http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/273770.html
Ailene Voisin: A trade no longer makes sense
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 15, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Ron Artest was in Africa on a goodwill tour, of all things, when the NBA announced Saturday that the Kings forward would be suspended for seven games for last season's bad acts.
And which particular bad acts were those, you ask? It does get confusing. You need a calendar and calculator to keep up. Brawls. Elbows. Obscene gestures. Failure to ensure that his dogs were adequately cared for during midseason road trips. And in this current, far more egregious incident, his inability to keep his hands off another person -- his wife, Kimsha -- during their much-publicized domestic incident last March.
Following his no-contest plea, he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project. The court of David Stern on Saturday followed with the suspension that will take place at the beginning of next season. Additionally, Artest is undergoing counseling and, according to Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, making unscheduled visits to local animal shelters.
All of which seems like a fair resolution to an ugly situation, and factoring in his repeated mea culpas, it looks and sounds eerily like Ron being Ron.
He does contrition like Bill Clinton. He messes up, sheds a few tears, shakes a few hands. He appears genuinely sincere about recasting his image and, more importantly, about changing his life. He's in Africa on a goodwill tour, for heaven's sake. He tries, he really tries.
In other words, given his complex, convoluted history, some good always follows the bad. He has a script and sticks to it. He plays his best after the brawls, the suspensions, the controversies, the trades. He gets his life and his act together ... for a while.
"Ron is still in his prime," said Petrie, calling on his cell phone from Las Vegas, "and he's getting near the end of his contract. He knows what he has to do. Sometimes it comes down to following your own advice."
Petrie, in fact, has become increasingly resistant to trading his most talented player, the recurring off-court issues and accompanying fan backlash notwithstanding. If far from untouchable -- the only King in that category is Kevin Martin -- retaining Artest in the short term makes too much sense on too many levels, foremost among them talent and salary cap considerations.
In some respects, this Artest-Kings pairing is the perfect relationship: It can end amicably when Artest opts out of his contract next offseason, or the parties can renew their vows and enter into a long-term commitment. (Don't bet the season tickets on that one.)
But right now Artest needs the Kings, and the Kings, who are rebuilding with a rookie coach and a swollen, unwieldy salary cap situation, absolutely need Artest. Or if not Artest, than a better-behaved equivalent and/or coveted future lottery pick. The stakes are high. By next February's trade deadline, when contenders become greedy, his value will be even higher.
Petrie has every reason to be patient and picky. Who in their right mind would give away the one player on the roster who can transform a game completely and alter a season (see 2006)?
The Kings have plenty of role players. Too many role players. What they need are stars, and preferably, at better prices. Indeed, Artest's 2007-08 salary ($7.8 million) is almost laughable when compared with most of his teammates'.
Brad Miller, for instance, who is chronically out of shape and uninspired, his productivity having diminished significantly since his two All-Star seasons in Sacramento, will earn $10.5 million. Mike Bibby, who remains miscast as a primary playmaker, is on the books for a ghastly $13.5 million and $14.5 million over the next two years. Kenny Thomas' earnings escalate from $7.3 million to $8.5 million in 2009-10.
At least when Artest is present -- OK, when not suspended, pursuing his rap career, or otherwise engaged in whatever -- work ethic and on-court contributions are never the issues. He arrives early and stays late for practice. He performs even when less than 100 percent healthy. And at public appearances and in a Kings locker room that, within the league, is regarded as one of the most unaccommodating and inhospitable, the Queens, N.Y., native is surprisingly accessible and cooperative.
"I like Ron," Petrie said. "I don't like some of the things he does. But you have to keep trying to help him."
And the team? Who helps the team?
Artest will help the team. He will improve the defense, respect Reggie Theus (he thought little of Eric Musselman), and well into another season, behave on and off the court. He will be the least of the Kings' problems. After that, the parties will part ways and move on. But while everyone eventually gives up on Artest, tiring of the constant commotion, Petrie would be crazy to give him away. Let others go first. Artest is too valuable.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com
Ailene Voisin: A trade no longer makes sense
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, July 15, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C1
Ron Artest was in Africa on a goodwill tour, of all things, when the NBA announced Saturday that the Kings forward would be suspended for seven games for last season's bad acts.
And which particular bad acts were those, you ask? It does get confusing. You need a calendar and calculator to keep up. Brawls. Elbows. Obscene gestures. Failure to ensure that his dogs were adequately cared for during midseason road trips. And in this current, far more egregious incident, his inability to keep his hands off another person -- his wife, Kimsha -- during their much-publicized domestic incident last March.
Following his no-contest plea, he was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and a 10-day work project. The court of David Stern on Saturday followed with the suspension that will take place at the beginning of next season. Additionally, Artest is undergoing counseling and, according to Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, making unscheduled visits to local animal shelters.
All of which seems like a fair resolution to an ugly situation, and factoring in his repeated mea culpas, it looks and sounds eerily like Ron being Ron.
He does contrition like Bill Clinton. He messes up, sheds a few tears, shakes a few hands. He appears genuinely sincere about recasting his image and, more importantly, about changing his life. He's in Africa on a goodwill tour, for heaven's sake. He tries, he really tries.
In other words, given his complex, convoluted history, some good always follows the bad. He has a script and sticks to it. He plays his best after the brawls, the suspensions, the controversies, the trades. He gets his life and his act together ... for a while.
"Ron is still in his prime," said Petrie, calling on his cell phone from Las Vegas, "and he's getting near the end of his contract. He knows what he has to do. Sometimes it comes down to following your own advice."
Petrie, in fact, has become increasingly resistant to trading his most talented player, the recurring off-court issues and accompanying fan backlash notwithstanding. If far from untouchable -- the only King in that category is Kevin Martin -- retaining Artest in the short term makes too much sense on too many levels, foremost among them talent and salary cap considerations.
In some respects, this Artest-Kings pairing is the perfect relationship: It can end amicably when Artest opts out of his contract next offseason, or the parties can renew their vows and enter into a long-term commitment. (Don't bet the season tickets on that one.)
But right now Artest needs the Kings, and the Kings, who are rebuilding with a rookie coach and a swollen, unwieldy salary cap situation, absolutely need Artest. Or if not Artest, than a better-behaved equivalent and/or coveted future lottery pick. The stakes are high. By next February's trade deadline, when contenders become greedy, his value will be even higher.
Petrie has every reason to be patient and picky. Who in their right mind would give away the one player on the roster who can transform a game completely and alter a season (see 2006)?
The Kings have plenty of role players. Too many role players. What they need are stars, and preferably, at better prices. Indeed, Artest's 2007-08 salary ($7.8 million) is almost laughable when compared with most of his teammates'.
Brad Miller, for instance, who is chronically out of shape and uninspired, his productivity having diminished significantly since his two All-Star seasons in Sacramento, will earn $10.5 million. Mike Bibby, who remains miscast as a primary playmaker, is on the books for a ghastly $13.5 million and $14.5 million over the next two years. Kenny Thomas' earnings escalate from $7.3 million to $8.5 million in 2009-10.
At least when Artest is present -- OK, when not suspended, pursuing his rap career, or otherwise engaged in whatever -- work ethic and on-court contributions are never the issues. He arrives early and stays late for practice. He performs even when less than 100 percent healthy. And at public appearances and in a Kings locker room that, within the league, is regarded as one of the most unaccommodating and inhospitable, the Queens, N.Y., native is surprisingly accessible and cooperative.
"I like Ron," Petrie said. "I don't like some of the things he does. But you have to keep trying to help him."
And the team? Who helps the team?
Artest will help the team. He will improve the defense, respect Reggie Theus (he thought little of Eric Musselman), and well into another season, behave on and off the court. He will be the least of the Kings' problems. After that, the parties will part ways and move on. But while everyone eventually gives up on Artest, tiring of the constant commotion, Petrie would be crazy to give him away. Let others go first. Artest is too valuable.
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@ sacbee.com
And help Theus in supporting his authoritiy as a coach.
