Hah, made you look.
There is considerable speculation throughout the NBA regarding the future home of Ron Artest, much of it focusing upon New York. Of course, Sonic fans can't be blamed for wondering if the defensively-minded small forward wouldn't just be a tonic for all that ails us.
Obviously, the Sonics would have to part with a marquee player to get someone of Artest's caliber, and the only guy on the roster that fits is Rashard Lewis (Sugar Ray, of course, is beyond marquee and his salary is out of the Pacers' orbit). A straight Lewis for Artest deal doesn't work due to their disparate salaries, but a Artest-Anthony Johnson for Lewis-draft pick deal could work, or a 3-team deal (more likely, inasmuch as the Pacers would need to get a backup PG to replace Johnson). One other possiblity would be Artest and Austin Croshere for Lewis and Radmanovic, but that deal would have to wait until after the holidays when Radman's available to be traded.
Sadly, there's little possibilty of it happening. Artest apparently wants to return home to New York, and I can't imagine Howard Schultz pulling the trigger on a guy that makes Gary Payton look like Mateen Cleaves. Count me down as one vote in favor, though. As much as Artest's mental stability can affect his team, he's young, on the cheap (relatively speaking), can play defense and score. There's nobody on the Sonics that can reply yes to all of those categories, and he would instantly make the Sonics a better defensive team. Add in a shot-blocking center and the Sonics actually could be tough in the playoffs.
28 comments:
Forget Ron Artest, Ron Jeremy just got fired in Miami, I don't believe he "resigned." Any chance he can come here and coach the Sonics?????
Artest coming here is not going to happen. Although I agree that he would bring instant defensive credibility, the guy is crazy and he wants to go back to NY.
Artest and Fortson on the same team? I'm sure Weiss would keep them in check.
Wow, that's a great call, Nate; I hadn't even considered the volatility of that combination.
It's a great idea that the Sonics should go all out for. They won't because Seattle teams don't have guts. Weiss is a big problem too. He has no fire, no temper, no real control. Paul Silas anyone? Or there's always Lenny...
If Artest goes to NY, he'll be doing time at Riker's Island in three years, tops. His playing career would probably be over, but record sales would go through the roof.
How far would you go, Nuss?
Rashard or Donnie Walsh hangs up the phone. Do you bite?
I'm hungry for some defense.
Guess I should have read your whole thread, sorry.
Anyway.
You're right that Shultzy probably won't have the stones. He's still smarting over Desmond not talking to him. Howard just want's to be liked.
well, i personally think that...uh...artest wouldn't really fit in with the sonics. too volatile and combustible. that may ruin chemisty and like, mess up the team. ^___^
though i DO admit that it is VERY, VERY tempting. :) *drools at the prospect of an all star, dominant player with D coming to the sonics* :D dear god! :)
dunno who the knicks would give up for him, though...doesn't seem like they have anyone to offer. money, maybe? :D
and yes, we should try to get van gundy! ZOMG! our team might be a better one with him on board. after all, he bought a pre-shaq miami team into the playoffs. :D *drools at the prospect of van gundy and the sonics* :D WAAAAH! all the possibilities! :D
i bet nothing will change...the management is too scared to make a move. makes me sick.
You all read this about DaFort? Kind of sad, the way his game was changed. 22 and 11 in his debut! We could really do with some of that now.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/251480_sonx09.html
Personally, I think it is the dumbest idea ever to fire Bob Weiss to hire... Stan Van Gundy? I'm not a big fan of Weiss so far this year, but you only do something like that (have three coaches in one year) if the coach you are getting is a number one, sure-fire type guy (or George Karl)
Is Stan that good? I don't think so... I would do that for a Jackson, a Tomjonavich, or a Brown, (maybe a Wooden) but not for Stan, man.
-Q
One of my good friends was a Nuggets fan and I remember watching the young Fortson go toe to toe with Shaq. I think he really started going downhill when he went to Golden State.
I would give my right arm to have Artest come to the Sonics. Rashard Lewis??? No problem.
I think the Pacers would have to take Rashard over a guy like Al Harrington or Peja. Sonics management likes to talk about how hard it is to improve with the way the CBA is set up...ARTEST IS SITTING ON A SILVER PLATTER RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR FACES...lets see if they man up and take the no-brainer risk or just continue to wallow in mediocrity.
BTW, Fortson and Artest on the same team would be fine.
I'm not advocating the hiring of another new coach. However, the way Weiss has run the show is quite frustrating to watch. Van Gundy took the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals last year. The last time Weiss was a winning coach was with Atlanta over a decade and a half ago. I was just throwing it out there.
I agree Fort and Artest on the same team would be fine, at least no one would call the Sonics soft...
I liked how animated Bob Hill was on the sideline last night.
Anybody home here at the SOUL? I need my daily fix of Sonics.
Lewis for Artest? My God, if only...
I wonder who New York could deal to get it done?
Alright, Anom, your fix awaits you! Behold the glory of BOB!
Wasting too much time trying to finish work. Not enough time to look up what's wrong with Sonics. not even enough time for complete sentenc...
If the Seattle Supersonics General Manager Rick Sund released Rick Brunson, then traded small forward Rashard Lewis ($8,571,429) and power forward Danny Fortson ($6,415,584) to the Indiana Pacers for small forward Ron Artest ($6,500,000), center Scot Pollard ($6,274,937), and point guard Eddie Gill ($870,546), it would make me a happy fan.
not a bad trade, ak1984...not bad...*is tempted* :D
ak,
Great idea, no way in hell indy gives up Pollard in that mix. Problem is, as an overall trade, Artest is BETTER than Rashard and them adding icing to the cake is unreasonable. Fort for Pollard? A sense some inbalance of talent, I know the numbers match up. Since Howard wants nice nice nice, he won't pull the trigger and would rather continue the staggering sub .500 record that we should all get real used to. But hey! They're all really nice guys, right? sigh...
Kevin in Korea
AK,
If you throw in the draft rights to the last three second rounders, then the deal is cinched.
I've heard from many places that the Pacers want either an expiring contract, a young talent, or a player that can help them now. The type of player they are looking for is either a guy who can swing between SF and PF or a shooter. Well, we've got a guy whos all that bundled up in one Serbian package Indiana. Radmanovic seems to be just what the Pacers want from almost every sports site's judgment, and that would be PERFECT for the Supes. I can see Vlade, Vitaly and a First for Artest. Sund, make it happen. It's all over the internet, and even Steven A Smith said it could work.
The next question, do you start Ron, or bring him off the bench. I say bench, so we have rebounding out there at first, but then we can go small. Him, Allen and Rashard would only have to be all on the floor for like 10 minutes a game, and we would always have 2 20pt scorers out there at once. He would give us the third scorer.
Basically, we'd have:
Ray, Rashard, and Ron playing big minutes
Luke getting good minutes
Flip backing up Luke, but getting enough to score. He has been playing well.
Nick, Reggie, Danny form a brutal triumvarate that pounds underneath constantly. (Like last year)
Damien get the shaft, plays 5 or 10 minutes in select situations. Brings energy.
Mikki Moore and Petro fill Vitaly's void, as sacrifice to the Shaq's, Duncans, and other rare effective 7 footers.
Mateen plays if Flip reverts to his other self.
Brunson and Swift dress in suits. Brunson's fits and looks classy. Swift's doesn't and is a terrible olive or mustard color.
B-con, if what you say is true regarding the Pacers' needs, this is almost too good to be true.
Still, I can't imagine the Pacers giving up Artest without getting a legitimate scoring threat/starter in return. If Vlade had demonstrated this season he was/is capable of scoring in double-figures consistently, this would be more likely. But, instead, he has shown what he has shown throughout his career: that he is equally capable of scoring 4 points as he is 24, that he can't play defense, and that he can't rebound. I would be truly shocked if the best player the Pacers can get for Artest is Radmanovic.
Of course, if the Pacers go for this deal, I will personally pay for the FedEx package containing the contracts.
"fill Vitaly's void"
Isn't that a redundant statement?
I'm just saying... thats what everyone, including charles barkely, says they want to get. Radmanovic has been mentioned a lot, so I'm just trying to get the wheels in motion with as many rumors as possible.
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