Ron Being Ron...

UKF · Post #1 » by **UKF** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:59 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3469895

ESPN wrote:After seeing Elton Brand and Baron Davis unexpectedly put themselves on the free-agent market, Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest is second-guessing himself for not doing the same.

Artest told ESPN.com on Tuesday that he wishes now he had opted for unrestricted free agency, like Brand and Davis, instead of electing to play out the final year of his contract with the Kings next season at $7.4 million.

Artest also conceded that his long-term future is likely not in Sacramento, saying via e-mail: "I don't see myself with [the] Kings beyond 2008-09.

"I think I made the biggest mistake by staying in my contract and I have to live with it," Artest said. "I had some misleading information [in making the] decision on not opting out. [But] I still thank G-d for all his blessings and being able to play basketball and help people."

Artest let his opportunity to become a free agent pass Monday as he had been vowing to do for weeks. The 28-year-old preferred to put off free agency until next summer, figuring that he'd likely only generate contract offers this summer starting at the mid-level exception -- which was $5.4 million last season -- and believing that a big 2008-09 season would increase his chances of securing a long-term deal from either the Kings or someone else.

Before announcing his decision, Artest said last week: "Even if I was to opt out, which probably won't happen, I will never accept a mid-level exception. So people trying to figure out possibilities should get that out of their heads."....

Rugged Ron Ron · Post #2 » by **Rugged Ron Ron** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:08 pm

Wow! So shocking!

Cruel_Ruin · Post #3 » by **Cruel_Ruin** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:09 pm

This guy is about as stable as a three legged chair.

He's right, nonetheless. His future is not in Sac

UKF · Post #4 » by **UKF** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:14 pm

I'm thinking trade....

Rox_Nix_Nox · Post #5 » by **Rox_Nix_Nox** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:25 pm

If you guys had to trade artest who are you guys as fans looking at?

UKF · Post #6 » by **UKF** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:31 pm

Rox_Nix_Nox wrote:If you guys had to trade artest who are you guys as fans looking at?

As for destinations, places I see him going are LA, Dallas, San Antonio, and NY. Donnie Walsh getting hired by NY from Indiana, may hurt that idea but for the other cities I named, those should be legit..
Something that I would like in trades are draft picks. I dont expect us to get anyone great, maybe Odom from LA or Howard from Dallas, but picks are always nice, no matter where they are coming from.

Post #7 » by **KF10** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:34 pm

In an e-mail to ESPN.com, Ron Artest said he regrets not opting out of his contract by the June 30 deadline.
The backstory here involves a meeting the small forward had this morning with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie and Artest's agent, Mark Stevens. It appears that Artest was under the impression that there was a high likelihood the Kings would discuss his eventual signing to a long-term extension. But after numerous sources have said for months that such a move was highly unlikely, Artest and Stevens had continued to talk as if it was a strong possibility.
Petrie said in a phone interview minutes ago that he had a "candid" conversation with Artest but that "he wasn't too inclined to (say) much further than that."
Stevens, who was unaware of Artest's comments, said "I'm not even near a TV, so I can't even respond to something I haven't seen....Whatever his reasons for feeling that way is, well we'll just see. I'm not going to respond to it." - Sam Amick

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sp ... 13648.html

Post #8 » by **pillwenney** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:39 pm

Whatever. It's just Ron being Ron. It won't be an issue when the season starts.

Post #9 » by **KF10** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:45 pm

What if the the Kings frontoffice DID promise/consider Ron for a long term contract (Extension)? But they doubted and step back ? I remember that the Kings were talking about Artest's long term potential. Possibility an extension?

Post #10 » by **pillwenney** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:05 am

I seriously doubt that they really promised anything, knowing they would step back from it. Geoff has more integrity than that.

Post #11 » by **KF10** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:08 am

mitchweber wrote:I seriously doubt that they really promised anything, knowing they would step back from it. Geoff has more integrity than that.

Yeah, that is what I thought. That is NOT Petrie's style. I don't know. We will see. But again, this is Ron being Ron. So, discussing about it, it's pretty moot.

Rugged Ron Ron · Post #12 » by **Rugged Ron Ron** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:18 am

Didn't Arenas said the Kings made promised to draft him but did not?

Ballings7 · Post #13 » by **Ballings7** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:48 am

He really speaks his mind, hehe

He'll get over it soon, and realize how it's going to be (again), until he's possibly traded at the deadline, or after this coming season. I don't have much doubt he's going to go elsewhere after this season, anyway.

KM44 · Post #14 » by **KM44** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:24 am

I AM SICK OF RON ARTEST! I have talked about this for months and weeks and now, just look! Before, when I complained about artest, I did not have evidence. Well, I do not think at all that Artest's "talent" is worth the headache that he creates. He is overrated to start with and I am just sick of all of this crap. We should sign and trade him for picks and expirings and just move on. We spent money on Beno and now we need to do something to make a new name for ourselves. I am sick of this, I am officially starting the get rid of ron bandwagon. Join it if you please, but I hope that he leaves, soon.

KM44 · Post #15 » by **KM44** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:49 am

ok, the first thread is kind of me reacting to hearing that, so lets trade this guy.

When I think of teams who might want him, I think lakers, who we don't want anyone from (excluding kobe), Mavs, possibly howard?, Spurs, nobody again, Pistons, possibly prince, but the bad blood won't allow him to get there. Heat, only want beasley or wade, which we can't get either, and the Knicks. David lee and Robinson? I was a huge advocate earlier when these talks first started, and I will continue pushing these talks. My proposal is:

Artest & Thomas for Lee, Robinson, Malik Rose (expiring) and jefferson (filler)

I believe that both teams would do this and it would make artest happy, the knicks happy, and most importantly, the kings happy.

Bac2Basics · Post #16 » by **Bac2Basics** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:51 am

I'm betting if they weren't already planning on putting him on the training block, they will now.

Post #17 » by **pillwenney** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:52 am

KM44 wrote:I AM SICK OF RON ARTEST! I have talked about this for months and weeks and now, just look! Before, when I complained about artest, I did not have evidence. Well, I do not think at all that Artest's "talent" is worth the headache that he creates. He is overrated to start with and I am just sick of all of this crap. We should sign and trade him for picks and expirings and just move on. We spent money on Beno and now we need to do something to make a new name for ourselves. I am sick of this, I am officially starting the get rid of ron bandwagon. Join it if you please, but I hope that he leaves, soon.

Yeah passing statements in early July always come back to wreck locker rooms during the season.

sacking101 · Post #18 » by **sacking101** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 2:02 am

Part of his statement makes him sound like he was basing his decision by what brand and davis did. With those two and maggette and gilbert shopping the market he would be be the 3rd or 4th best player with only two teams (clips and miami) being able to offer a big contract. He doesn't make sense. I guess it really is just ron being ron.

Post #19 » by **KingInExile** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 2:06 am

Bac2Basics wrote:I'm betting if they weren't already planning on putting him on the training block, they will now.

What makes you think he wasn't on the block to begin with? I think there's a chance he gets dealt before the start of the season and an even better chance before the trade deadline.

Bac2Basics · Post #20 » by **Bac2Basics** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 2:12 am

KingInExile wrote:
Bac2Basics wrote:I'm betting if they weren't already planning on putting him on the training block, they will now.

What makes you think he wasn't on the block to begin with? I think there's a chance he gets dealt before the start of the season and an even better chance before the trade deadline.

Actually, I figured he was already on the trading block before, but if by some chance he wasn't before, I'm sure he is now.