Ron Artest to Boston?

[Prof. Clutch]

Kinda scary news,

Jeff Eisenberg, The Press-Enterprise: "If either Trevor Ariza or Lamar Odom prove to be too expensive for the Lakers, one backup option could be Houston forward Ron Artest, a player Mitch Kupchak has targeted in the past. Agent David Bauman said Tuesday afternoon that the Lakers, Cleveland Cavs and Orlando Magic were three teams he expected to join Houston in pursuit of Artest. 'Ron's tight with Kobe,' Bauman said. 'From a basketball perspective, the Lakers make perfect sense. Ron is a winner. His best fit is when he's on a winning team. He shoots the three, posts up smaller guys, and defensively he's a beast. Certainly those are skills a contending team would find attractive.'"

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Suicide-lines-Rockets-pursue-Gortat-Knicks-wan;_ylt=AmaEsBOCVyyX.Z6yeRTGvJZgPKB4?urn=nba,174044

Also,

Another offseason priority for the Rockets is re-signing Ron Artest, who is an unrestricted free agent after earning more than $7 million in a productive first season with Houston.

Artest’s agent, David Bauman, would not say Wednesday whether the Rockets had contacted him.

“Right now, we’re 11 hours into the process,” Bauman said. “We’re just going to take our time and feel each other out.”

Artest said after last season that he wanted to return to the Rockets. But that was when he believed they were a contender in the Western Conference and before the team announced that Yao’s broken foot had not healed and he was out indefinitely.

Bauman would not say how much Yao’s injury might impact Artest’s decision.

“I just think that’s something everyone will have to look at,” Bauman said. “But at this point, I’m not ready to comment on any of that stuff.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnnayRnqSiGU94dfQ51jxoFgPKB4?slug=ap-rockets-freeagency&prov=ap&type=lgns

[beantownboy171]

Ill be incredibly reliieved if artest remains in Houston. Not because I didn't want him on the c's but because of the off chance artest ends up in Cleveland. That just seems like such a great fit for me.

[Prof. Clutch]

Ill be incredibly reliieved if artest remains in Houston. Not because I didn't want him on the c's but because of the off chance artest ends up in Cleveland. That just seems like such a great fit for me.

I don't know...

I mean, yes, Cleveland would be adding his amazing talents.  But that would mean he would be forced to play at the 2 all year.  He can do that for stretches obviously, but he's really a 3 and Cleveland already has that position sufficiently filled.

[johnnyrondo]

Ill be incredibly reliieved if artest remains in Houston. Not because I didn't want him on the c's but because of the off chance artest ends up in Cleveland. That just seems like such a great fit for me.

I don't know...

I mean, yes, Cleveland would be adding his amazing talents.  But that would mean he would be forced to play at the 2 all year.  He can do that for stretches obviously, but he's really a 3 and Cleveland already has that position sufficiently filled.

There was an article yesterday out that Cleveland wanted to move Lebron to the 4 for some reason, so they were looking for a big 3.

[Prof. Clutch]

Ill be incredibly reliieved if artest remains in Houston. Not because I didn't want him on the c's but because of the off chance artest ends up in Cleveland. That just seems like such a great fit for me.

I don't know...

I mean, yes, Cleveland would be adding his amazing talents.  But that would mean he would be forced to play at the 2 all year.  He can do that for stretches obviously, but he's really a 3 and Cleveland already has that position sufficiently filled.

There was an article yesterday out that Cleveland wanted to move Lebron to the 4 for some reason, so they were looking for a big 3.

Really?!?!  I can't imagine how that would be an advantage for them.  Can you imagine Lebron guarding KG, Duncan, Nowitzki, etc.?

[johnnyrondo]

Ill be incredibly reliieved if artest remains in Houston. Not because I didn't want him on the c's but because of the off chance artest ends up in Cleveland. That just seems like such a great fit for me.

I don't know...

I mean, yes, Cleveland would be adding his amazing talents.  But that would mean he would be forced to play at the 2 all year.  He can do that for stretches obviously, but he's really a 3 and Cleveland already has that position sufficiently filled.

There was an article yesterday out that Cleveland wanted to move Lebron to the 4 for some reason, so they were looking for a big 3.

Really?!?!  I can't imagine how that would be an advantage for them.  Can you imagine Lebron guarding KG, Duncan, Nowitzki, etc.?

Yeah not saying it's the right move, just the move that's been rumored. I think they're reacting to Lewis at the 4 on the Magic.

[sdceltsfan]

    I don't see how Danny is on the phone right now AT LEAST OFFERING the fricking MLE. Artest for 5 years at 5mil per is a bargain and a half, he replaces Ray after he's gone giving us around 12 mil + to spend on FA's in 2010/11, PP can guard the lesser talent on the floor at the 2/3 spot and Artest is on our side rather than giving us headaches running the floor with Lebron or whoever. He's still young enough to offer a 5-year deal....Jesus, if Danny was dumb enough to throw similar money at Scal, then what is the hold up?
    As much as I would also love the Sheed signing, he may only have enough for one or two playoff pushes, and if it sours, he is likely way more distruptive/Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.y then Artest in that regard. I think Artest and KG are much more alike than people realize, as far as their on-court energy and toughness. Let's make this happen and watch all other teams shake in their Air-Force One's!

[bdm860]

Ill be incredibly reliieved if artest remains in Houston. Not because I didn't want him on the c's but because of the off chance artest ends up in Cleveland. That just seems like such a great fit for me.

I don't know...

I mean, yes, Cleveland would be adding his amazing talents.  But that would mean he would be forced to play at the 2 all year.  He can do that for stretches obviously, but he's really a 3 and Cleveland already has that position sufficiently filled.

There was an article yesterday out that Cleveland wanted to move Lebron to the 4 for some reason, so they were looking for a big 3.

Really?!?!  I can't imagine how that would be an advantage for them.  Can you imagine Lebron guarding KG, Duncan, Nowitzki, etc.?

It goes both ways though, can you picture those guys guarding LeBron?

I view Artest as a poor, cheap, factory reject version of LeBron.  Both have similar size and are physical beasts, with that rare combination of strength, size, speed, agility, etc. I really think both players can play 4 positions effectively (everything except C), and I'm talking both sides of the ball, I really think they can hold their own against most centers too.  Artest is the factory reject version of LeBron.  Think about, LeBron puts it all together perfectly is heavily promoted by the NBA as their flagship product, etc.  While Artest sits on the backshelf due to a few screws being loose and you never know if he's going to function properly (and a few rumors of families in Indiana and Sacramento puchasing ones that malfunctioned and ended up burning down their houses).  With him it's buyer Beware, all sales are final. Both players on the same team, that's a nightmare matchup for every single team in the NBA.

[Prof. Clutch]

It goes both ways though, can you picture those guys guarding LeBron?

I view Artest as a poor, cheap, factory reject version of LeBron.  Both have similar size and are physical beasts, with that rare combination of strength, size, speed, agility, etc. I really think both players can play 4 positions effectively (everything except C), and I'm talking both sides of the ball, I really think they can hold their own against most centers too.  Artest is the factory reject version of LeBron.  Think about, LeBron puts it all together perfectly is heavily promoted by the NBA as their flagship product, etc.  While Artest sits on the backshelf due to a few screws being loose and you never know if he's going to function properly (and a few rumors of families in Indiana and Sacramento puchasing ones that malfunctioned and ended up burning down their houses).  With him it's buyer Beware, all sales are final. Both players on the same team, that's a nightmare matchup for every single team in the NBA.

You know I have actually thought about KG guarding Lebron before.  I'm not talking about the whole game, just for stretches during.  But I think KG is one of those unique defenders that has length and mobility.  I think he would give lebron fits, and lebrons jumper isn't nearly good enough to force KG to play right up on him.  I've wondered before if this could be an effectively utilized strategy, but obviously the Celts have never tried it.  Nor would I expect them to.  But still, its somewhat of an intriguing idea.

[RAcker]

I just can't wrap my mind around Artest in a Boston uniform.  We'd have to get the old 80's shorts out for him since he seems to like them tight.  Heck, bring John Stockton out of retirement too.

[johnnyrondo]

I just can't wrap my mind around Artest in a Boston uniform.  We'd have to get the old 80's shorts out for him since he seems to like them tight.  Heck, bring John Stockton out of retirement too.

Yeah I requested a photoshop version of Artest in a Celtics jersey, but no takers so far. On a related note, anyone know a free program I can download that is like photoshop? I'd like to fool around with stuff like putting players in different jerseys or maybe even sigs?

[bdm860]

It goes both ways though, can you picture those guys guarding LeBron?

I view Artest as a poor, cheap, factory reject version of LeBron.  Both have similar size and are physical beasts, with that rare combination of strength, size, speed, agility, etc. I really think both players can play 4 positions effectively (everything except C), and I'm talking both sides of the ball, I really think they can hold their own against most centers too.  Artest is the factory reject version of LeBron.  Think about, LeBron puts it all together perfectly is heavily promoted by the NBA as their flagship product, etc.  While Artest sits on the backshelf due to a few screws being loose and you never know if he's going to function properly (and a few rumors of families in Indiana and Sacramento puchasing ones that malfunctioned and ended up burning down their houses).  With him it's buyer Beware, all sales are final. Both players on the same team, that's a nightmare matchup for every single team in the NBA.

You know I have actually thought about KG guarding Lebron before.  I'm not talking about the whole game, just for stretches during.  But I think KG is one of those unique defenders that has length and mobility.  I think he would give lebron fits, and lebrons jumper isn't nearly good enough to force KG to play right up on him.  I've wondered before if this could be an effectively utilized strategy, but obviously the Celts have never tried it.  Nor would I expect them to.  But still, its somewhat of an intriguing idea.

That would be cool to see, especially if Garnett got down on all fours.  Of course then the media would probably say he's just bowing to the king.

[PosImpos]

I just can't wrap my mind around Artest in a Boston uniform.  We'd have to get the old 80's shorts out for him since he seems to like them tight.  Heck, bring John Stockton out of retirement too.

Yeah I requested a photoshop version of Artest in a Celtics jersey, but no takers so far. On a related note, anyone know a free program I can download that is like photoshop? I'd like to fool around with stuff like putting players in different jerseys or maybe even sigs?

I'll give you a hint on this one...you think 99% of the people on the internet who have Photoshop paid hundreds of bucks for it?

It's not hard to acquire....

[johnnyrondo]

I would not bet against a team which had these two warriors.

[vagrantwade]

Cavs nor the Celtics can afford him.