Artest a Piston??
Posted by pistonsnationCould you see Ron Artest in Piston’s red, white and blue? He can. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News writes that you should expect Sacramento to trade Artest while he has value because he’s already talking about opting out at the end of the season and leaving the Kings empty handed. McCosky says that Ron told Indianapolis reporters that he sees Detroit being a potential anchorage for his services. Artest even claims he has a fan base here in the Motor City:
“Especially when you’ve got a lot of fans,” Artest said before Friday’s game. “I used to read a lot of the blogs and a couple people said they wouldn’t mind seeing me play in Detroit. That’s like a big turnaround from those days. That’s a big turnaround and you’ve got to be proud of that.”
Anyone have an idea which blog(s) he’s referring to? If he does have a fan base here they must not have been able to make the game last Friday because he still gets booed with every touch of the rock at the Palace.
There’s never been a question that Ron has the talent to be one of the very best players in the NBA. He’s a great defender with the offensive game to match. But, be honest, this guy is one of the biggest head cases in perhaps the history of professional sports. Who the hell asks for a month off to focus on producing a rap album when you’re on a team that is inline to compete for an NBA title? Then there’s the brawl which I don’t have to outline for anyone as to his involvement. He’s receives the longest non-drug, non-betting suspension in league history (73 games) for his part in the melee which basically killed the the Pacers chances for a title as he was an intricate part of that team. Then, fast forward to his return the next season, after his teammates welcome and accept him back with open arms he asks for a trade??
Since being traded to the Kings in ‘06 he’s ran hot and cold. He’s yet to go into anymore crowds but he’s had plenty of off the court misdeeds to keep his legend growing (like jokingly? threatening to kill teammate Bonzi Wells if he didn’t re-sign in Sacramento).
Would Detroit fans accept the “Tru Warier”? Depends. If he keeps his mind right and balls I think any fan base could warm up to him. For better or for worse we’re a very forgiving society. Remember this guy is a former Defensive Player of the Year (2004) and has a career averages of 15 points and 5 rebounds per. Who wouldn’t want that on their team?
My biggest concern in trading for him is guarding against meltdown. Artest makes $7.8 mill and and has a player option to bump that up to $8.4 next season. Also, he believes he’s underpaid, he might have a case if his name wasn’t Ron Artest. So, by my estimation you have to give up a key piece or a host or future key pieces. It’s easy to say package Brezec, Herrmann, and Murray, but would Sacramento even want them when they would surely field more lucrative offers from other teams.
If it works out the Pistons are holding the Larry O’Brien at season’s end and to this point Ron has just been misunderstood. If it doesn’t, well see the Pacers post Artest. Another thing that would play against it would be Flip Saunders. He’s not really got a reputation for tapping into player’s ardor for the game. He’s more a less a good coach, not a leader of men…but I don’t want to get off onto a Flip Saunders’ tangent.
It’d be a tough risk/reward type call for Joe to make. But I, for one, have complete and total faith in Joe if on any deal he pulls the trigger on. I’d say he’s earned it.
This entry was posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 11:04 am and is filed under Kings, Ron Artest, Trade talks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Here’s a interesting quote from Ron out of the SacBee:
“Winning is more important,” he said. “I’m not thinking about money in my situation. I’m just thinking about winning. I need a ring, or I’ll be sick. Whatever I get, I’ll get.
“I’ll give my dogs and my kids the money, and I don’t have to spend nothing. I don’t need nothing. If I have my ring, I’ll be OK. I can live in the streets hungry.”
http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/648351.html
Yes, I’ve seen a few people say they wouldn’t mind him in DET over at need4sheed.com. The thing is, when you are looking for defensive stops, Artest can help out. I love the starting 5 we have, but I’m not going to lie and say Artest wouldn’t help us.
January 21st, 2008 at 3:23 pmmy only concern with this possible trade ( if it happens) is team chemistry…we all know that at times sheed runs hot and cold and with artest brought on board ….how would flip deal with both of them? that being said if these past few games are any indication they need some type of spark because if you get artest playing at his highest level…id say do it …..joe knows his team better then anyone
January 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pmI’ve kinda got mixed feelings but…if I’m going to the glass half full approach can you imagine our defense bringing him on board? We’d get back to absolute lock down D, and that’s what would win fans over in this “blue collar” sports town.
Then comes the icing. Artest is very competent (& consistent) offensive threat. He can go inside or outside. So versatile.
Also, can you imagine how live that would make our matchup with Boston?
[...] Ron Artest wouldn’t mind being a Piston? From the Freep: “I wouldn’t consider not playing here,” Artest said. “But right now I’m doing Sacramento. But it’s not something I’m opposed to, you know. That would be a hell of a first day if Ron Artest was in a Pistons’ jersey. That would be kind of crazy.” [...]
January 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pmi would like ron as a piston…think about the deffence we would have he could lock up lebron and you all know we need someone to do that…and lock up paul pierce plus he has an inside out game and i very physical
January 21st, 2008 at 9:24 pmAre you kidding me? Are we talking about the same Ron Artest that went into “OUR” stands and hit more then one of our fans? No one is questioning his ability to play the game. No one isn’t saying he wouldn’t be an asset to any team, but I don’t want to see him here. He is another Pac-man Jones (although without the legal troubles). His attitude makes him not desireable to me as a Piston. There are other players that we can get that would give us the spark we need without having gone into the stands of an arena to fight a fan. And besides that, with an almost 8 million dollar salary, who do we sit to start him? Rasheed? NO. Prince? No way, and Rasheed can’t play center and neither can he. So he would essentially be the highest payed 6th man in NBA history. No thanks.
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm