Cavs still have shot at Artest

[bcortell]

haha.

and yes i believe Artest can do it. I also believe Lebron can get some time on a team's SG.

and maybe not 63 but 56-60 seems reasonable.

(PS sorry about screwing up the scoring with AV still there and what not. Point was that we would avg more than what we did this season, which was like 96 ppg, and we would be oodles times better with defense and have more time to work on chemistry.) And i agree that West works hard on defense and is not a liability by any means on that side of the ball.

[tigrao]

Boston and Detroit both have tall shooting guards which Artest could probably keep up with versus someone like Allen Iverson. Not to mention his defense would be way better than Wally.

[rjgraca]

I know some of you want Artest at any price, but I couldn't find any local new links that were in favor of the CAVs acquiring him for anything significant. The following are some that I found amusing.

If getting away from the Artest madness is a no-brainer – one rival general manager called it "The Ron Show," considering the imagined contract extensions and the swearing of loyalty to the Kings and then saying he doesn't want to be here – Petrie is the one who has to make sure there's something good on the other side of the escape hatch.

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1095565.html

It's very doubtful the Cavs will try to get in on a deal for Ron Artest. The Kings also want to dump Kenny Thomas, who is owed $16.5 million over the next two years, in any trade. Artest can be a free agent at the end of the season. For all the talk of trading him, he may very well stay in Sacramento.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/ind ... jones.html

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I keep hearing talk about Ron Artest possibly coming to the Cavaliers in a trade.

Right.

Alas, we digress.

Does anyone remember when Artest got into that brawl in Detroit, that led to his going in the stands? There was an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers who went into the stands trying to drag Artest out. Guy by the name of Mike Brown.

He's now the Cavs coach.

And the guy who got into it first with Artest, that started the whole thing? Guy by the name of Ben Wallace.

He's on the Cavs now, too.

For some reason, I just don't see the Cavs doing a lot to try to acquire Artest.

http://www.bnd.com/508/story/403038.html

[midgman8421]

I'd love to get Artest in here, and he could definitely guard the 2. A lineup of:

West/Boobie
Artest/Pavs
LeBron/MLE
Wallace/Smith/Hickson
Z/Thomas

That lineup would be pretty solid. If we get Childress or Gomes to be a wing player off the bench for our MLE, I think I'd try to find a backup C still... or we could sign and trade for Gomes or Childress and use our MLE on Kwame, which I'd like.

[Benedict_Boozer]

I would roll the dice on Artest. Doesn't work out, he's gone in the offseason anyways.

There is some definite risk to it but I think Lebron would sign off on the opportunity and our team defense with LBJ/Artest on the wings would be incredible.

[tigrao]

one thing to think about is how Artest would effect the locker room. Even if he doesn't do any particular bonehead moves, how will his day to day personality effect the chemistry on the team? Is he known as a player who gets on others nerves or is he liked by his teammates?

[bcortell]

is he liked by Ben Wallace?

[DariusRickyMilesDavis]

Who cares? It's not like Ben Wallace has much of a future here anyways.

Ron has always been known as a loner with an anger switch. Personally, I think he is mentally unstable. That said, if you can accept that he has the potential to blow up at any point (no matter how mature or how much he doesn't want to) you also must recognize the potential he brings to this club. He makes us a great defensive team. We rebound with our guards a ton better with him around. Around the game of basketball, Ron is extremely mentally tough. He plays hard every second he is on the court and you never have to worry about him sticking up LBJ. Team-wise he's not going to be perfect in our system but I don't think your going to find a defender of his caliber that would fit perfectly except Bruce Bowen.

If all you have to give up is cap flexibility and Wally I think the deal should have been done yesterday. Will it get done? Probably no-we are barely even being linked by the national media which is disheartening to me. But the risk is clearly worth the reward and as Benedict said, if he doesn't work then you can wave goodbye in the off season. To me this deal comes down to whether or not paying the luxury on Thomas' deal is worth it monetarily for Gilbert. Snow's or AV's deal is not going to drop us below the cap next offseason and Thomas expires in 2010. Monetarily actually I think you could call it a wash for us. I think if you justify it in terms of LBJ leaving v. LBJ staying...well that's a pretty damn easy decision for Gilbert. It's up to Ferry to decide whether or not Artest puts us over that hump.

[rjgraca]

O.K. I am not an Artest fan, but I like posting amusing news links about him like the following:

I am as dumb as they come. Take a look at the two people involved in catalyzing the ugliest incident in NBA history.

Oh yeah! Ben Wallace and Ron Artest got into a fight. According to some sources when Artest was lying on the scorer's table right before he got the beer rained down on him he was yelling to Ben Wallace, "You can suck my balls!"

Uhh, yeah, so maybe the Cavs shouldn't try and mend that fence by bringing Ron Artest in to be a teammate of Ben Wallace.

My bad.

http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/ ... mes/292778

Finally, this rumor is pretty mind blowing. The SacBee is reporting that Detroit may be putting together a package for Ron Artest. Now wouldn't the Detroit fans just love having Billy Ron Ron there? After that brawl, Artest has been pretty much a villain in the Palace. This is one I'll have to see to believe.



http://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/ ... ion/293819

[Ballings7]

Kings and Artest fan here...

Actually Artest can play and has played PF for stretches, usually not for long amounts, though.

He's also strong and long enough to effectively defend a lot of PFs, for spurts, some possessions. Offensively, his quickness and even at times strength, is the advantage against bigs.

His bad shot selection is also really exaggerated, it definitely happens semi-regularily, but in a small amount. His play-making ability for others is the most overlooked and underrated part of his game, being solid there and being able to set up people in a few ways. He's been pretty consistent there for awhile, too.

He's a very versatile player on both sides of the ball, very unique. He'd be a terrific side-kick to LeBron, and would make things a lot easier on him as a whole. Especially LeBron being able to be less ball dominant.

Mike Brown knowing Ron pretty well from their Indiana days is certainly a plus. They had an above-average relationship in terms of player/coaching staff goes, from what I remember.

===================

For anybody going on about "Artest/Ben Wallace on the same team would be bad!", aside from the issues being years ago, Ron and Ben being men and humans, getting over it, time healing any wounds - here's this piece of material for you....

CHICAGO (AP) -- Ben Wallace of the Chicago Bulls walked into the Sacramento Kings locker room after the game and hugged Ron Artest.

Then, they huddled with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Nearly two years after one of the ugliest incidents at a sporting event in the United States, Wallace and Artest made peace.

There were no late fouls. No retaliation pushes. And, most importantly, no riots.

"I always wanted to talk to him," Artest said. "When you take a hit like that and are not playing in the NBA for a whole year, you get kind of frustrated. It was good I had a chance to talk to him."

It was their first meeting since the brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Artest gave each of Bulls a pat on the rear end before the opening tip, then struggled from the field before the late surge. He was fouled backing in on Kirk Hinrich on the game's opening possession. Wallace swatted the ball into the seats, drawing a few oohs, and Artest made both free throws.

Otherwise, there was little interaction between the two on the court -- unlike their encounter on Nov. 19, 2004.

Artest reiterated his desire to box Wallace on pay per view before Friday's game, predicting he would win in one round. Otherwise, he tried to defuse any drama.

"If it were Detroit-Indiana, it would be different," said Artest, a former Bull. "There would probably be more anxiety."

Instead, they hugged after a tense game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=261103004

you also must recognize the potential he brings to this club. He makes us a great defensive team. We rebound with our guards a ton better with him around. Around the game of basketball, Ron is extremely mentally tough. He plays hard every second he is on the court and you never have to worry about him sticking up LBJ. Team-wise he's not going to be perfect in our system but I don't think your going to find a defender of his caliber that would fit perfectly except Bruce Bowen.

Agreed. He loves the game, is a gym rat (at times too much), and plays hard.

I always chuckle or shake my head when I see this garbage "when his head is right..." basketball-wise, his head has just about always been fine and competitive for his career. I think whoever thinks like that has a limited perspective and is overreacting to his past issues he's had. Most of which when he was less mature than he's become (significantly improved) since leaving Indiana.

Yes, I know he didn't have any legal troubles in 2008 yet, but he did have charges for domestic violence and animal abuse levied against him in 2007.

Yeah that was definitely bad, but he already made up with his wife (who wasn't innocent in that then either). Did the various services, and from what I came away post-incident after following it, he grew from it all.

Here's the story with the dog situation

According to a Placer County report obtained by the Sacramento Bee, on January 30, 2007, Animal Services officers issued a “pre-seizure” notice to Artest regarding suspicions that a dog at his home in Loomis was not receiving adequate food. On February 5, officers returned and seized Socks, a black female Great Dane, removing her into protective custody with a local veterinarian. The seizure action cited a law that requires animal caretakers to “provide proper sustenance.” Artest later sent an email to the Bee, writing “I'm glad to say all problems are solved now, and I'm looking forward to getting my dog back.” In March 2007, his dog was released under a foster care agreement after being treated for more than a month. In April 2007, the Placer County District Attorney's Office announced that it would not file charges against Artest over the incident. It also was reported by Placer County Animal Services and by Artest that he agreed to allow Socks to be adopted by a new owner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Artest ... library-16

The end of it..

SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ One of the legal problems that hit Ron Artest during the basketball season is apparently over.

The Placer County District Attorney's Office announced Friday that it won't file charges against the Sacramento Kings player over a citation that he wasn't feeding his dog.

Deputy District Attorney Jeff Wilson said there was insufficient evidence to charge either Artest or his wife, Kimsha, with animal cruelty or neglect.

He said veterinarian examinations showed that Socks, a Great Dane, had a bone infection in a leg that contributed to her weight loss and lack of appetite.

It also was announced Friday by Placer County Animal Services and by Artest that the Kings star has agreed to allow Socks to be adopted by a new owner.

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/su ... 780248_ITM

This, of course because it was not controversial, was not that publicized by the media, from what I remember.

[hoopsdownlow]

artest is cool. i want him on the cavs.

[rjgraca]

Since Ron Artest has succeeded in keeping his mouth shut for almost a week -- there hasn't been much news about him. I did find some a life time achievement award that CBS Sportsline awarded him a little while back where he made their sports top 50 list!

Top 50 Sports Jerks, the Sequel: Pity these fools

But they're all simply misunderstood. Just so you know.

The list was developed utilizing a complicated formula developed by NASA, endorsed by Bobby Knight, approved by Tonya Harding and finalized under the watchful eye of my friend and fellow jerk Gregg Doyel.

While revealing the intricate formula would result in my immediate disappearance and subject me to intense bitch-slapping at the hands of Randy Moss, factors such as arrests, treatment of fans, treatment of fellow athletes, treatment of women, drug use, treatment of the media, involvement in scandal and overall respect for their sport, among other criteria, are all part of developing the list and assigning a jerkitude score.

Each candidate received a specific score of jerkitude from one to five. With a jerkitude score of five being, oh, say, a certain former athlete being accused of a double murder using a knife, with a score of one being two mascots getting into a fistfight.

We need this list. We crave this list.

23. Ron Artest: Special starting-a-riot bonus. Jerk score: 3.1.

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10908886/rss

[eyejayem]

I'd take Ron. Although an Idiot, you cant imagine that much passion in a player. He just reminds me of a player like Dennis Rodman, does some things really well but cant fuction too well in the real world. There will always be at least one player like that, very good on the court but a distraction to people.

[rjgraca]

^ If you can get him for a reasonable price -- less the crap contract which is doubly painful since the CAVs are in luxury tax land. If the Kings keep on insisting on attaching Thomas to any deal for Artest -- it will take until the trade deadline like Bibby last season to trade him without Thomas.

[tigrao]

I think Artest could make us dominant. West, Artest, Wallace, Z, and Lebron.