Artest 99 Percent Sure He Won't Opt Out Of Contract

[KF10]

Artest NOT opting out.

Ron Artest remained with the Kings on Monday, when the deadline passed for the small forward to opt out of the final season of his contract and take his skills to free agency.

But just as one offseason question was answered for the Kings, another arrived in the form of the official arrival of free agency.

Point guard Beno Udrih became a former King at 9 p.m. Monday, when the team was expected to dial his agent, Marc Cornstein, in New York before anyone else in an attempt to bring him back. Numerous sources close to the team said the Kings were prepared to offer Udrih their full midlevel exception (approximately $6 million) in a five-year deal.

The Kings' most ardent competition for Udrih could be the Los Angeles Clippers, who likely will have ample salary cap room to offer Udrih more than the midlevel and are in desperate need of a point guard. New York also is believed to be interested, and the list most likely grows from there.

Artest's decision to not opt out means he will earn $7.4 million in the final season of his contract and become one of the league's most discussed potential trade pieces.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1051605.html

[Ballings7]

I'd be surprised if we dealt him to the Lakers for Odom, and overall feeling, definitely disappointed.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

6 MILLION, FIVE YEARS FOR BENO?! Whaaat?!

[bibby1023]

i sure hope the clippers will out bid us or watever so udrih doesn't sign for so much

[deNIEd]

Hast there ever been a year in which Petrie didn't use the MLE?

[deNIEd]

Also, about Artest.

With him not opting out is it possible to resign him this year/extend his contract I mean?

Or is it possible to trade him while he extends his contract? Or is he simply just an expiring regardless

[BMiller52]

Also, about Artest.

With him not opting out is it possible to resign him this year/extend his contract I mean?

Or is it possible to trade him while he extends his contract? Or is he simply just an expiring regardless

Yeah we can do all of those things. I think SA did the 1st thing you mentioned last year with Duncan. I know Boston did the 2nd with KG also and I think you can always sign guys to extensions.

[RIPskaterdude]

The Kings BETTER not sign Beno for the full MLE. Didn't they learn from their Moore mistake? Obviously, Moore/Beno were playing BETTER than their potential because they knew they were going to be FA at the end of the year. If you knew a big pay day was coming, wouldn't you try harder to excell at your job? Then as soon as you get it...slow it down a little bit. Don't want to get hurt lifting too much paperwork

[pillwenney]

The Kings BETTER not sign Beno for the full MLE. Didn't they learn from their Moore mistake? Obviously, Moore/Beno were playing BETTER than their potential because they knew they were going to be FA at the end of the year. If you knew a big pay day was coming, wouldn't you try harder to excell at your job? Then as soon as you get it...slow it down a little bit. Don't want to get hurt lifting too much paperwork

How was Mikki a mistake? He was a productive player last year and has positive value right now.

And denied, to answer your question, I don't think Geoff used it very much before using it on SAR. In fact, while I don't know what our salary situation was before that, I'm not sure he used it on anyone before that in the prime of the team except for Bobby (and that was only a small part of it). But I don't know, he might have used it on Pollard or Keon as well.

Edit: And wait....let me get this straight....Ron DIDN'T opt out because a bunch of unqualified draft pundits didn't like our pick?!

[asdfgh]

"Not opting out," Artest told ESPN.com's Marc Stein via e-mail Monday night. "The Kings have been there for me, so the best I could do is stay in my contract."

[Sacramento_King]

"Not opting out," Artest told ESPN.com's Marc Stein via e-mail Monday night. "The Kings have been there for me, so the best I could do is stay in my contract."

Mark Stein on ESPN just reported that Artest is having second thoughts and wished he would've tested the waters. What a moron!