Official Artest Everything Thread

[SadKingsFan]

Including him changing his mind on various things, Trade rumors, and Trade ideas. Hopefully after that...ACTUAL trades. Heres the first nice little rumor, although i wouldnt do it unless they included Farmar.

I've been told by numerous reliable people that it could happen quickly and that the Kings have already received calls from some of the expected pursuers of the small forward. The Lakers rang with no call back as yet from the Kings, and it appears the pieces in that possible deal have not changed. The Lakers are willing to offer forward Lamar Odom, but the question is whether they're willing to take on the contract of forward Kenny Thomas (two seasons, approximately $18 million left).

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/

[SadKingsFan]

Mods, hopefully you guys think this thread is a good idea.

[Ballings7]

Generally I love Odom, but I'd rather let Ron walk than trade him to the Lakers

And hey, I also wouldn't do it if they included Farmar too, and I don't think they would either because they'll have no solid future at PG. Fisher's still a good role-player, but he's in his mid-30s now. Not sure Farmar is going to be enough, to start, on this team, whereas he will be with the Lakers a bit down the line. We also just re-signed Beno, and I doubt he's going to be traded within a year or two, while Farmar enters his prime and is on the bench.

I also have my doubts about the Lakers taking Kenny or SAR's contracts, despite being expirings after next season.

It was/is expected the Lakers would probably call for Artest, but it just sucks to see the legitimate mention, and maybe initation of talks soon.

Not only as a fan of this team, but as a Spurs fan also, and as a Ron Artest fan, because I'd have to root against Ron quite a bit.

I don't think we should do an Artest/Odom trade, because while you get Odom which is quality value for Ron, Odom is going to walk after next season, too. Also, while only there for a year, Odom would just not help out the young big men development situation (as well as probably see some regular time at SF).

Then of course you have the whole Lakers/Kings past, and how that relates to the future, in helping the Lakers out big-time, with getting Ron Artest. The past of which, this franchise will likely never be over from.

I'd be kinda suprised and very mixed if an Artest/Odom swap happens, for sure. I still am leaning to it not happening, though.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

Ugh. I've never been the adament Ron supporter, but if we trade him to the Lakers I will be... upset. I don't much care for no-IQ Lamar, but if we got rid of KThomas in the deal... I'd still want something more, AKA Farmar or a pick. But the last thing I want to do is to help the Lakers win the ship.

[rpa]

Odom makes exactly zero sense for the Kings.

He's older than Artest thus there's no longterm value from the Kings side and his expiring contract doesn't do the Kings any good either.

I mean seriously, there's exactly ZERO upside for the Kings here.

[tlifeset]

Rational Lakers fan here. Is that any oxymoron?

Why do you want Ron Artest? It makes zero sense to keep him. He is legitimately insane, alienates his teammates and takes minutes away from the development of your young core players. You already traded Bibby at the end of last season. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would gamble on Petrie and gang hoping that Artest was going to opt out.

I know you hate the Lakers, but he is the perfect fit for them as a player and a drama queen. But, with that said, it makes MORE sense for you guys. Forget about Odom. He is an expiring contract. You get to also part with Kenny Thomas (an extra 8 mill off your books next year). Then you have Brad Miller and Abdur Rahim expiring next year too (almost 20 mill). This will put you in position to offer a max contract to a player next year (or trade Odom for him). OR you could realistically be so far under the cap by 2010 that you would be one of the few teams that could offer to sign TWO of the big class: Melo, Bosh, Wade and LBJ.

Anyway, that's my two cents. If you could part with another contract ... this makes all the sense in the world.

[RIPskaterdude]

Somehow, I could see this turning into a 3 team deal. Odom would be nice for the Kings, but even if the Kings trade KT with Artest, we are still stuck with Moore, Thompson, SAR and Odom playing the PF (sure, Odom could do SF instead, but I think he would be the ideal PF for this team because he's fast and a good rebounder). I wish Thompson will turn out great, but I wonder what would have happened if Bayless would have fallen to us in the draft.....Hmmmm...

Bayless
Martin
Salmons
Odom
Hawes

Damn you Pacers!!

[Chubby Chaser]

Trading Artest to the Lakers would be a "HELLA" smart decision. (See what I did there, I spoke Nor Cal talk so you guys can understand what I'm saying)

[Cruel_Ruin]

Rational Lakers fan here. Is that any oxymoron?

Why do you want Ron Artest? It makes zero sense to keep him. He is legitimately insane, alienates his teammates and takes minutes away from the development of your young core players. You already traded Bibby at the end of last season. If I were a betting man, which I am, I would gamble on Petrie and gang hoping that Artest was going to opt out.

I know you hate the Lakers, but he is the perfect fit for them as a player and a drama queen. But, with that said, it makes MORE sense for you guys. Forget about Odom. He is an expiring contract. You get to also part with Kenny Thomas (an extra 8 mill off your books next year). Then you have Brad Miller and Abdur Rahim expiring next year too (almost 20 mill). This will put you in position to offer a max contract to a player next year (or trade Odom for him). OR you could realistically be so far under the cap by 2010 that you would be one of the few teams that could offer to sign TWO of the big class: Melo, Bosh, Wade and LBJ.

Anyway, that's my two cents. If you could part with another contract ... this makes all the sense in the world.

Actually, now we can trade him for some value, so good thing that he didn't opt out. I'd love to trade him to the Lakers just so he can ruin their team chemistry, personally.

[jeffjtk1234]

i like a trade of either odom/farmar/2nd rounder or odom/ariza/2nd rounder for artest/thomas. We really have nothing to lose by doing either trade. Odom expires nest season as well. If he fits with the kings and works in our system we can resign him. I think hed be a nice compliment to kmart, hawes, salmons, etc. He rebounds and doesnt demand the ball. Also, ariza is an expiring so there is no risk there and farmar would be a nice backup pg so there is no risk there. Its really not a bad trade for the kings at all.

[jeffjtk1234]

and when you think about it a lineup of...

udrih/????/singletary
martin/garcia/douby
salmons/garcia
odom/thompson/SAR
miller/hawes

may not have very many BIG names on it, but i think its got good balance. Salmons is an underrated defender and as we saw last year is VERY effective as a starter. Odom rebounds very well and also averages 3 assists a game. Miller had a great year last year, and he can still be dealt this year. I would not mind an artest for odom swap at all. The lakers might improve a decent amount, but we are still rebuilding. We are not looking to compete for a championship right now. So why not do something that may help us as well?

[rpa]

I know you hate the Lakers, but he is the perfect fit for them as a player and a drama queen. But, with that said, it makes MORE sense for you guys. Forget about Odom. He is an expiring contract. You get to also part with Kenny Thomas (an extra 8 mill off your books next year). Then you have Brad Miller and Abdur Rahim expiring next year too (almost 20 mill). This will put you in position to offer a max contract to a player next year (or trade Odom for him). OR you could realistically be so far under the cap by 2010 that you would be one of the few teams that could offer to sign TWO of the big class: Melo, Bosh, Wade and LBJ.

Anyway, that's my two cents. If you could part with another contract ... this makes all the sense in the world.

And you call yourself rational? My god, where to start.

1) Miller & SAR don't expire next year; they expire in 2010.
2) Trading for Odom doesn't help the Kings at ALL getting under the cap for 2010. Both Thomas AND Artest will be off the cap by then.

This trade makes NO SENSE FOR THE KINGS.

[rimrocker26]

I don't like this trade at all. I think keeping Thomas, SAR, and Miller for 2010 is the way to go. There are some big name free agents that year that we need to go after. Odom does absolutely nothing for this team, and it would help the Lakers. Maybe if a 3rd team got involved, and we could get some young guys, but I don't like this.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

I think the heat should get involved, Odom to the heat, Artest to the lakers, and Marion to the kings. Dont know if the kings would do that though.

[rpa]

I think the heat should get involved, Odom to the heat, Artest to the lakers, and Marion to the kings. Dont know if the kings would do that though.

Marion is just a slightly more talented version of Odom--everything else about them is the same. And the thing is, Odom's talent level means exactly dick to the Kings. He's (and Marion for that matter) too old to be a centerpiece on a rebuilding team. If Odom WASN'T too old then the Kings would just keep Artest around--who's a better player.

[Ballings7]

And for a three-way deal where Odom goes to a third team, we'd probably have to get a combination of picks/expirings/some kind of decent younger player back. Because I don't see any solid possibilities in what player we'd get from the third team, as well as where Odom would really fit on a team other than a small amount of teams (right now).

[SacKingZZZ]

I think an Odom for Ron/Kenny deal would be good for both sides. With the direction we are heading Lamar may actually be a long term fit for us at the SF/PF spots. He would look great next to Miller or Hawes at PF. I say do it, see how the team looks at the deadline, if we aren't looking up than do what we can to trade Miller for expirings and get under the cap by next year.

The whole Lakers/Kings thing needs to be put to an end. We are at two totally different intervals, we aren't competing with them right now, we are competing with ourselves. This trade helps both sides for different reasons. The main one for us is that Lamar may be the PROTOTYPE PF for Petrie. That and he can slide to SF giving Jason the minutes he'll need.

[Jajwanda]

Odom is a nice fit on many teams. He could easily get you some very valuable pieces for the long-term.

In addition the Lakers may be willing to go just a bit further even to save Sacramento some cash. We could really use Mikki Moore with Turiaf gone so:

- Odom+Mihm
- Artest+SAR+Moore

The Lakers save the Kings some 11m next year and save them about 3m or so this year. That 14m can be increased without too much trouble. Odom can be traded to Cleveland (who would love to have him) for Snow+Jones+their rookie Hickson+next year's first round pick. The Kings would save about 2m right there.

So all in all the Kings save:

- 16m in salary, gain the equivalent of two first round picks and open up time for their young guys.

[rpa]

Odom is a nice fit on many teams. He could easily get you some very valuable pieces for the long-term.

In addition the Lakers may be willing to go just a bit further even to save Sacramento some cash. We could really use Mikki Moore with Turiaf gone so:

- Odom+Mihm
- Artest+SAR+Moore

The Lakers save the Kings some 11m next year and save them about 3m or so this year. That 14m can be increased without too much trouble. Odom can be traded to Cleveland (who would love to have him) for Snow+Jones+their rookie Hickson+next year's first round pick. The Kings would save about 2m right there.

So all in all the Kings save:

- 16m in salary, gain the equivalent of two first round picks and open up time for their young guys.

So the Kings trade Artest and then put the onus on themselves to find a taker for Odom? Yeah, great idea there. (That was sarcasm if it didn't come across well).

If the Kings trade Artest it won't be for pieces that they MAY be able to trade again; that's just downright (Please Use More Appropriate Word) thinking.

[CableKC]

IF the Lakers would accept a Odom for Artest+Kenny Thomas trade.......the only benefit that I can see is that the Kings gets to save about $10 mil in guaranteed $$$ while getting rid of Kenny Thomas and $8.75 mil off the 2009-2010 salarycap.

At best.....I would consider a Odom for Artest+Kenny Thomas trade a Financial move that saves the Kings $$$ in the long run while giving them some SalaryCap flexiblility next season. As far as I am concerned.....cut your loses with Artest while getting rid of Kenny Thomas. Honestly...as an outside observer...I really don't think that Artest's value is that great...unless you guys wait until the Trade deadline. At least with the Lakers...it's not like they have any draft picks to sell you guys....much less any prospect that you guys would want that they would be willing to part with.

As for resigning Odom or not...if he fits..great, resign him....if not...let him go ( just like you would have let Artest go for nothing ) and then get the players you want in the FA market. Trust me....if it looks like it's time to move on from the Artest era...it can't happen too soon.