would seem to be yet another low-ball offer as the Kings see it. But if it did happen and Ron was united with the team he demolished in the playoffs two years ago? Oooweee. The rich would be filthy rich...
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/
Hmmmmmmmmmm.......
Why do that deal when you can deal with Denver or Houston which will most likely offer better picks? It's too bad San Antonio already got rid of Luis Scola.
The Kings problem right now is that they are unlucky enough to where the main teams that wanted Artest (Denver & Houston) are on fire right now and don't feel as pressured to deal their young talent. San Antonio is not playing as well so they feel more pressured to make a move but unfortunately they just don't have the young talent we need. I guess Tiago Splitter is an option but who knows if he will even come to play in the NBA.
Rights to Tiago Splitter would be the tipper I would think.
Also I think at this point only about three games seperate San Antonio and Denver, so the picks are likely going to be in the same range. I do like the greater liklihood that the Nuggets will be the power team left out of the playoffs, thus giving us a second lottery pick. But if the Spurs would thrwo in Splitter I would be pretty happy. He sank so far in the draft after being scouted so extensively over the years I wonder now if teams finally concluded he really wasn't a lottery talent afterall, but he's still another young big who has always been considered an NBA lock, and if you get one young big out of Bibby (Shelden) and one out of Ron (Splitter), while assuring yourself of $20 mil in cleared caproom this offseason, well...
The reasons I prefer Denver's pick is like you said they could be the team that gets left out and also even if they make the playoffs I would expect San Antonio to go farther because of their experience. Either way we get a draft pick though which is better than nothing if we don't trade at all..
Sorry for the exclamation points... i'm just super excited for anything to happen with our Kings!
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/
February 20, 2008
Artest staying...for now
12:22 p.m.
The Spurs may be nearing a deal for Artest, although it's also believed Denver may finally be willing to give up Linas Kleiza. Of course, my flight from Portland to Sacramento is at this very moment, so we'll see where things stand when I land.