RealGM

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:56 am**

The Houston Rockets have reached an agreement to acquire forward Ron Artest from the Sacramento Kings, the Houston Chronicle is reporting.

The Rockets will give up guard Bobby Jackson, a No. 1 draft pick next season and another player that the individual with knowledge of the trade could not name.

It is believed that rookie Donte Greene is included in the deal, which will prevent the deal from going through until August 14, when Greene is able to be dealt.

There could also be other players involved to make the money match but none that the Rockets would plan to keep. The Rockets will also send the Kings cash in excess of $1 million.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:34 am**

Wow, nicely done for Houston. I'm just glad he didn't go to LA.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:18 am**

Wow they are really in win-now mode aren't they? First they trade Rudy Gay's rights for Shane Battier in an effort to shore up the D, now they trade both this years and next years pick for a guy who should pretty much fill that same role.

Will they start both Artest and Battier at forward, or start Scola and bring Battier off the bench?

I would seriously consider starting Artest and Battier, having 4 3 point shooters on the floor would open things up for Yao immensely.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:27 am**

If Artest can play the 4 for them, that would be fantastic.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:40 am**

rsavaj wrote:If Artest can play the 4 for them, that would be fantastic.

I think we'll see it in spurts, Ron and Battier are both smart defenders who are interchangeable at the forward positions.

Now that I think about it, it's probably best to start a true big next to Yao to keep him out of early foul trouble. Then bring Battier in and play 4 out.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:28 am**

rsavaj wrote:If Artest can play the 4 for them, that would be fantastic.

it depends on the team they play against. if they play against the suns with amare as the power forward, i dont think battier or artest can guard amare. few more teams that has a dominant power forward like hornets, lakers and utah.

they are going to be the best defensive team though. also, they can lessen tmac's playing time to make sure he will be 100 percent in the playoffs.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:38 am**

Artest isnt playing the four. They have enough 4's already. Scola, Landry, Dorsey...
They are probably going to trade Battier now for a nice 6th man. I think we have one of those

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:00 am**

i doubt they keep landry

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:40 am**

If Marion can play the 4, then Artest or Battier can play the 4. Actually, they can run a team with no PF, the go with a Point Guard, 3 athletic SF's and a Center. Scola can play backup and start some games.

This is a nice move by them. Makes them better, and most likely better then us.

But this might make it easeir for Yao to opperate down low and have a bunch of shooters and play makers around the 3 pt line.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:10 am**

Unfortunately for the suns... i think this makes them top 3 or 4 material and potential title contenders.

The only downside is it has sacrificed their future. if greene is involved then i think they r losing a quality future player.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:00 am**

eastsidecrossover wrote:This is a nice move by them. Makes them better, and most likely better then us.

Hate to say it, but I agree.

Alston
McGrady
Artest
Scola
Yao

Thats a very nice starting 5.

PG- Brooks
SG- Head/Franchise (maybe)
SF- Battier/Barry
PF- Novak/Landry/Dorsey
C- Mutumbo

Thats a pretty decent bench as well. I really hope they will play Dorsey, he was my favorite big in college (even though he is only 6'8)

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:48 am**

on wat SDU said

if they dont keep landry do u think we could pick him up before he leaves to europe as our backup pf weve been looking for. that gives us big man combo's of Amare and shaq backed up by Landry and lopez. that gives us two young guys that are solid big men as backups. thoughts???

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:01 am**

I'd like Landry here, I think he has more value in Europe though and I'm sure some team will offer him $10m over 3-4 years, which is more than he's worth in the NBA

Artest is a nice pickup...I think Battier goes to the bench just for the sake of strengthening it. Outside of Head and Hayes I don't see a lot of production...Barry is old (can still be solid enough though) and Mutombo must just about qualify for social security though now surely? He can still play and swat shots though, legend.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:31 am**

i can't believe they didn't get a better offer than that.
bobby jackson and donte green and a late first rounder?

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:53 am**

We have anything the Kings might want for Greene???

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:04 pm**

lol we should have just kept our own picks and picked him.

I think this moves HOU ahead of us on paper as well, so I'd rank us 6th(behind LA, NO, Utah, SA and HOU).

It's weird not being in the 'contenders' group anymore.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:41 pm**

Sorry, I have to disagree with some of you guys...

The Suns not being a contender? There isn't a team that really scares us except for NO and SA.

A team that has Nash, Stoudemire and Shaq on it will always be a contender. I expect Stoudemire to be in MVP talks this next year. Shaq will be in better shape next year and will have had time to mesh with the team through training camp.

Houston - the Artest thing is scary to be sure, but i'd day this only gets them at our level, not past it. I think their bench is weaker than ours.

LA - okay, well they hit the jackpot when it came to Gasol and they'll have Bynum back... but I think this makes them a better match-up for us than without Bynum. Before, Stoudemire was on Odom and Shaq was on Gasol.... now Amare will slide over to guard Gasol and Shaq will be on Bynum. They are still the favorites out West.

San Antonio - If we need to be worried about age, so do they. Everyone knows their secret, stop one or two of their big 3 and you got the W. I think Strawberry would be great on Parker and Hill on Ginobili would be great. We just seem to have bad luck against these guys, that's really the only reason I'm worried.

Utah - Outside of Willaims, nothing outside of their home record last year is really all that scary.

New Orleans - Ya, they scare me too. Posey isn't helping our case either.

On an unrelated note... I think I am going to become a bandwagon Trailblazers fan this next season. As long as they aren't playing us, I'm going to be pulling for them. They have an exciting team.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:37 pm**

Sun Scorched wrote:Sorry, I have to disagree with some of you guys...

The Suns not being a contender? There isn't a team that really scares us except for NO and SA.

A team that has Nash, Stoudemire and Shaq on it will always be a contender. I expect Stoudemire to be in MVP talks this next year. Shaq will be in better shape next year and will have had time to mesh with the team through training camp.

Houston - the Artest thing is scary to be sure, but i'd day this only gets them at our level, not past it. I think their bench is weaker than ours.

LA - okay, well they hit the jackpot when it came to Gasol and they'll have Bynum back... but I think this makes them a better match-up for us than without Bynum. Before, Stoudemire was on Odom and Shaq was on Gasol.... now Amare will slide over to guard Gasol and Shaq will be on Bynum. They are still the favorites out West.

San Antonio - If we need to be worried about age, so do they. Everyone knows their secret, stop one or two of their big 3 and you got the W. I think Strawberry would be great on Parker and Hill on Ginobili would be great. We just seem to have bad luck against these guys, that's really the only reason I'm worried.

Utah - Outside of Willaims, nothing outside of their home record last year is really all that scary.

New Orleans - Ya, they scare me too. Posey isn't helping our case either.

On an unrelated note... I think I am going to become a bandwagon Trailblazers fan this next season. As long as they aren't playing us, I'm going to be pulling for them. They have an exciting team.

You're sorely mistaken, we were equal to your level last year and this puts us over the top. Having star names atop your roster with one being an aging big man means little to nothing if you don't play defense. The fact that we were already one of the best defensive teams in the league and not only got better defensively but added another scoring option should be testament enough.

You may choose not to worry but I guarantee you that your FO will. Teams are going to have one helluva time trying to score on us.

Posted: **Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:25 pm**

any team with alston starting a PG is beatable....

i put the rox up there as a tough team, but i dont rate them ahead of us, the lakers or the spurs

i would say rox 4th with teams like the mavs

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:52 am**

When Houston gets out of the first round of the playoffs, you can all get back to me on how great they are and how they are going to be a contender, until then I wouldn't hold my breath? Playoffs games are won with defense, and big time players taking big time shots. I don't think any team with TMac as your go to guy is going to be a SERIOUS contender. Kobe, Paul, any of the Spurs big 3, Nash, Nowitzki, and DWilliams are all preferable players in my eyes to take big shots to win big games. Moving TMac for Billups makes them a more dangerous team (an earlier Summer time rumor).

Utah, on paper they are great, but when it comes time to play the games their record has not put them into the elite of the west. Playoff seedings aside, they are usually at the top of the second tier of playoff teams. Fortunately for them, they play in the weakest divsion. With the emergence of Portland, I could see the Jazz slipping to the back of the pack of playoff teams; probably not next season, but maybe in 2009/2010. Luckily, Denver has taken a step back and Minny and OKC haven't made any huge additions.

Phoenix has also benefited from being in a division that was not strong for several years as well. But, that is no longer the case with balance of power tilting toward the Lakers(who in all honesty have been better than their record has showed over the last few years because of injuries). Sactown and GSW are always tough match ups as well with their speed and athleticism. Even the Clipps look to be better this year.

Which brings us back to the Rockets, who have the toughest rode to get home court advantage come playoff time. The Spurs, Hornets, and Mavs make for a tough road.

This is how I see the teams finishing record wise.

1. Lakers
2. Hornets
3. Suns
4. Spurs
5. Rockets
6. Jazz
7. Blazers
8. Mavs

with playoff seads falling in as...

1. Lakers
2. Hornets
3. Suns
4. Jazz
5. Spurs
6. Rockets
7. Blazers
8. Mavs

And I would also add Roy into the group of superstars I would prefer taking the big shot over TMac.

I do applaud the Rockets for trying to improve their team, if there is any way they can move TMac for Billups I would do that as well.

Billups
Battier
Artest
Scola
Yao

Now that is a team I would be afraid to play in the playoffs.

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