microfib4thewin wrote:
1. Sac needs a true 4, Odom is a hybrid 3/4 who has average post up skill. The Kings would also be interested in draft picks because they want to build a young team, the Lakers don't have any picks to trade with and Odom isn't exactly young.
How many "hybrid 3/4"s average a double-double every game and help his team reach the Finals? Odom's done pretty well at PF in the Western Conference. And Odom's younger than half the guys on the team, same age as Salmons, 28, and among the core young guys like Martin, Garcia, and Udrih, they're only a couple years younger than Odom.
2. After the whole Donaghy debacle on accusing refs of fixing the 02 series, do you think the Maloofs would risk trading with the Lakers and receive more scrutiny from their own fans?
That makes no sense at all. Why would the Maloofs be under scrutiny from their own fans? Because they conspired to fix their own losses? They'll do a trade if it helps them.
3. Maybe Artest will eventually realize he can't demand money that equates his 'actual value', but not this year when he still has about 8 mil left to take. The only realistic way the Lakers can get Artest is by MLE as there's slim chance the Kings will deal him to the Lakers, and I just don't see him opting out.
I agree that a trade is more likely than Artest opting out and signing for the MLE. But I think a trade is far more viable than you think. It's pretty safe to say that many teams probably wouldn't touch Artest. And there were questions with his own chemistry with the team, particularly how he impacts the growth of Francisco Garcia and John Salmons. One thing is clear, the Kings have a lot of swingmen, not a lot of quality power forwards. How many power forwards in the league can average 15-10-5 in the Western conference, and how many of them can be obtained with Ron Artest?
4. Artest is too unpredictable. Even if you discount his history of his temper, he's also Rodman like in terms of pulling off stunts. Remember how last year he said he wanted to retire due to personal issues when there were still 20 games left on the season? Or how he's going back and forth about opting out? Things like that hurt team morale. The Lakers have already experimented with Rodman and it didn't quite exactly work out, Mitch would quadruple think this before dealing for Artest.
You're forgetting Rodman won 5 championships. He finally flaked out at the end of his career, when his basketball was fading as well. Artest is in his prime, and he's hungry for respect. Rodman is a great analogy, give me Rodman in his prime any time, we'll take the risks.
5. Artest stops ball movement, between Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol, he's not going to get alot of touches. Can he learn to play in the triangle offense? Even with his mad respect for Kobe I don't see Kobe guiding Artest the way Jordan guided Rodman to play for the team.
Why not? Artest said he likes playing defense more than offense. He CAN dominate the ball at times, but why wouldn't he, when he was arguably the best player on the Pacers and on the Kings? As he said in the interview, he felt he HAD to score a lot of points to help the team win.
Ron Artest shot 38% from three this season, he's averaged 3.5 assists, he can post up, yeah, he has all the tools to be a capable triangle player.
Even though Odom doesn't fit with the Lakers very well, he can still produce off rebounding, being a complementary scorer, as well as his all around play. The Lakers should not feel desperate enough to deal away Odom, and not for a headcase like Artest.
But Odom is not going to be the same rebounder when Bynum returns. He's going to move to the perimeter, especially to give Odom and Pau space. And while there's no question Odom could be a complementary, all around player, Artest can as well - and more. Because Artest is arguably the best perimeter defender in the game.
Everything else is gravy.
“OH! Caruso parachutes in! You cannot stop him - you can only hope to contain him!” -Kevin Harlan, LAL-GSW 4/4/19