Rumor: Boozer for Scola and Artest?

[mg]

Saw this discussed on another forum:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11578

[stevebozell]

at Artest and Sloan together




LHM (or Greg) would never approve, even though I would love to see it.

[jazzfan1971]

I could maybe see Battier and Scola. But, Artest????

I think it would have to include another team.

[babyjax13]

Wow

[CAE15]

even though this is a ridiculous rumor I want more of em.

[J_Ray]

Okay this may sound crazy, but imagine Artest playing PF in Sloan's system? He's got the strength to play in the post, and he has a speed advantage in the post with his defensive intensity. Then he's the expiring to resign Millsap and we get a great cheap post player that is perfect for Sloan. Artest wasn't a problem in Sacramento until the next season when they were losing. I think this would be a great deal if we know we're losing Boozer, even though it seems like it may help Houston a bit, but then their frontcourt is somewhat a liability on D IMO.

[hoops4life]

I don't think that I would mind that at all.

[El Turco]

me likey.

[@ndrew]

AK+Artest - all the pros and cons of the NBA at the same time...

[erudite23]

Wow....I kind of like that. Scola is an excellent glue player who could play the 4 and the 5. A superior position defender and a solid offensive guy who can hit an open shot and fit into a team scheme on O and D.

Artest....hmmm, tough as nails, even to the point of being dirty. Great, not good, on-ball defender. Solid offensive skills and an amazing will to compete.


...Buuuttttt he's a chucker, a ball stopper, and selfish in a weird, unconventional way that almost always ends up ruining the chemistry of a team.

This trade could make us the best team in the conference, cure our ills on defense while making us slightly better than we've been on the offensive end this year and give us the toughness and attitude we've been lacking. I love it. And it terrifies me.

But this is a risk that I might actually be willing to take. Scola would look great in a Jazz uniform.

[@ndrew]

Yeah, Argentineans in white and blue are looking great! Didn't think about it! Make it happen, KOC!

[Soul Patch]

I think I'm OK with this. A Boozer vs Millsap in the playoffs gives me a boner.

[d-will8]

I hate Scola and I've always been skeptical of Artest's ability to remain sane. To be totally honest, though, and it kills me to say this, I kinda like the idea, whether it's a legitimate possibility or not. Our defense would improve significantly, we'd get a lot tougher and, while our offense wouldn't be as good as it was last year or as good as it could potentially be this year with everyone healthy, it would still be pretty damn good, better than it's been all year. Just imagine the defensive versatility we'd have with Artest and AK. Throw in Millsap, Scola and Brewer, who would be a lot better playing alongside an elite perimeter defender who could give the freedom to gamble for more steals, and that's a pretty good defensive team. Not having seen what this team can do when healthy, I'm not quite sure I want us to move Boozer, but if that's the intention, this is an intriguing option. Acquiring Artest is always a high risk, high reward thing, but his contract is expiring, so the risk isn't as high as it could be.

[JStockLivesOn]

I'll take "Invitation to Utter Catastrophe" for a thousand, Alex.

[carrottop12]

I would so hit a Scola and Battier trade. That would be sick.

[Jazzman20]

Artest would HATE IT in Utah. Think of it this way- our head couch had trouble getting along with Gordan Giricek and Greg Ostertag. Now look at Artest's history and tell me you don't think this is nuts. Utah doesn't need to risk taking on any serious drama, especially from someone as notorious as Ron Artest.

[seejaydeja]

I love Scola's game. He's the kind of guy that you love to hate just cause he's not on your team. But I still don't see how a Scola/Artest OR Scola/Battier package makes us any more of a contender than Boozer.

[Ming Kong!]

I wouldn't mind getting Battier or a serious, devoted to winning Artest. Maybe Williams and Sloan can keep Artest in check. He's been behaving pretty well for 2 or 3 yrs now.

Okur/Koufos/Fesenko
Millsap/Scola/Collins
Artest/Kirilenko/Miles
Brewer/Kover/Almond
Williams/Knight/Price

Looks pretty good on paper. Lots of defense too.

[David Ginola 14]

Scola and Battier should be perfect...

[The Sheik]

Well if you are looking at from a Jazz and Rockets perspective. They are getting a nice role player in Scola and an expiring contract in Artest. Thats why the rumor isnt Battier and Scola. Its also apparent there is locker room issues and Artest is the easiest to trade.

Of all this half ass rumors out there this one is fairly realistic.