Joe Maloof Says "Kings Want to Extend Ron Artest"

[D13]

Stated well VF21...

...but if there is anything professional about the Kings as a organization, I have to have faith they are strong enough to handle things.

I doubt there is anything we see that management and coaching doesn't... if they believe he is an asset, why can't we??? Are we that all knowing?

 

[VF21]

Don't you think Indiana felt the same way? They thought they were professional and strong, too. And look what happened to them.

I don't think it's a matter of us seeing things they don't. If anything, they see a lot of stuff we don't and are in a much better position to judge. BUT the difference is they aren't going to come onto a sports message board and hypothesize and play "what if"... They have to make choices that could have a drastic effect on the team.

The bad part about that is the CBA. If we do re-sign him, and then something happens, it could all end very badly. Will it happen? I sure don't know...but I'd hate to convince myself it won't and then find out he's decided to join the peace corps or something.

His thought process just isn't the same as most people I've ever encountered. And it scares me because of what it could do to my beloved Kings.

 

[Bibby_10]

Indeed, Ron Artest has been in the league 9 years now, had maybe 2-3 winning seasons in those 9 years, and made it out of the first round once (in which season he was a second fiddle). He screams centerpiece to a championship contender to me.

So who is the centerpiece for this title contender?

R. Hamilton
C. Billups
R. Wallace
T. Prince
A. McDyess

Ron is arguably better than anyone on the starting 5 of the Detroit Pistons.
Had the Detroit incident not happened the Pacers would have spanked the Pistons that year and been in the finals against the Spurs.

 

[KingsFan93]

Indeed, Ron Artest has been in the league 9 years now, had maybe 2-3 winning seasons in those 9 years, and made it out of the first round once (in which season he was a second fiddle). He screams centerpiece to a championship contender to me.

Exactly, he wasn't surrounded by the right people.

 

[Spike]

Exactly, he wasn't surrounded by the right people.

And who WOULD the right people be? Seems like Indiana had a pretty good team before the melt down. He's not a transition offense sort of player, and he holds on to the ball waaay to long on offense. He likes to play inside, which means a high post center would be good. If anything he needs to be paired with a prolific shooter (hmm) who can hit the open shot, and focus on working within the framework of the offense. The problem is that he THINKS he's the offense, thereby stagnating movement. He feels he can do everything all the time, and he's just not that guy. Oddly enough, if he learns ball movement a little better, he could possibly fit well with what's currently being crafted - if you think of team moves focusing around Artest.
I'm not a big Artest fan. I worry about the implosion, mostly because if we build around him, it could all crumble. That said, his skill is undeniable.

 

[VF21]

Exactly, he wasn't surrounded by the right people.

You do realize the flapping sound you heard was Brick's comments going right over your head, don't you?

Our Bricklayer is a master of sarcasm. Unfortunately, that's one style of prose that doesn't often translate well onto the Internet. This was one of those times...

 

[Oscar]

The Artest experiment is so over. 3 years - one 8th seed and 2 years in a row out of the playoffs, off the court incidents, peculiar statements in the press. It's time to let Ron Ron loose to cause trouble on another team.

 

[FakeInjury]

The Artest experiment is so over. 3 years - one 8th seed and 2 years in a row out of the playoffs, off the court incidents, peculiar statements in the press. It's time to let Ron Ron loose to cause trouble on another team.

I agree. Except for the fact that he is more valuable are artificial bait. When other teams want him and cant have him, it creates artificial demand. That demand could serve the kings more than letting him loose. I would like to extend him, but, i would think his agent would balk at anything less than near max money. It all depends on Ron. If he thinks he can stay healthy another season in SAC under current contract, he would be traded to a team of his choice. And potentially earn more money if that team makes a serious playoff run. Otherwise, the market is limited to few teams. It would do him better to get traded to a team with more talent.

 

[bajaden]

Well I have no idea what the Spurs owners look like, and a very good one of what Donald Sterling looks like in his courtside seats. Not sure there is much of a connection between loving the attention/limelight and winning.

The Maloofs are free to show up to Arco whenver they would like -- its their team. But when combiend with their actions and public statements watching them show up to go bonkers over us collecting our 31st win of the season is always going to call into question whetehr they really get it or not. If that is even still in question. At least if they stayed away you could infer they were unhappy about the current situation and ready for change.

Come on Bricky. Anyone can infer something about anything. You know that. This whole discussion is pointless in my opinion. In reality, there's nothing the Maloffs or Petrie can do of a major nature, barring a trade, until after the 2009-2010 season. If major changes aren't made during that off season, then I'll be the first one throwing mud in their direction.

 

[bajaden]

If the Maloff's want to keep Ron for another year, I have no problem with it. He's still a tradable commodity. The Knicks have a vision of signing him in the off season. Who know's maybe even Denver has aspirations of signing him. We resign him and there's the possibility of getting something for him. Thats better than just letting him walk. At the very least, he helps the team win a few games.

To sign him to an extension is another matter altogether. Its one thing to be tied to an 8 mil a year contract for one year. Its another thing to sign him to a, lets say 5 yr contract for 12 to 14 mil a year. If he's hard to move at 8 mil year, he would be impossible to move at a higher number. No way Jose....

 

[Heuge]

Exactly, he wasn't surrounded by the right people.

This response made my Saturday!

 

[NewArena]

Ron-Ron is now officially doomed. If you recall, any time the Maloofs say something like that, the end is near. Ask Chris, Peja or even Bobby Jackson.

And one other thing? What else could he say? That they think he's a nutjob and want him gone? That wouldn't be good for anyone. Neither Joe or Gavin would possibly say anything different at this point in time. I'm not saying he's being untruthful; I'm simply saying what he says to Jim Rome is meaningless in the long term.

Sounds like wishful thinking, i honestly think the maloofs are intent on bringing ron back.

 

[upinsmoke]

It only makes sense considering he is the best player on the team hands down. I hope we ship Millers @ss out of town.

 

[Gary]

I think Ron will walk. He is worth more than what we are paying him by about 5 mil per year...

Don't see any reason we keep Ron unless we are trying to build around him.

 

[bloom]

Like some people said, do people expect our owner to say? If he said that he wanted to trade Ron I would be shocked and disappointed in his/their statement. That’s why I love the way Geoff talks, he dances and jumps right over the subject, never giving you any real idea of what he’s thinking or planning to do (yeah, it drives me crazy sometimes but he’s smart). Plus, it could increase Ron’s value. But I think if he stays a lot of teams will bite, considering it’s his last year and it seems that he’s slowly maturing.

In a way, I like Ron to not opt-out of his contract, that way we can trade him for someone who might have a place with this team.

I really think Denver was dumb about not making the trade for Ron. Not because we didn’t get rid of Ron, but because he could have helped them this year and maybe even next year, if he doesn’t opt out. And from the looks of it Denver is probably not making the playoffs.

It only makes sense considering he is the best player on the team hands down. I hope we ship Millers @ss out of town.

But the question is, is he the best player for this team?

 

[upinsmoke]

I cant wait for the future if indeed the Kings keep artest only good things will come from it.

 

[KingsFan93]

This response made my Saturday!

I'm glad it did

 

[KingsFan93]

And who WOULD the right people be?

It starts with a solid PF who can rebound and block a couple of shots, it also has to do with the whole team providing hussle and effort on D, instead of just one man show from Ron - you would then make your opponents average in the nineties and things would be in a much better shape.

Seems like Indiana had a pretty good team before the melt down. He's not a transition offense sort of player, and he holds on to the ball waaay to long on offense. He likes to play inside, which means a high post center would be good. If anything he needs to be paired with a prolific shooter (hmm) who can hit the open shot, and focus on working within the framework of the offense. The problem is that he THINKS he's the offense, thereby stagnating movement. He feels he can do everything all the time, and he's just not that guy. Oddly enough, if he learns ball movement a little better, he could possibly fit well with what's currently being crafted - if you think of team moves focusing around Artest.

The thing is, Kings fans still think that offense could make them a contender once again; the days of C-Webb, J-Will and Peja are long gone; time to make this a power team on D. Ron is not the best offensive player out there, however he's arguably the best defensive guy a team can get on the SF spot. He also provides points, assists and rebounds - which make him a well-rounded player.

I wasn't making the point that Ron should be the number 1 option on O, and I believe that with the right team chemistry and direction, he would fit in his role as #2 or even #3 option on offense.

I'm not a big Artest fan. I worry about the implosion, mostly because if we build around him, it could all crumble. That said, his skill is undeniable.

He's not gonna implode anytime soon, so enjoy him instead of worrying

 

[Bricklayer]

I cant wait for the future if indeed the Kings keep artest only good things will come from it.

Indeed -- so much good has already come from it that it throws me into spasms of ecstasy just thinking about it.

 

[Jerryaki]

The thing is, Kings fans still think that offense could make them a contender once again; the days of C-Webb, J-Will and Peja are long gone; time to make this a power team on D. Ron is not the best offensive player out there, however he's arguably the best defensive guy a team can get on the SF spot. He also provides points, assists and rebounds - which make him a well-rounded player.

with the countless threads harping on the need for size, rebounding, and shotblocking, i really don't see how kings fans (at least the ones on this board) think that offense is the priority right now.

and ron artest has talent, but does he really lock down guys anymore? i'd have to go back and look at box scores and game footage, but i don't think he's as good defensively as he once was. people have a tendency to cast players into roles, and never realize that those players may not fit any more. "ron is one of the best two way players in the game"...that was like 3 years ago.

 

[DirtyAcres]

and ron artest has talent, but does he really lock down guys anymore?

Yes.

"ron is one of the best two way players in the game"...that was like 3 years ago.

Still applies.

 

[Jerryaki]

if you say so. ::shrugs::

 

[VF21]

and ron artest has talent, but does he really lock down guys anymore? i'd have to go back and look at box scores and game footage, but i don't think he's as good defensively as he once was. people have a tendency to cast players into roles, and never realize that those players may not fit any more. "ron is one of the best two way players in the game"...that was like 3 years ago.

I'll agree whole-heartedly with this concern. Maybe it's just me, but I'm not seeing the defensive "lock downs" anywhere near as much as I'm seeing Ron trying to do way too much on the offensive end of the court.

 

[Spike]

Indeed -- so much good has already come from it that it throws me into spasms of ecstasy just thinking about it.

You too?

[/sarcasm]

 

[Gary]

The thing is, Kings fans still think that offense could make them a contender once again; the days of C-Webb, J-Will and Peja are long gone; time to make this a power team on D. Ron is not the best offensive player out there, however he's arguably the best defensive guy a team can get on the SF spot. He also provides points, assists and rebounds - which make him a well-rounded player.

His points come from him taking too many shots, his assists come from bail out buckets after he has held the ball too long, passing to another player who has to instantly shoot. Don't let his "stats" deceive you.

I wasn't making the point that Ron should be the number 1 option on O, and I believe that with the right team chemistry and direction, he would fit in his role as #2 or even #3 option on offense.

You are totally 100% correct, but in Ron's mind he is the number one option. How do you tell Ron not to hold the ball, or get pissed if he isn't passed the ball? You can't.. That's the way he is, and that's the way he's going to continue to be. You can't tell Ron he's the 2nd option when in his mind he's higher than the first option.. It doesn't work that way.

He's not gonna implode anytime soon, so enjoy him instead of worrying

You have no idea whether or not it's going to happen. Odds are he will keep doing things that pee the coaches and teammates off. He has the WHOLE year.. He got mad and threw a fit when Bibby didn't pass him the ball. Remember that? He got pulled from the game, and was going crazy. Call it competitiveness or craziness. Either way it's bad for the team. There is a right way and a wrong way to do things.

Look, I totally wouldn't mind Ron staying, but we would have to build around him. We can't bring in players like K-Mart or Salmons because those two obviously cannot play with Artest. We would have to change a lot of things on this team if we were to keep Artest. Even if we did everything Ron wanted to who's to say he won't go crazy one day and retire? Then where would we be? It's best for the Kings if we let him walk.

 

[NoBonus]

I did not actually hear the interview, and so can't try to do the tea leaf reading nuance interpretation thing, but while the above is always possible and very much a glass half full viewpoint, I have learned over the last half decade that the glass is very rarely half full when it comes to our decisionmakers. Everytime I have ventured to give them credit for an ounce of intelligence, it has turned out they are even dimmer than I feared. Do not be shocked if they mean exactly what they say here.

I have been around long enough to not expect too much, but one can always hope.

 

[upinsmoke]

Bottom line is all the negative things that have happend to the kings this year have nothing to do with artest he plays both sides hard every night. Ron is a player that if teamed up with the right players can make a legit run in the playoffs. But for now the kings have almost no bench, a soft as a pillow center and in my opinion one of the worst pf's in the whole nba in mikki moore. None of which are not Rons fault.

 

[Warhawk]

Bottom line is all the negative things that have happend to the kings this year have nothing to do with artest he plays both sides hard when he feels like playing.

There, I fixed it for you.

 

[Spike]

There, I fixed it for you.

Good fix. Artest himself claims to take "games off to rest vs. weaker opponents." That's not the kind of person around whom I want to build my team. That's not "bringing it every night."

 

[upinsmoke]

Well there will always be Artest haters on this site no matter what happens on the court. I think some of you have made up your minds about artest and all i can say is your wrong. HATERS