Artest wants to play out final season of contract with Kings

[chillz]

BOSTON -- Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest, attending Tuesday night's Game 6 of the NBA Finals, told ESPN.com that he's "99 percent sure I won't opt out of my contract" this month to become a free agent July 1.

Although he left that one-percent sliver of wiggle room, Artest has been insisting for weeks that he wants to play out the final season of his contract with the Kings -- at nearly $8 million -- before thinking about free agency. He has also expressed hope that Sacramento will consider a contract extension, but the Kings have yet to show a willingness to go that route.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3449929

[Dr Aki]

awww, thats not good news for laker fans

theres no way that we can trade for artest whilst only giving up odom

[RJM]

No worries. I'm sure Mitch will find another way to unload Vladimir Radmanovic.

[dockingsched]

who cares about artest and who cares about what he has to say. he talks out of both sides of his mouth every other team. i'm leaving, im not leaving, i might leave, i might stay, i'd love to play in ny, i'm 99% im staying.

[Chubby Chaser]

Anyone else think that there already is a deal in the works going on involving Artest and the lakers? I do, my spidey senses are going off

[hermes]

^^ difficult to say, couldn't tell from looking at mitch yawning at the game last night

[rpa]

No worries. I'm sure Mitch will find another way to unload Vladimir Radmanovic.

What exactly does Artest [probably] not opting out have to do with unloading Radmanovic?

[TonyMontana]

I dont know I have this funny feeling that Artest will walk away from the Kings and come to LA without trading anyone or anything .
Artest is tight with KOBE and our Final apperance and having Bynum back next year will attract a lot of free agent to this team.
Including Artest or maybe even Baron.

[Gerald3Wallace]

I dont know I have this funny feeling that Artest will walk away from the Kings and come to LA without trading anyone or anything .
Artest is tight with KOBE and our Final apperance and having Bynum back next year will attract a lot of free agent to this team.
Including Artest or maybe even Baron.

hes also very very good friends with odom...both from queens and played on teh same AAU team together

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

I dont know I have this funny feeling that Artest will walk away from the Kings and come to LA without trading anyone or anything .
Artest is tight with KOBE and our Final apperance and having Bynum back next year will attract a lot of free agent to this team.
Including Artest or maybe even Baron.

So im guessing you think they would sign for the MLE and/or sign and trade for odom?

[TonyMontana]

I dont know I have this funny feeling that Artest will walk away from the Kings and come to LA without trading anyone or anything .
Artest is tight with KOBE and our Final apperance and having Bynum back next year will attract a lot of free agent to this team.
Including Artest or maybe even Baron.

So im guessing you think they would sign for the MLE and/or sign and trade for odom?

Honestly I can say that I know for fact that the Kings arent going to do anything with the Lakers, (trade etc) not today not ever, specially with Odom for Artest.
As far as what I really think, Artest is going to ride out his contract and for some crazy reason he will sign with LA for MLE to win a title.
Call me crazy but I think thats his intention.

[Danny Darko]

I'm sure you're right about them not trading with us, but do you think he reups and signs for the mle with us next year or walks this year after all?

[Leonidas]

I'm sure you're right about them not trading with us, but do you think he reups and signs for the mle with us next year or walks this year after all?

Mr CC, please add me to your population... I was waiting for the Vlad Bash wagon to start... Sign me up