rpa wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Well, like i inferred, there are a lot of people on both sides that are a bit unrealistic with what to expect in an Artest trade. I personally don't think the 1st and Lee are the starting point of an offer. Even with Artest playing well it's hard for me to say that Artest is worth what will probably be a lottery pick (Artest did lead a bad Kings team to the playoffs in a half year so nothing's impossible) AND a very good, young, role player (he's not a star) who's on his rookie contract for at least another full year.
Which is why in my deal, I said a 1st by 2010, giving the Knicks the opportunity to make the playoffs in the weak east in at least one of the next 3 seasons. If the Knicks are able to make the playoffs in one of those years, then it would make the most sense for them to trade the pick for the following year, if 3 years is up and they haven't made the playoffs by then, wherever that pick lands is fair game, even if it's in the upper half of the lottery.