RealGM

I was reading a report on ESPN (cant find link again) and the guy said Lakers don't want to trade Odom, other likely options were Heat and Mavs but Mav's dont want to loose Howard and Heat aren't interested in taking on Kenny Thomas, so Cavs had the best chance if they were ready to take on Kenny's salary.

The deal would look something like:
Kenny Thomas
Ron Artest

for

Anderson Varejao
Wally Szerbiak

Gets rid of one of our offensively redundant forwards, nets us artest, and gets rid of the possibly worst contract for a soft, horrible player in Sczerbiak. The string, as i call it, is we take on another horrible contract, although its not as bad as Wally's and expires in 2010. We would have to pay lux tax for 1 extra year.

Ben Wallace instead of Wally works financially, but would kill the deal because the Kings want to cut salary not take it on. This would be the most likely trade (Andy+Wally for Ron+KT) for us this summer. Thing is, still doesnt solve our PF woes. WE NEED A SCORING PF, and we need him now.

You're a Cavs fan ??

L&H_05 wrote:You're a Cavs fan ??

+1

Now as for the deal, I wouldn't mind it.

Taking on the extra year of Thomas contract just so that we can rent Artest is a bit excessive to me. But there are those among you that actually think of Artest as an asset

Yeah of course we fans would do it but I doubt the Cavs trade for Artest. Remember Mike Brown was the assistant head coach for the Pacers during the Brawl at the Palace. I think Artest would fit in well with Phil Jackson and Kobe but LeBron and Brown don't have the experience to handle a player like Ron in the lockerroom. Mike Brown couldn't deal with vets like Hughes, Damon Jones, Devin Brown, and Donyell Marshall who are boyscouts compared to Artest.

The Lakers need defense while the Cavs need offense.

And Artest needs help that neither team can provide.

Haven't you been reading the goofy quote of the minute coming from Artest following his decision/mistake/confusion to not opt out/resign/extend his Kings' contract?

This is the same Ron Artest who routinely runs plays that are different form what the coach calls.

Artest runs that entertaining 1 on 4 on 5 offense.

oLd sKool

Ron does score 20 a game.. so it provides some offense.

Wasn't Lebron on record as saying he stops many of the plays that are called also? Not that i'm saying that's ok (to either person) but it's not like that is a big deal.

Yes, im a cavs fan. im just a basketball fans, and apart from the spurs/pistons/cats i like all teams lol. But cavs are at the top of my list. I personally dont think artest helps us but everyone else does. He cant even play the 4, because of his hieght disadvantage, and if we play him at the 2, well it can work but i dont think its his natural position where he's most comfortable. But i wouldnt mind him here, at all, especially if we are getting rid of Wally..

bcortell wrote:Ron does score 20 a game.. so it provides some offense.

Wasn't Lebron on record as saying he stops many of the plays that are called also? Not that i'm saying that's ok (to either person) but it's not like that is a big deal.

A. It's not as big of a deal when the ball is in the hands of LeBron as opposed to an inferior offensive talent that is Ron Artest..

B. It would be a pretty big deal if we had two players breaking off plays throughout the course of the game..

I would make that deal, but it would suck if artest left after one season. But then thomas would be another big expiring to add with wallace/pavs the following season.

Exactly my point James Gang. We are deep enough into the lux tax that adding an extra 1mil or 1.5mil to pay isnt that big of a deal, especially if it helps us in 2010. We would have Pavs, LeBron, Z, Wallace, AND Thomas expire that year. Thats 4+14+11+14+9 in expirings. Thats about 52mil off the books. We could sign TWO stars at that price. (Bosh + Regain LeBron, or if LeBron wants to leave, Joe Johnson + Bosh?)

Also you guys undervalue Artest on offense. He scored close to 21pts on 45.3% from the field and 38% from the 3PT. Thats pretty similar to LeBron in shooting %'s. He was also always the 2nd or 3rd option (Behind Kevin Martin and Brad Miller) with the Kings, so he can play the 2nd or 3rd banana role. He would fit at the SG position and that position only though, because I wouldn't want him to play the PF and get injured (like Gerald Wallace). Unless LeBron moved to the gaurd, then Ron could play the SF too.

Yeah that's how i feel. Lebron and Ron on the wings- doesn't matter which one plays SG or SF. Both can guard either the opposing team's SG or SF so i don't think it'll be a big deal.. Say 15 ppg from West, 20 from Ron, and 30 from Lebron.. That's 65 there.. add in Boobie and our bigs (boobie-12; z-10 to 15; wallace- 5?; whoever else-?) that's around 95ppg there which isn't bad. And some nasty defense with Lebron and Ron on the wings. West doing is best. and Wallace/AV on bigs.

I still have the question- if we traded for ron, can we get him to sign an extension as part of the trade?

No, we cant get him to sign an extention as PART OF THE TRADE. Im not sure if we can after the trade is official though. Also, West isnt a bad defender at all. We are also giving up AV in the deal, so Wallace is our best bet at backup C while Joe Smith and JJ handle the PF. Also, umm i think you shhouldnt look at anything more than.. umm.. 0 points for Wallace. So makes sit 90ppg. Sasha, and a backup to LeBron, whoever it may be, will add up to 10ppg, so that makes 100. Not bad at all, especially what we would look like defensively. But we should sign Kwame Brown as backup C so we look like:

West/DJ/Snow
Artest/Boobie/Sasha
LeBron/Sasha/D. Brown? (resigned at vet min)
Wallace/Joe Smith/Hickson
Z/K. Brown

Defensively, we would be solid with West, Bron, Artest, Wallace and Z or Brown. Offensively, our best lineup would be West/Boobie/Bron/Artest/Z, in which case, the last 2 minutes, Artest would HAVE to play the 4. I wouldnt mind that though, just dont want him getting a large number of minutes there gaurding 4's because it can cause many physical problems (makes you injury prone).

You know in a weird way I totally agree SD. Having a Defensive lineup with West, Artest, James, Wallace, and Z would be intimidating as long as Wallace does what he's suppposed to do. He is declining and I think he could still do a good job especially after an offseason learning the defense better.

I would also consider picking up Kwame but his hands are bad, I dont know if he can catch Lebron passes and I would debate on what to offer him(contract-wise) so that may lead me to look at Krstic or Elson.

Plus we still have Snow,DJ, and Joe Smith to make a deal for a backup PG and/or SF.

Josh Childress at the MLE would make that team sick. He can handle the ball a little and plays great defense.

West / Gibson / Snow
Artest/ Childress/ DJ
James/ Pavolovic
Wallace/ Smith/ Hickson/ Jackson
Z/ Wallace

We can then pick up a big for expirings and pick.

count me into the camp that wants artest on this team...especially if its for the wally/av for ron ron/thomas package

Since Artest basically plays the same position as Lebron -- do you guys really believe that Artest can play SG defensively (due to his weight) for a whole game and season for the duration of his one year rental. IMO, Artest wouldn't be as effective defensively full time at PF either due to his height. IMO, taking on Thomas is a little bit much to ask for a one year rental given Artest's bumpy past both on and off the court.

Yes, I know he didn't have any legal troubles in 2008 yet, but he did have charges for domestic violence and animal abuse levied against him in 2007. To have Artest on the team beyond one year would probably take doubling his salary to 14 million which doesn't seem like a good risk investment or timing for 2010.

We would win games 63 - 60 with that lineup.

Also it would be fun to see Artest and BenWa put on the same team. Im thinking Mento's in a Coke bottle.