Ron Artest is indeed a CRAZY man

magicfan4life05 · Post #1 » by **magicfan4life05** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:40 pm

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

Artest says it was a 'mistake' not to opt out of deal with Kings

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.

Ballings7 · Post #2 » by **Ballings7** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:45 pm

Ron being Ron... 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.

Yangsing · Post #3 » by **Yangsing** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:46 pm

Artest would have gotten more than 7.4 mil a year by opting out.

tracey_nice · Post #4 » by **tracey_nice** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:52 pm

He should demand a trade; to the lakers!

Post #5 » by **KF10** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:56 pm

Umm, it Ron being Ron. He usually express himself like that. It's not new.

PeaceNluv · Post #7 » by **PeaceNluv** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:03 pm

It's understandable why he wouldn't opt out though. If you think about the idea that Orlando may be offering Magette the mid level exception. I'm sure that a lot of teams would have offered Artest the mid-level as well. It would likely only be losing teams that could offer him more, but if he would have been satisfied with going to a losing team for a larger salary, then I guess it was a mistake not to opt out.

Post #8 » by **pillwenney** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:14 pm

Yeah, it's just Ron being Ron. He just sees that Baron is getting a good offer and going off of that, but the Clippers wouldn't have made him an offer, mostly because they have a much great need for Baron.

blzrfan · Post #9 » by **blzrfan** » Tue Jul 1, 2008 11:52 pm

Does Ron Artest have a twin we don't know about?

lakerfan10770 · Post #10 » by **lakerfan10770** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:08 am

I love how Kings fan's just play it off as "Ron being Ron" when everyone else thinks the guy is nuts. I guess if the shoe was on the other foot and he was on the Lakers I would defend him as well (although with Kobe last year a lot of fans were like screw him, trade his a55), but man the guy really needs to make up his mind about what he wants. I think he just needs to stop talking to the media for a while......

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

The speculation about what happened is that he was under the impression that he would be with the Kings long term, but then found out that others didn't seem to think that would happen.

He may be crazy, but I don't think this is really an example. It seems more like a miscommunication than anything. But it's hard to tell right now.

Blame Rasho · Post #12 » by **Blame Rasho** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:17 am

Ron is off... Odds are that he is traded 70 cents on the dollar at the trade deadline to a contender.

legacyinthemakin89c · Post #13 » by **legacyinthemakin89c** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:17 am

He wants to compete for a championship now, and the Kings aren't even close, so I don't blame him. He should have opted out, signed with a contender for the mle and make up the money by rapping....

Alex_De_Large · Post #14 » by **Alex_De_Large** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 12:49 am

You gotta love him. But he plays for the passion, not for the money.

Killuminati · Post #15 » by **Killuminati** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:32 am

legacyinthemakin89c wrote:He wants to compete for a championship now, and the Kings aren't even close, so I don't blame him. He should have opted out, signed with a contender for the mle and make up the money by rapping....

You must not have heard of his "Album" :lol:

NCHeels2008 · Post #16 » by **NCHeels2008** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:35 am

Blame Rasho wrote:Ron is off... Odds are that he is traded 70 cents on the dollar at the trade deadline to a contender.

Iggyemu · Post #17 » by **Iggyemu** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 1:37 am

tracey_nice wrote:He should demand a trade; to the lakers!

He'll be traded but the Maloofs will die before they trade him to LA.

Rox_Nix_Nox · Post #18 » by **Rox_Nix_Nox** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 2:32 am

Iggyemu wrote:
tracey_nice wrote:He should demand a trade; to the lakers!

He'll be traded but the Maloofs will die before they trade him to LA.

What because of that "rivalry"? It's been how long? It should have died when Divac came back and played for us. Kings can get Lamar, see if it works out and if it doesn't he's a free-agent..money off their salary.

Walmart · Post #19 » by **Walmart** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 2:54 am

Artest isn't crazy. the man's clearly devoid of common sense.

HeatFanSince87 · Post #20 » by **HeatFanSince87** » Wed Jul 2, 2008 3:06 am

Alex_De_Large wrote:You gotta love him. But he plays for the passion, not for the money.

They all play for the money..