Monday, December 12

Artest a Sonic?

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.

20 comments:

Fred Bongo said...

Artest and Fortson on the same team? I'm sure Weiss would keep them in check.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's a great call, Nate; I hadn't even considered the volatility of that combination.

Anonymous said...

How far would you go, Nuss?

Rashard or Donnie Walsh hangs up the phone. Do you bite?

I'm hungry for some defense.

Anonymous said...

Guess I should have read your whole thread, sorry.

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

i bet nothing will change...the management is too scared to make a move. makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

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

Fred Bongo said...

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.

Anonymous said...

I liked how animated Bob Hill was on the sideline last night.

Anonymous said...

Anybody home here at the SOUL? I need my daily fix of Sonics.

Paul said...

Alright, Anom, your fix awaits you! Behold the glory of BOB!

Anonymous said...

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...

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

not a bad trade, ak1984...not bad...*is tempted* :D

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

AK,
If you throw in the draft rights to the last three second rounders, then the deal is cinched.

Anonymous said...

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.

Anonymous said...

"fill Vitaly's void"

Isn't that a redundant statement?