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I'm pretty happy with our team and think we can compete for a championship with our current roster. But I'm addicted to making trades and just can't sit out this upcoming trade deadline and not make any proposals.

So, looking at our team, and looking at who is likely available, I really think we should think about aquiring someone who has had multiple threads on, and he is none other than Ron Artest.

Ok, now that everyone has said "Hell No" like they have multiple times, I just think if you look at our competition, we could really use Ron.

LeBron James and Paul Pierce - each are a little too tough for Tay. What a great thing to bring in Artest to guard these guys while giving Tay a breather. We probably would have beat Cleveland last year if we had Artest.

Even thought they want to get rid of Kenny Thomas along with Artest, I think we could just throw in expirings and our #1 (we really don't need more rookies for next year). At worst case, he is a half year rental. He would play his ass off since he is going into a contract year, and what a better place to show that he is sane by playing for the home team where the "Malice in the Palace" took place.

This really is a good, low risk trade. If we can shut down LBJ and PP, we're in the Finals. And if we're in the Finals, we got a chance to win it all. Go for it Joe!

That is actually awful... I'm sorry. Ron Artest will never wear a Pistons uniform... ever. End of story. We should look everywhere else for a tougher small forward. And adding Kenny Thomas to our roster would be horrendous. If we extend Maxiell, we'd then have 3 undersized and overpaid power forwards attempting to play center...

I'm all for a shakeup, and I'm all for making a major move because we have lots of depth, but this isn't the one.


I'd love to somehow swing a Maxiell, Prince, 1st rounder, for Caron Butler... but that won't get it done. But depending on if they give big bucks to Arenas, Washington may decide to spend their money elsewhere.

Master Shake wrote:That is actually awful... I'm sorry. Ron Artest will never wear a Pistons uniform... ever. End of story. We should look everywhere else for a tougher small forward. And adding Kenny Thomas to our roster would be horrendous. If we extend Maxiell, we'd then have 3 undersized and overpaid power forwards attempting to play center...

I'm all for a shakeup, and I'm all for making a major move because we have lots of depth, but this isn't the one.


I'd love to somehow swing a Maxiell, Prince, 1st rounder, for Caron Butler... but that won't get it done. But depending on if they give big bucks to Arenas, Washington may decide to spend their money elsewhere.

Instead of taking on Kenny Thomas' contract, we'd give up the #1. I agree that it would not be worth it if we had to take on his contract (and give up someone else on our roster).

I'd be fine with Butler or Gerald Wallace, if we could get them, but Tay and expirings wouldn't get it done and I'd hate to give up any of our core or promising young guys.

You have to give up to get, and giving up a draft choice we don't really need, Prince, and Maxiell for an all-star and tough small forward, you do it. If we could get Wallace or Butler for Maxiell, Prince, and a 1st, then what more can you ask for?

I wonder why the original poster keeps thinking ANY one in the Pistons locker room would want Ron as a teammate?


Yep Mr D can't wait to whip out the checkbook to sign someone who had a meltdown IN HIS BUILDING and blew kisses at the crowd while dribbling the ball upcourt when the Kings came to town this year.

I'd rather have Battier than Artest.

Hermann, Brezec, Hayes, 08 First for Battier?

3 possible rotation players for the Heat.

Master Shake wrote:You have to give up to get, and giving up a draft choice we don't really need, Prince, and Maxiell for an all-star and tough small forward, you do it. If we could get Wallace or Butler for Maxiell, Prince, and a 1st, then what more can you ask for?

Tough call, Wallace is actually 2 years younger than Tay, so you've talked me into it. Hate to see Max go, but Amir has more upside, so you could just speed up his progress by giving him Max's minutes.

Current State:
Billups/Stuckey
RIP/AA
Wallace/Hayes
Dice/Amir
Sheed/

Future State:
Stuckey
AA
Wallace
Amir
Samb??

He'd be a crowd favorite.

Master Shake wrote:You have to give up to get, and giving up a draft choice we don't really need, Prince, and Maxiell for an all-star and tough small forward, you do it. If we could get Wallace or Butler for Maxiell, Prince, and a 1st, then what more can you ask for?

Butler has arguably the best contract in the league, in terms of value. The Wiz are probably going to trade Arenas and build the team around Butler, Jamison and draft picks. Wallace? I don't know why they would want the package previously offered.

All of these trade proposals seem pointless right now. They only seem somewhat plausible once the off-season starts and teams have new goals, rebuild or contend.

RUSSIAN LIGHTNING wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

All of these trade proposals seem pointless right now. They only seem somewhat plausible once the off-season starts and teams have new goals, rebuild or contend.

Not really pointless - if we can stop LBJ or PP in the playoffs, we will be much better off. Can Tay do that?

You know BigLip, I was just about to totally discount this idea until I remembered that just recently, the Lakers traded Kwame Brown for Paul Gasol and that the Suns of all teams traded for Shaq. Hey, if those trades can happen, anything can, right? Then I pictured Artest holding up a Pistons jersey flanked by a smiling duo of Dumars and Mr. D and the absurdity of it brought me back to reality. Sorry, not gonna happen lol.

I do agree that one of our biggest problems is guarding big, physical small forwards and unfortunately, both of our biggest competitors just happen to feature the two of the best big, physical small forwards in the game.

I don't think we're trading anybody other than either moving Murray for a future second or releasing him after the trade deadline if that's what he wants.

Dumars worries about nine deep come the play-offs, so our 14 deep nba ready depth does nothing for us, however I can't see us moving our expirings for anybody that would displace our play-off rotation.

Billups, Hamilton, Prince, McDyess, Wallace, Maxey, Hayes, Stuckey/Hunter will be our main rotation with Afflalo and Amir getting some garbage burn. Herrmann or Brezec will join Samb on the inactive list depending on the match-ups.

Blah blah.

Youve all heard the reasons Artest cant and shouldnt be a Piston. No reason to rehash those here.

Y'all know I would love to see Crash in a Piston uni but he is the Charlotte Bobcats. Don't see them biting unless we dramatically overpay.

Artest in a Piston uni = never

I would rather hang on to our first-rounder for this upcoming draft, for there is a plethora of center talent in the first round.
Roy Hibbert, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Kosta Koufos, DeVon Hardin*, Ryan Anderson, Hasheem Thabeet*, Nathan Jawai, John Riek (18 years old but a foreigner), Andrew Ogilvy, Serge Ibaka, and all of the second-rounders that could move up/obscure foreigners yet to be hyped make for a STOCKED draft at the 5 spot.
I would love to get Hardin or Thabeet over here.

Oh, just imagine a future lineup of:
6'5" Stuckey/6'5" Afflalo/6'11" Johnson/6'7" Maxiell/7'3" Thabeet (for example), with 7'0" Samb as the 8th/9th man. At least two of Chauncey, Rip, and Tay would still be around at this point, which make for a fantastic 7/8 man rotation.

Big Steak wrote:I do agree that one of our biggest problems is guarding big, physical small forwards and unfortunately, both of our biggest competitors just happen to feature the two of the best big, physical small forwards in the game.

This is exactly my point. Maybe Artest isn't the answer, but this is certainly a weak spot for us and I wish we had a tough backup for Tay.

theBigLip wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



This is exactly my point. Maybe Artest isn't the answer, but this is certainly a weak spot for us and I wish we had a tough backup for Tay.

I don't see us getting a tough backup through free-agency or trades any time soon. It would have to be a diamond in the rough kind of thing through free agency. But I think Afflalo could be serviceable at the three next year as well as at the 2.

bstein14 wrote:I'd rather have Battier than Artest.
Hermann, Brezec, Hayes, 08 First for Battier?
3 possible rotation players for the Heat (Rockets?).

Battier would be a good although I think he still has 2-3 years left which is a bit pricey for him.

As a casual observer/Piston fan who started a 70+ post Artest thread on the Kings board, I think the Pistons would be absolutely silly to not entertain a low ball offer for Artest. I'm talking expirings (Murray/Brezec/Herrmann) + a 1st rounder. Who cares if he's a rental? In the playoffs... you need guys you can count on. Amir/Afflalo should see no PT in meaningful playoff games. Max/Artest/Stuckey with Hayes or Hunter if absolutely necessary and/or the situation called for it would be ideal.

It's not like we'd be giving up a high 1st round pick. I doubt the Kings do it, but all other teams that seem to be inquiring about him are in the West and trying to lowball the Kings too. Expirings and a 1st is about all they're going to get.

Assuming the players are ok with it, I don't see the downside.