Wiretap: Baron Almost Traded for Artest, Alston

[loflin3hree5ive]

Before the Rockets sent Rafer Alston to the Magic, there was reportedly a deal on the table that would have sent Baron Davis to Houston in exchange for Alston and Ron Artest.

The Rockets were also interested in Marcus Camby, but the Clippers wouldn't part with the center. Sources also revealed that Tracy McGrady's knee injury ended talks.

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/57639/20090302/source_clips_almost_traded_baron_for_artest/

[mattfish]

Can you imagine if that happened? We would be worse than the old Blazers team, with a new set of "Misfits" to go with Z-Bo... Ricky D and Artest instead of Sheed and Bonzi Wells/Ruben Patterson! Skip to My Lou would've been interesting though, but does his game really differ that much from Barons?

[JJ LoDuca]

I don't know why the wiretap, or anybody, is reporting these "almost" trades. Yeah, to talk about them before the trading deadline would've been interesting-- keyword-- before the deadline. Don't know what good it does to report these trade scenarios now, unless summertime deals are in the works now.

[loflin3hree5ive]

I find it as an interesting way to gauge player values for the future. I'm personally just glad that Baron still has this much trade value after the poor year he's had so far. Not that Artest or Alston are the answer, but at least the Clippers can get out of Davis' contract if they want to.

[SportsFan215]

I would have done that trade, just to get out of Baron's contract.