Keep eye on Sac/Artest to LA rumor

[bleedingreen]

I don't think the Lakers trade Odom.  I think they let him expire right when Bynum gets his new contract. 

Ron's contract expires at the same time for half as much. L.A.'d be crazy to let that deal go.

[Hoops]

Artest makes them much better defensively, no question. However, I think he makes them worse offensively, primarily because of passing. In the two finals games that LA won, they beat us because of fantastic ball movement. Odom is arguably (not definitely, but arguably) the best passer on that Laker squad. I think they'll miss his passing ability more than they'll benefit from Artest's defensive toughness. Besides, Bynum ought to bring some added toughness and defense next year anyway, right?

[Brickowski]

This is good news for the Celtics, because if they Lakers are after Artest they won't be nearly so interested in Posey.

[pearljammer10]

I think this is a good move by LA. I love Odom and he is a very underratted player but I also love Artest. Plus Kenny Thomas has been a great reserve and is a 10 and 10 guy, he could provide that off the bench for the Lakers. The Lakers have enough offense and they need to get better on the defensive end. Artest wont call for as many shots as Odom and will probably score the same amount of point that Lamar did. He brings the defense for them and would really upgrade the Lakers starting line.

[Cman]

What is in it for Sacramento?

They go from a starting lineup of Udrih-Martin-Artest-Moore-Miller with Garcia and Salmons off the bench
to Udrih-Martin-Salmons-Odom-Miller with Garcia and Moore off the bench.

I guess it makes them deeper at the 4 and 5 spot, but it makes them softer.... It sort of seems like a sideways move to me, but I guess they save $8M or so from K. Thomas' salary next year.

[Montrossity]

Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant teammates.. hahahahaahhahahahahahahaahahahahaha.....

Poor Phil Jackson...  His coaching enthusiasm seemed to have fallen off enough last year without adding Artest to his headache.  A season of those two may drive him away from basketball forever. 

[tallpaul]

This would be midrisk-high reward for the Lakers. Odom has been repeatedly exposed as unable to produce when it counts. Artest thrives on those moments. Of course, only if his head stays on straight.

Overall, with Bynum and Farmar starting, I'd rate this as a chance for a major defensive upgrade for the Lakers - which they absolutely need.   

[BCelts]

I think this is a mistake by LA. Odom is a better fit for their system. Who are there bigs after Gasol and Bynum. Turiaf is gone and Odom may be gone. Looks like we will be facing the Hornets in the finals instead.

I disagree.  With Bynum back, I can't see Odom, Gasol and Bynum together in the front court.  No shooters and no hard-nosed defender.  I think Artest, talent-wise, is a much better fit on LA.

I agree Artest is, talent-wise, a upgrade over Odom is most aspects.  Artest can really play the game.  That said, I would not trade a used bag of balls for him.  Too much baggage, too many potential problems.  Look at it this way - think of the most notorious problam guys in terms of character (particularly off the court) in the last decade or so: Spree, Artest, Barkley (maybe), Jackson, Telfair (maybe), Iverson (maybe), Kemp, Baker, Randolf, Bozi Wells, etc. (these are off the top of my head, and the "maybes" depend on one's own perspective).  What have they won?  Nothing.  I think there is a reason for that.

One response is that 'Sheed won, and maybe that is valid, but he really celaned up his off-the-court stuff by the time he won.  Perhaps it doesn't make a difference, but I see that over and over again, the cohesive teams with few off-the-court character issues are the winners.  Doesn't there have to be something to that?

[timepiece33]

If I'm Sacramento, I ask for Trevor Ariza as well.   

I understand why the Lakers do it.  IMO, they can't beat the Celtics with Odom and Gasol as their starting forwards.  Defensively, it creates way too many mismatches. 

As far as the Kings, they get rid of a distraction in Artest and get a versatile player who can play either the 3 or the 4.   

[Hoops]

This would be midrisk-high reward for the Lakers. Odom has been repeatedly exposed as unable to produce when it counts. Artest thrives on those moments. Of course, only if his head stays on straight.

Overall, with Bynum and Farmar starting, I'd rate this as a chance for a major defensive upgrade for the Lakers - which they absolutely need.   

Defensive upgrade, yes. But I say again that losing Odom's passing in the triangle will hurt them a lot. For all of Artest's strengths, passing is not one of them...

[Who]

What is in it for Sacramento?

John Salmons averaged 17.5ppg, 5.4rpg and about 3.5apg on 50%FG% and 42% from three as a starter this past season. It wasn't a small sample, he started 41 games.

As a substitute Salmons averaged 7ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.6apg, 43% from the field, 21% from the floor.

For some reason Salmons can't figure it out as reserve and explodes as a starter. Artest is the biggest reason because of his selfish play and ball dominating ways, sort of like the Iverson effect on Salmons early in his career.

Salmons for my money is the best penetrator in the league earning less than 6mil. Very good ballhandler, good passer, very good defender and is also a very efficient scorer at TS% of 56%. I think Hollinger had a stat on his All-Defense article that argued Salmons was the Kings best defender, I'd say second best but anyway he's good.

Then there's Francisco Garcia who is one of the league's finest 6th men. He put up 12.3ppg in 26mpg while shooting a TS% of 57.5% He's also a good defender. He's an energizer bunny. Incredible hustle (compared to Bobby Jackson for that 6th man energizer role). He's pretty similar to Posey as a player. He has a lot of untapped potential to because he's still figuring this league out.

Then there's their star man Kevin Martin who pus up 24ppg ranking 6th in the league. Ranks 3rd in points per minute. Ranks 2nd in free throws earned per field goal attempt. Led the league in free throws made I think. Shoots an incredibly efficient 62% TS% from the floor. Solid rebounder. Never takes a bad shot. Great teammate. Freakishly low usage players, he makes better use of his touches than any player in the league especially for a guard, he's comparable to Dwight and Amare's efficiency. Good rebounder. Decent defender who'll get better on that end. Functional passer (not playmaker).

That's what we're talking about when we say Sacramento have a lot to gain by moving Ron Artest. All all young enough and they're good enough to take over. Personally I think they're better without Ron and than with Ron.

These three wings are the future wings for Sacramento. Artest is in the way.


Now you add Lamar Odom to the mix. Firstly, cap space is huge. Getting rid of Kenny Thomas' bad contract or whatever deal gets coupled with Ron-Ron is a huge bonus for Sacramento. That additional 6-8mil, whatever it is, will give Sactown a lot more flexibility in free agency next year. They'd have about 10mil of cap space next season with this trade if they made no more moves, and about 40+mil the following season regardless.

Secondly, the Kings have one of the worst interior defenses in the league. They're good defensively on the wings and middlin' at the point so if they can get their interior D to respectable levels it would make a big difference because they're solid on the perimeter. Odom isn't a top drawer defender but he is a good defender. He's quick, mobile and block the odd shot which is needed when starting next to the slow Brad Miller. Then Mikki Moore gets to the be the defensive minded big man off the bench, the role that was meant for him, rather than a starter.

They also get to bring Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes along at their own pace, and also able to clear the way for them in 12 months time when Odom's contract expires if they so wish.

Offensively Odom gives them what they need also. Udrih is no great shakes and needs good passing big men. Sacramento still use their high post bigs as passers type offense. Odom would fit in beautifully next to Brad Miller much like he did next to Pau Gasol giving Sacramento one nice combination. Odom also offers up 13-17ppg and 3-5apg.

Sacramento were one of the worst rebounding teams in the league last season. Odom is double digit rebounder and gives them another big lift.


It's a coup for Sacramento. All round brilliance of a trade.

[Schupac]

Jeez Who... I'm pretty if I tried to buy a car from you, you could sell me a pair of iceskates instead.  And I mean that in an entirely complimentary way.

You pretty much sold me on the trade on the whole "addition by subtraction" thing, for Sacramento.  I don't agree with Odom really adding much for them... he has looked good in LA because he fits the system.  Big for a small forward, and mobile.  That's the type of team LA is.

Even with all that, I think you're right.  Good deal for Sac.  And dumb for LA - Artest is officially poisonous.  You do not want him on your team.

[BrickJames]

The Lakers now have someone who can guard Pierce.  uh-oh.

[BCelts]

What is in it for Sacramento?

It's a coup for Sacramento. All round brilliance of a trade.

I didn't quote the whole thing, but that email was a tour de force and well appreciated.  Impresive.

[scout]

The Lakers now have someone who can guard Pierce.  uh-oh.

and with Kobe they can guard two out of three. That's going to be a major problem as Rondo will have another year of maturity along with his ring. So actually, the Lakers will be back to trying to guard too many Celtics regardless of the new acquistition.