If you'd a choice... UFA R. Wallace or UFA Artest?

[campybatman]

My choice is Artest for obvious reasons. For one, defense. He's a former NBA Defensive Player of the year. And he's only twenty-eight. Who's your choice between these two players for this off season? That is, assuming that Ainge could convince one of them to sign here for X salary. But, one has to figure that both of these players are at the top of Ainge's To Target list.

I like Wallace too but he's the older of the two and I prefer to sign the younger one if it's for multiple years. Conversely, if it's short term, one or two years. Then I'll say Rasheed.


Pros

Competitive and extremely talented players. Defense is one of their strengths. Each are capable of playing and guarding more than one position. They both possess outside range, a solid rebounder and can handle being role players. Both are intimating.

Cons

Both have a proneness to drawing a technical foul and are loose cannons. In other words, they aren't favorites among the referees. And it doesn't help that they've erratic personalities.

[Mahoney_jr]

Isn't that posting influenced by Artest's performance against LeBron yesterday evening? It just feels quite reactionary...

I think Artest is still too good and too demanding to play the role he'd supposed be to in our rotation. Rasheed is ideal in this stage of his career as a complimentary piece. And both are prone to dumb decisions on offense. Therefore I would prefer the big man, who's on the receiving end, rather than Ron Artest creating from the wings.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

There's no way Artest would settle for the James Posey role. If he was 38, then maybe. But at 28? Nope. Just remember, this is the guy who said that Lebron James was a "new and improved version of Ron Artest".

Sheed would be more realistic IMO.

[Bad-Thoma]

Sheed any day. He's a big and he's durable. Artest.... no thanks. He's good and all, but he's even more of a loose cannon than Sheed, Sheed's a pretty good team mate by all accounts. Sheed/KG/Perk is a sick defensive front court, I'll take the D in the paint over the D on the perimeter any day, plus Sheed and KG combined will help keep them both fresh.

[sully00]

Artest as a defender is overrated and he is a disruptive force in an offense never mind the off the court crap. I don't think he is MLE candidate either. Artest is a SF who is very limited at either the 2 or the 4 so he isn't a great fit in what Boston does. He doesn't want to push the ball or fit into a passing offense and we have a short physical guys already.

Wallace is a 6'11" 4/5 who is equally comfortable starting and coming off the bench. He spreads the floor and can handle the basketball. He is an excellent defender for a big man and a good rebounder. He is a perfect fit for Boston.

Beyond that Wallace's teamates love him even if the refs and sometimes management doesn't. Ron Ron brightens up a room when he leaves. Has anyone ever even said "Man we really missed Ron tonight," I just don't **** think so.

[Prophet_C]

Rasheed, for the reasons Bad Thoma and Sully stated

[campybatman]

Isn't that posting influenced by Artest's performance against LeBron yesterday evening? It just feels quite reactionary...

I didn't see the game so I don't know what you're talking about. I've been in support of wanting Artest in Boston for some years now. People should really take care not to assume things.

[threrf23]

I'd take Artest. We already have Perk at center, a perfect compliment to the rest of our lineup, and serviceable big men on the bench (Baby, Powe). Its not that Wallace couldn't help, but he keeps getting older (35 years old at the start of next season), has never been extremely efficient offensively, and would be due to fall off at any time.

Compared to Wallace Artest has generally been more offensively efficient, he's better on the offensive boards, better passer, arguably gives us more versatility. And on the defensive end, he gives us more than Wallace.

Moreover, if he works out, it gives us more leeway if we decide it is worthwile to trade Ray's expiring contract. If Ray isn't going to be traded, I say you start Artest and use either Ray or PP as a sixth man. Artest also allows us to go small in the right situation...

[campybatman]

Sheed would be more realistic IMO.

In my opinion, you could say both of them are unrealistic options in free agency. I mean who's to say a team like San Antonio won't offer Wallace more in a deal. For Boston, it'll be about convincing that player to sign by putting team and goal ahead of money. That pitch doesn't always work for certain players. Wallace isn't too old where he couldn't get himself a $7M or $8M a year contract. I'm not sure Ainge would offer that much.

[cfan79]

I'd take Artest because of his age and our need for that position. That crazy bastard can defend. But Rasheed would be nice too.

[GreenGrizz]

KG and Rasheed respect each other. I am sure they would love to play together before they retire. I know nothing about Artest. I don't think Pierce wants any part of him.

[sully00]

threrf23

What are you using to describe "efficiency."

The stat the NBA has Wallace at 15.9 and Artest at 15.2 but I don't think that even really tells the story. If you look at shooting percentages and usage rates Sheed is a much more efficient player than Artest by almost any measure, but a better term would be useful Ron just isn't that useful a player. He is poor rebounder and turnover prone were Sheed never turns the ball over and is a very solid rebounder.

[campybatman]

I'd take Artest because of his age and our need for that position.

Exactly.

I thought I remember hearing or reading that Ainge was interested in Artest. It might have been when he was on the block with Sacramento. I like that he helps a team as a starter or reserve.

[nasbahceltic]

Yea Artest wouldn't work here. He's too young to be relegated to 6th man status and needs to be patronized wayyyyyyy too much in terms of his role within the team (especially on offense). As much as I would hate the matchup I think he's an asbolute perfect fit with the Lakers. If I was them I'd go after Ron Ron big time this offseason. Fisher, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum...that starting 5 would be incredibly difficult to deal w/

[threrf23]

threrf23

What are you using to describe "efficiency."

The stat the NBA has Wallace at 15.9 and Artest at 15.2 but I don't think that even really tells the story. If you look at shooting percentages and usage rates Sheed is a much more efficient player than Artest by almost any measure, but a better term would be useful Ron just isn't that useful a player. He is poor rebounder and turnover prone were Sheed never turns the ball over and is a very solid rebounder.

I was more just looking at TS%, which is a good estimate for points per shot attempt, factoring in attempts on which a foul was drawn. I guess I should say either 'scoring efficiency' or TS%. Anyways in recent years Wallace's TS% seems to be around .525 and I would assume it could easily be lower if he was removed from the Pistons' system. Artest, before this season, was above .530 two seasons straight, while not playing on a great team. His % is down this season but I don't believe its been bad at all ever since he started off poorly.

You are right about turnovers. I wouldn't call Artest turnover prone, but Wallace is particularly solid in that category and hasn't regressed without Billups on the floor.

I don't necessarily think that Artest's D is overrated. Maybe a little bit. I think the rest of his game tends to be a little underrated. When I claim that I would personally take Artest, its based on my tendency to - all things equal to an extent - desire the better player. I think Artest is clearly the better pick up next season in terms of an ability/talent standpoint. I do concede that we don't need a player of his caliber so much as we need someone that fits perfectly in line with our other pieces. I'm not sure that Rasheed is a perfect enough fit to pass up on Artest, considering that I do feel he fits. But I see the validity of the other viewpoint and when push comes to shove I trust Danny.

[Scalamental]

This is a tough one for me. Can't we have both? That'd probably be to much attitude for one coach to handle. Rasheed is my favorite non celtic, but Ron Artest is a beast on D. But then again he is also a major distration/butthole. I think Artest has proven that he can never keep his ish together, and thus my decision would have to go with sheed, who I hear is good friends with KG.

I'd go with Artest if he was on a Starbury sized leash, but I cant see that happening any time soon. Would love to have another premier sf defender. But again, Artest is a S.O.B.

[Avalanche]

Sheed, and i actually think its likely to happen

Big man who can defend, pass, knock down shots from anywhere... .plus we will be losing either Baby or Powe realistically

Artest would be awesome to have to defend lebron, but for the rest of the season who knows how it would go asking him to come off the bench and limit his role.

We do need to address the back up 3 spot in the off-season, just someone strong enough to hold Bron in check for a couple of minutes at a time, but Sheed should be the target from day 1.

[campybatman]

My one concern with adding Artest is I personally believe Pierce doesn't like him. He's irksome. I mean even if he were your teammate, he'll find a way to get under your skin. But, you can make a similar claim of Rasheed. It's tough as someone has said. What do you do when their temper has gotten the better of them? I don't think even Garnett can help calm Wallace's boil.

[CelticFaninLBC]

Can't imagine Houston not resigning Artest. Allen Iverson's a more likely UFA than Artest... Detroit's not brining him back and many teams won't be looking to add to payroll...

[campybatman]

Webber, who has played for the Pistons and with Iverson in Philadelphia, said Iverson should come off the bench while Rip Hamilton starts.

"Allen is the best player I've seen with four stiffs, and that's no disrespect to anyone," Webber said.

At another point during his guest spot on "Inside the NBA," Webber said, "Allen Iverson needs five robots to play with him."

Webber said that was the case in 2000-'01, when Iverson's Philadelphia 76ers beat the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference championship to advance to the NBA Finals.

"He had five guys who couldn't score," Webber said about '01 76ers. "Aaron McKie, (Dikembe) Mutombo, (Eric) Snow, all defensive players."

Iverson was asked about Webber's idea and Iverson said, laughing: "Listen man, I haven't ever thought Chris had it all, anyway. It don't matter man, I do whatever is going to make the team better. . . . It'll be tough. I have never (come) off the bench ever in my career so it's something different. But whatever happens, happens."

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