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Yikes...I can't believe I'm even suggesting this. But aside from his somewhat bizarre off court behavious....Artest seems like THE perfect PF for this team. Imagine a front line with AB, Artest and Jackson....Nutz...yes...but Artest and Jackson defensively...wow.

What we lose is Harrington's great attitude and outside three point bombing...

But what we gain is a first team defender and tough tough tough PF.

I don't know....I love Harrington but the PF spot is really the only position I can see us upgrading....and Artest seems like the only PF out there that we might be able to get who both scores, defends and rebounds....

Worth the headache???

That's really a tough one. Do we really want 3 out of 5 chuckers in our starting lineup (4 if Nellie decides to stick Barnes in there). This would really make Nellie happy. An even smaller player (than Al) and probably 50 3s a game would go up.

Artest has HOF talent and an MIA head. It's the kind of gamble a team in the dumps should take (like NY).

I'll stick with Al.

I would do the gamble. As it stands the Warriors are at best an 7th or 8th seed.

The biggest weakness of Harrington is rebounding which is also a weakness of Artest so that area would be push. Plus Artest is a much better defender. Artest is if he doesn't dominate the ball too much is a great all around player like a Jackson or Davis.

Plus his contract could be off the books next year.

It's not going happen, especially considering Artest just had surgery and is out a month.

If it did happen, we should take bets on what happens first, major implosion by one of the "gangstas" or Nellie getting cardiac arrest. I'd bet on the latter.

I'm all over this deal, but I don't think Sacremento does it. Why do they need Harrington?

Not happening for various reasons.

floppymoose wrote:It's the kind of gamble a team in the dumps should take (like NY).

Which they can't take because things just don't favor for it to happen. I think it's beautiful.

I think NY is correct to not offer more than expirings and Balkman.

Artest is the kind of guy that will give a hometown discount when he becomes a FA next summer. I'm sure he would sign with them for two years (PO in the third) for the full MLE. When their cap situation is in better shape in 2010 he can re-up for more money.

In other words, NY can save their prospects and get Artest soon. The only question is if Isiah can wait that long, since he probably won't be coaching in NY next year by the time Ron Ron comes to town.

I learned to like Jack..I'm still trying to learn to like Baron...I'll never like a dog abuser and that's what Artest is...No thanks...I like Al and he hits that 3 ball...

Thomas wants to trade for him now for the Bird Rights. If he doesn't get those, it'll be a lot tougher to sign Artest to the MLE unless there are no other options for Ron.

crzyyafrican wrote:I'm all over this deal, but I don't think Sacremento does it. Why do they need Harrington?

I can think of several reasons why Sactown might do it:

1) Artest is out injured for at least 3-4 weeks and with both Matin and Bibby still out, there team is getting pretty thin.

2) Artest has already made it pretty clear that he's opting out next and it's no secret that he desires to go to New York and play again for Isaiah. If they feel that Al is a good enough return, then they might go for it.

3) Due to his versatility, Al can play both the 3 and 4 (and even the 5 if they to try and emply some midget ball) and so he could fit in a number of places.

Reasons they wouldn't want to do it:
1) They already have too much deadweight at the 4 in Kenny Thomas and Rahim (both almost impossible contracts to move). I think the fact that Harrington can play as many as 3 positions kind of nullifies this one negative. Thomas is also capable of playing the 3 and Rahim can play Center.

2) They feel they can get something better. This is rather risky for them with Artests optout clause. Not many teams are willing to give much up for a guy who there is no guarantee will return. Unless it a top contender (which Artest would probably be willing to go to and even sign a new contract with maybe) there are few teams who would do this. This is evident by the fact that we know that they've been looking to move him for a while but nothing has happened thus far.

So yes, I think it's possible, but no I wouldn't want him. I'm becoming too big a fan of Al who's actually been playing like a "real" Power Forward for us lately and always gives us 100% out there.

Mullin still has the St.John's connection. He wanted him when Indy was trading him, and I'm sure if Artest was available on the market, Mullin would be all over him again.

Mullin never really seemed like he cared too much about the "character concerns" surrounding players like Artest and Jackson.

Even if we were to get Artest, would he want to play the 4? It could be similar to the Webber situation when he refused to play the center position because he was undersized and would make his job more difficult.

I thought Artest was a big strong guy very capable of dominating under the boards...no? If he's actually SMALLER than Harrington....then I wouldn't be interested really.....

Anyway...I can live with Harrington...just looking for options for upgrading that position....

Artest is listed as 6'7 and has never averaged more than 6.5 rebounds a game. He's also played SF for his whole NBA career. Not exactly the low post threat that we're looking for and I doubt he would even do much better than Al at the 4.

I'd like to play Artest along side Al.
If we could put a big lineup on the floor
Dre-Artest (undersized but oversized @ the 4)-Harrington-Jax-Baron....
that's a big team right there.

Artest WAS ....OFTEN a great defender. He WAS 15-20 lb lighter and a lot quicker. Now,he's a tweener F with mood swings. Harrington is always giving EFFORT on D,not goin' all prima donna. Al also tends to MAKE his 3's.

No need to repeat the worry that Artest will make Jax less stable

I can't see any scenario where Artest comes to GSW.

old rem wrote:Artest WAS ....OFTEN a great defender. He WAS 15-20 lb lighter and a lot quicker. Now,he's a tweener F with mood swings. Harrington is always giving EFFORT on D,not goin' all prima donna. Al also tends to MAKE his 3's.

No need to repeat the worry that Artest will make Jax less stable

I can't see any scenario where Artest comes to GSW.

Dont know where you got your info from, but Artest is currently as light as he ever was at 245. After the suspension Artest admitted to getting as high as 280 and had been playing at 260-270. I dont exactly understand how he's a "tweener F" as you stated. If anything he's at an advantage on both ends. On defense he's quick enough to stay with SFs and strong enough to guard PFs. Offensively he's too quick for PFs and too strong for SFs.