Artest's future with the Rockets

[jzmagik]

This may not be the best time to discuss this, but I'm worried about Artest's future with us. I would definately not like to see him resigned unless its for something in the MLE range but he's definately going to look for a big payday. I know people are going to kill me for this especially after that one good game he just had, but this guy has too many negatives that outweigh his positives.

He's so selfish at times and it's obvious other people feel that way too. There's been plenty of times guys on our team show their frustration when their wide open but instead Artest chooses to go 1v5. Compounding the situation is that he's a horribly inefficient shooter. For every good shooting game he'll have, he'll have 4 horrendous ones. I also remember a players poll conducted not too long ago showing Artest was the player they least wanted to play with.

His defense, while still good has rapidly dropped off. He doesn't have the foot speed anymore to keep up with guys faster than him.

Morey needs to think very carefully about the future the team is headed in especially if he considers Artest a big part of it. It could also deter other players from signing with the Rockets, with a guy that selfish.

[Baller 24]

Morey stated awhile back that the organization is going to be on top of this, consider Ron signed, I'm not sure how big of a contract he's actually going to ask for, but IMO consider him signed, he brings the mental toughness to this team, gives it a sort of personality, IMO if we do resign him, our next job is to go after a PG.

[Rendezvous]

If we do sign him:

we should sign him for a 3-4 year MLE or a few mill above,
possible 8-9 million?

is that a good contract?

oh yeah and a catch
if he goes in "Dumbass mode" ( acts like allen iverson dribbling, then jacks it up like fatoine)
then he should get money cut from his contract

[Iggyemu]

I think at this point it depends on Artest. I think when you are brought in to do something and you do it....the organization is willing to have you back.

But for Artest it'll be two things. How much money he wants....and how close he wants to be to home. If he wants 10 million you give it to him. If he doesn't wanna go back to the East coast then he'll be back in Houston. I think for Artest though...playing near home probably outweighs money.

[Young_Star11]

Depends on Artest. If he wants to chase the money, we can't really stop him.

Anything up to 8 million a year would be decent

[TMU]

Or Les Alexander can agree to exceed the luxury tax by offering him more than the MLE.

[Guy986]

4 years 44 millions with the last year a team option.

[texasholdem]

we need either Ron or Von next year. Probably can't afford both.

[YoungMoney23]

If Ron leaves we may take a step back into a first round team but if he does we better get something for him

[BaYBaller]

I still don't see much of a market for Artest especially given the likely decrease in the salary cap and teams trying to shed contracts like nobody's business. The length of the contract that Artest wants is also going to be just as big a factor as the salary/year too IMO. Morey has done a lot of manuvering to clear out all the deadweight on the roster and I very much doubt he resigns Artest if he wants more than 3-4 years.

[ShaY]

I would like to have him signed , even though he can kill your offense sometimes he does provide and edge and toughness to this team.

I still think he can fit in with T-Mac if the chemistry will be good enough , they seem to like each other and if T-Mac will play like himself and not like a scrub who is about to retire he will earn Ron's confidence in him and things will be good.

Another guy is Von Wafer , I don't know if we can sign him I was kind of hoping we can sign Bibby with the MLE maybe.

[2fast4u]

both tmac and artest needs the ball on their hands to be effective, and in 1 team, you can only have 1. so its either artest or tmac. one of them should take the boot/ and most likely..its...

[Alex_De_Large]

we need all 3 next year and win da championship, tmac, von and ron.

[red96]

We shuold be able to resign Wafer to a Landry, and Scola type contract like 3 years 8-9 million. Wafer shouldnt make more than those 2.

Artest shouldn't get more than 10.5 mill a year.

[Jaykoolzboy]

4 years 36 million sounds nice to me

[next2spike]

we need all 3 next year and win da championship, tmac, von and ron.

are you serious with that? please. i almost threw up in my mouth.

[BaYBaller]

both tmac and artest needs the ball on their hands to be effective, and in 1 team, you can only have 1. so its either artest or tmac. one of them should take the boot/ and most likely..its...

Artest doesn't really need the ball in his hands to be effective. His strength on offense really is his spot-up 3 and in the post. If Artest can live with T-Mac being the primary ball-handler they would compliment each other pefectly - in theory at least.

[chuckerz]

He makes about 8 million a year right now and would probably ask for more after a very successful season. His value is up since he definitely shows that he can be well behaved.

[albatrosskismet]

I know to keep Ron here we'd better cough up at least 10 million, which obviously is too much for his worth. But he brings in a good piece which is fantastic team-chemistry-wise. 10 million is still a good deal. But 12 million? No, thanks.

[College Boy]

If we win the title or at least go to the finals, I think we can retain him for 10. However, other teams will offer him more if he keeps up his stellar post season play. In my opinion, he only stays here if a title is imminent.