If Artest expendable...?

[HaraWish]

It may be too early, but I've been in the "Move Artest" camp.

Though it's just four games, Salmons and Garcia played well. At this stage, I think Artest may be expendable. Yeah, I know. Artest is much better than Salmons or Garcia, but IMHO with or without Artest, our team will be in the same level.

And our urgent holes are PG and frontcourt, as everyone knows.

Can we have some a young PG, who has a potential to a starting PG, or just solid PF by trading Artest? Do you have any ideas which teams are interested in Artest?

 

[VF21]

Salmons and Garcia may have played "well," but they aren't Ron Artest.

Having said that, however, I think Artest's case is unique. He's still a ticking time-bomb to a lot of the league, which makes it a bit harder to move him. We've seen how he can do with a coach like Adelman; unfortunately, we also saw what could happen with a coach like Musselman.

I think we need to see how Artest does under the tutelage of Reggie Theus before we can really gauge his possible value to other teams. Just like there are a lot of considerations to be made for teams thinking about Kobe Bryant, there are also a lot of considerations to be made for any team/owner thinking about Ron Artest.

In this situation, I think the true pressure will be on the team taking him so it's not so much "is Artest expendable" as in "is Artest affordable" for the team on the other end of the deal.

 

[PurpleHaze]

We've talked about this repeatedly here since everyone (I thought) knows that both Bibby and Artest have been on the trading block for many months. Artest was rumored to be part of a deal to Miami, part of another deal to Lakers, Clippers, and on and on. Petrie didn't pull the trigger because of the crap he was offered in return. With Bibby now injured probably Artest is likely to go sooner rather than later - but the Kings are not going to just give him away for nothing. Of course, he's a free agent after this season anyway.

 

[VF21]

I don't think he's a free agent; I think he has an ETO, which is a subtle but distinct difference. He could choose to stay with the Kings for the final year (2008-2009) of his contract.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Yes, his ETO is for $7.4 mil for this season and another $7.4 mil next if he exercises it with the Kings. I would assume how he plays when he comes back over his final 74 games will be big for him personally, the Kings organization, and the league in deciding Artest's true market value - if he becomes a free agent.

 

[NewArena]

I just want to see if artest plays more in the post this season, last year he did play great from january until the end of the season. He was unselfish and shot a great percentage.

 

[6th]

I just want to see if artest plays more in the post this season, last year he did play great from january until the end of the season. He was unselfish and shot a great percentage.

Good point. I am thinking of the pre-season play though. Theus seemed to have him playing as a team player. I have a little concern that with all the losing (while Artest is out), he will feel the need to come back and take the team on his back. If he does that defensively......fine. If he helps to direct the offense (he can really pass the ball)......that is fine too. I just do not want to see a selfish player who thinks he has to take all the shots. Hopefully, Reggie will keep him under control. We shall see.

 

[VF21]

I just want to see if artest plays more in the post this season, last year he did play great from january until the end of the season. He was unselfish and shot a great percentage.

My wish is to see him rotate over on occasion to the 4.

 

[Widowmaker2k]

Is Artest expendable? That's an interesting question. The Kings are at an interesting point right now, value is really dependant on what players can bring to the team in the future, not so much what they bring right now. If he can stay sane and remain a top 2-way player for years to come, then he's absolutely not expendable. If he's already peaked and ready to begin the twilight years of his career, then trade him asap.

Here's a question about Artest...is his game more skill based or talent based? Is he good because he's a smart basketball player or because he's athletic? It seems that smart players are relevant much later into their respective careers then are athletic beasts. Is Artest part of the 'now' team, or the 'future' team (or both)?

 

[Bricklayer]

Answer = yes.

And we were already in talks once this season to do it. And that was before it looked like Salmons would be able to put up numbers there. Not a question of talent -- Ron Artest would kick John Salmons butt on the court every day of the week and twice on Sundays. But of Salmons/Martin/Cisco being good enough for the time being (given our current goals), all playing a similar style (skinny little uptempo guys) and none really getting in the other's way. And since we have major holes to fill, and youth/picks needed, Ron has far more potential to bring some of that back than either Salmons (who would need to do this for a year at least before he would have major value) or Cisco (ditto).

Now from Reggie's persepctive, the answer is probably no, since he has no depth as he;s mentioned. But form ours? Yes.

P.S. An ETO is actually worse than free agency for us. Means we do not and cannot know how its going to play out, same thing for other teams. Makes it ever harder to trade, and impossible to plan. Another implosion year leaves you stuck paying an unmoveable contract for aguy you don't want. A good year has him declaring free agency and suddenly the threat is you lose him for nothing. Far better to know the score from the beginning of the year.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

Well we have to move one of Garcia, Salmons , Artest to even this team out and I would prefer Artest even though ihe is the best player on that list, Salmons has been playing great and couold draw soem pretty good offers though. This team has to be balanced and those players are good enough fo any teams rotation we should be able to get a decent PF/C or PG/Pick out of this.

 

[HaraWish]

Ok. It's a good idea to modifiy the title of the thread a little bit.

From "If Artest is expendable..." to "Will Artest be included in the future plan of the kings?"

I guess it's more close to what I wanted to talk. Artest is a good player. But he is not the center piece for the buliding the team. IMO he will be a good last piece to some elite team, if they willing to have Artest.

We have to build a new team. We have to prepare post-Bibby and to adjust the weak frontcourt. Unfortunately our trading cards are very limited. Maybe only Bibby and Artest. Bibby is out for several weeks. So I just wonder if there is any team which is interested in Artest, also which provide us a young and potentially starting PG or a solid PF.

My wish is to see him rotate over on occasion to the 4.

BTW I never thought about it, but it'll be interesting. At the last game with Sonics, when they use small lineup, coach Theus used Douby-Martin-Salmons-Garcia-Miller. Maybe he can occasionally put Artest to the 4.

 

[ParniValjak]

My wish is to see him rotate over on occasion to the 4.

My wish is to see him traded before he goes off again!

 

['89 Kings Fan]

My wish is to see him rotate over on occasion to the 4.

At this point I would not be surprised to see Reggie start him at the 4 when he comes back. Is there any reason to bench Garcia for Mikki Moore? Garcia is getting more points, assists and blocks per 48 and they are both getting about 6.5 rebounds per 48 as well. And you cannot bench Salmons when he is getting 20/5/5.

 

[Semi]

At this point I would not be surprised to see Reggie start him at the 4 when he comes back. Is there any reason to bench Garcia for Mikki Moore? Garcia is getting more points, assists and blocks per 48 and they are both getting about 6.5 rebounds per 48 as well. And you cannot bench Salmons when he is getting 20/5/5.

Yes, there is. Almost no scoring from your bench.

 

[mcsluggo]

How can the player that can push the kings into rarified "championship contender" space be expendable? Perhaps if the kings weren't "just one piece away" from greatness, we could be having this discussion... but how can we possibly consider tinkering with this juggernaught? Where is the risk/reward analysis from messing with success?

 

[VF21]

How can the player that can push the kings into rarified "championship contender" space be expendable? Perhaps if the kings weren't "just one piece away" from greatness, we could be having this discussion... but how can we possibly consider tinkering with this juggernaught? Where is the risk/reward analysis from messing with success?

Boy, where's the "beware of toxic sarcasm" emotiocon when you really need it?

 

[Vlade4GM]

yeppers