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Not sure how serious Ron Ron was when he said:

"Winning is more important. I'm not thinking about money in my situation. I'm just thinking about winning. I need a ring, or I'll be sick."

...But I think we can seriously afford to take a gamble on this guy now, if we can somehow bring him in while shipping out old Odom.

If Phil can successfully meld him in alongside Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, and Fisher, the sky is the limit. Everybody knows the skill and mismatch-potential he brings to the table. It's almost basketball pornography to imagine. It's on the level of how I felt the summer we signed Karl Malone and Gary Payton.

If he turns out to be too trigger-happy and little too nutty, let him be the scorer off the bench with Farmer and Co.

If he blows up altogether, we've got the personnel to step in and do a competent job in the first and second units in Walton and Ariza. Send him home to take care of his dogs.

I don't think Raja Bell and the rest of the Phoenix Suns would be so smug playing the Lakers once we've got a madman roaming the court.

He's too much of a risk IMO.

He, like Marion and AK47, won't be happy at all being our 4th option.

I'd give up either Radman or Luke. That's it. Artest is clinically insane and a huge threat to the great chemistry we've built since Fisher came back.

I's much rather see us trading Odom for Battier than any of the above.

y ship out Odom? he's going to be a perfect fit now, he can play his game which is facilitating the offense and getting rebounds

very risky considering we should have the players to get us where we want once bynum comes back. if odom can't work out at the 3 spot, i wouldn't doubt he'll be moved for a better fit.

Artest makes less sense than ever. Now he is two much of a mental risk plus I doubt buss wants to take on another bad contract.

Erik Eleven wrote:Artest is clinically insane and a huge threat to the great chemistry we've built since Fisher came back.

I 100% agreed with you up until the Gasol deal. I think this team has been trying and failing to forge an identity with Odom. Artest should not be used as a foundational piece to this team. With Gasol in and Odom out, I think we can afford to gamble.

Think of it as the Patriots trading for Randy Moss.

mmyers37 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



I 100% agreed with you up until the Gasol deal. I think this team has been trying and failing to forge an identity with Odom. Artest should not be used as a foundational piece to this team. With Gasol in and Odom out, I think we can afford to gamble.

Think of it as the Patriots trading for Randy Moss.

Theres a difference. Moss quit on the raiders because they suck. Artest is actually crazy crazy and a ball hog who consistently breaks up an offense to get his. Little doubt in my mind that the FO has already decided against an artest move.

Teen Girl Squad wrote:Now he is two much of a mental risk plus I doubt buss wants to take on another bad contract.

Do we have the mid-level exception this year? Odom for expirings, Artest opts out at the end of the year, sign Artest to a short deal for the full-midlevel. Not such a bad contract.

I know that's all a big "if," but Artest could use some quick image rehab. Spending a season or two deep in the playoffs might not look bad on his resume.

Teen Girl Squad wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Theres a difference. Moss quit on the raiders because they suck. Artest is actually crazy crazy and a ball hog who consistently breaks up an offense to get his.

You have every reason to think that. But there were similar sentiments about Moss before this year too. I just think we have that kind of potential upside.

Worst case scenario is Isaiah Rider.

No there wasnt. And the ba contract im referring to is the one wed have to absorb to land him. We arent fleecing the Kings. If anything, now with the Pau Trade the Kings might absolutely refuse to trade him here.

If Odom can't become the 4th option that he is made for, then we can afford to ship him out next year for some one capable.

mmyers37 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



You have every reason to think that. But there were similar sentiments about Moss before this year too. I just think we have that kind of potential upside.

Worst case scenario is Isaiah Rider.

Moss gets the ball in New England, because he's their best WR. Artest would not get the ball in LA, because he would be the 4th best scorer. I don't see the similarities.

tayzer wrote:If Odom can't become the 4th option that he is made for, then we can afford to ship him out next year for some one capable.

His cost is prohibitive when compared to the salaries that KB/PG make (and AB will make). Expect him to go as early as any team will take him.

There's several misconceptions about Artest that I dont even want to say... Besides, it is TOO unrealistic for the Kings to trade Ron to LA anyway based on various variables...

mmyers37 wrote:I 100% agreed with you up until the Gasol deal. I think this team has been trying and failing to forge an identity with Odom. Artest should not be used as a foundational piece to this team. With Gasol in and Odom out, I think we can afford to gamble.

Think of it as the Patriots trading for Randy Moss.

Trading Luke or Radman would be gambling enough.

I agree with your sentiment, though. Before Pau, I wouldn't even have traded Coby Karl for him.

kingsfan10 wrote:There's several misconceptions about Artest that I dont even want to say... Besides, it is TOO unrealistic for the Kings to trade Ron to LA anyway based on various variables...

In speculating in what misconceptions you might be talking about, I guess the Kings should be more than happy to keep him then...

Erik Eleven wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



In speculating in what misconceptions you might be talking about, I guess the Kings should be more than happy to keep him then...

Yeah, we better off keeping him until he opts out... We try to make a last run to the playoffs with this healthy lineup...

Buckeye-NBAFan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Moss gets the ball in New England, because he's their best WR. Artest would not get the ball in LA, because he would be the 4th best scorer. I don't see the similarities.

And we don't have Tom Brady, and our coach doesn't wear a hoodie.... By your standards, analogies might as well not even exist.

If you can't see the similarities in two teams who could take a calculated gamble on a questionable personality for a big payoff, then I don't know what to tell you. It wasn't supposed to go any deeper than that.

I think Odom will finally get the role that suits him the best - not to be a star or the second option, but to be the ultimate glue guy, that can do a bit of everything without having any pressure to deliver in money time.