Why the Artest trade is impossible for us (and most teams)

[theBigLip]

After reading ESPN.com this morning, one of the NBA writers mentioned that Sacramento is insisting that someone takes one of their bad contracts if they are going to get Artest. I assume that means one of two people:
1. Sharif Abdur-Rahim, age 31, PF, 3 year deal ($5.8, $6.2, $6.6)
2. Kenny Thomas, age 31, PF, 3 year deal ($7.9, $8.6, $8.8)

PF is the position we need the least amount of help with, even if we thought they could be a little bit productive. This is the cost for renting Artest for 4 months. And if you think Sacramento will change their mind, here is why they will not - They have $73mil committed to salaries next year, assuming that Artest stays. If they just let Artest opt out, they will at least get under the luxury tax (estimate $71mil next year). It doesn't make sense for Sacramento to trade Artest for a few prospects and go over the lux tax. They need to get some expiring contracts for their bad ones, and they will give you Artest. Otherwise, no deal.

As much as I'd like to have Artest off the bench, it would cost us someone like Dice to come up with the $12mil to pull off a trade - not worth it!

[theBigLip]

I guess we also have to add Brad Miller to the mix.
3. Brad Miller, age 32, 3 year deal ($10.5, $11.4, $12.3)

He would actually fit in better than the other two, but more expensive as well. So Artest is $7.4, Miller is $10.5, so how do we pull off an $18mil deal?

Dice $6.37
Amir $3.66
Brezec $2.80
Murray $1.89
Herrman $1.90

[theBigLip]

It works...

Incoming Players

Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
18.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.1 apg in 39.2 minutes

Brad Miller
7-0 C from Purdue
14.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.5 apg in 36.2 minutes

Outgoing Players

Flip Murray
6-3 SG / PG from Shaw
7.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 3.4 apg in 18.2 minutes

Walter Herrmann
6-10 PF from Argentina (Foreign)
2.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.6 apg in 7.1 minutes

Primoz Brezec
7-1 C from Solvenia (Foreign)
1.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.3 apg in 6.3 minutes

Amir Johnson
6-9 SF / PF from Weschester (HS)
2.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.4 apg in 8.1 minutes

Antonio McDyess
6-9 PF from Alabama
10.0 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.3 apg in 30.7 minutes

[theBigLip]

Sacramento only saves $.5mil, but they have Dice and Amir instead of Miller. That might not be enough for them still, and of course we would have to seriously question it ourselves.

[Joe Berry]

Ron Artest in a Pistons uniform will never happen...


... and that's a good thing!

[Dirtgrain]

Every time I see him, I have to think about how stupid he is. I hate thinking about how stupid he is.

[nasty daddy]

Better chance in the off season, if he opts out and is prepared to take a pay cut to come here.

[Master Shake]

Seriously... why are we even considering this? Why in the hell do we want him?

He shoots a low percentage, can bog down an offense because he thinks he should always have the bulk of the shots, and he's really not that great. I don't know what the obsession is here lately.

Keep Ron Artest as far away from Detroit as possible.

And if you think Larry Brown is never welcome back in Piston blue... think about how Davidson and co. feel about this guy.

[Low-Ki]

We are even remotely considering this because Tayshaun Prince is a P.O.S.

[theBigLip]

Better chance in the off season, if he opts out and is prepared to take a pay cut to come here.

Makes more sense, although in the offseason, with the MLE, do we try to get Artest, or try for Childress, Maggette, or just keep Hayes?

[Master Shake]

The only GM in Detroit that would sign or trade for Ron Artest to play for the Pistons would be Matt Millen...

And I thank god every day that Joe D is our GM.

Seriously, there are so many other places to look for help other than Ron Artest, like biglip just said, Childress.

Edit: And you can't call out Tay like that, his minutes are down so naturally his numbers will be, and some of his points have gone to Maxiell, Hayes, and Afflalo. I also only judge our players based on the playoffs, and Tay is not one of the reasons we've come up short the past 2 seasons. Look no farther than the guards. They are the flashy numbers guys, they get the recognition, they take the majority of the shots, and they are the ones who go into a funk when it matters most and Flip can't make adjustments for them.

[#1stunna]

The player he is... is a small gamble

The person he is... is a big gamble

If your could bring in a player like artest's potential without giving up nothing serious is a difference between a real contender & the abv avg pretender. If the man plays for real & fits your system he's a hell of a player.

The question is...if he can & would you take a chance on him?

[GJense4181]

Sacramento only saves $.5mil, but they have Dice and Amir instead of Miller. That might not be enough for them still, and of course we would have to seriously question it ourselves.

We would have to start Artest at PF just to make this work:
Billups/Hamilton/Prince/Artest/Wallace
Stuckey/Afflalo/Hayes/Maxiell/Miller
+Hunter/Samb
OR
Billups/Hamilton/Artest or Prince/Maxiell/Wallace
Stuckey/Afflalo/Artest or Prince/Hayes/Miller
+Hunter/Samb
Which isn't much better. Hmph

I don't like that trade. I'm not against acquiring Artest OR Miller. It's just that THAT trade is unsatisfactory.

What would they do with Kenny Thomas, Antonio McDyess, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim signed to three year deals?

[roc]

As cold as Mr BigShot

You might want to ditch the sig as it is way too big (only supposed to be 90 x 400). I just figured I would give you a heads up so you don't run the risk of losing sig privileges, that's all.

[#1stunna]

thanks man, I didnt know

[Hunter]

Seriously... why are we even considering this? Why in the hell do we want him?

He shoots a low percentage, can bog down an offense because he thinks he should always have the bulk of the shots, and he's really not that great. I don't know what the obsession is here lately.

Keep Ron Artest as far away from Detroit as possible.

And if you think Larry Brown is never welcome back in Piston blue... think about how Davidson and co. feel about this guy.

Preach on.

[nasty daddy]

-= original quote snipped =-



Makes more sense, although in the offseason, with the MLE, do we try to get Artest, or try for Childress, Maggette, or just keep Hayes?

Scratch Hayes off that list, i would only consider Artest and Childress from that list.

[PistonsFanFromNJ]

I don't think Sacremento is going to get anyone to bite on extra contracts (outside NY) in order to get Artest, especially since can opt-out and he is a nut-case.

[Snakebites]

Im amazed at the number of people even entertaining this idea in their minds.

I always considered this a smart board. Still do, but this gives me pause.

Its somewhat comforting that Hunter and Mastershake havent lost their minds.....yet.

[GJense4181]

^Artest FTW!