Artest to the Cavs? (RealGm Report)

[JHTruth]

I don't really care. I think Artest is an overrated defender, and is streaky on offense. He will bring some toughness, but he is not the same player after the suspension..

[hpantazo]

I'm surprised at how good everyone thinks Artest will make the cavs yet most people on the board often post that they wouldn't want him on the celtics. Go figure.

[SCBirdman]

I'm surprised at how good everyone thinks Artest will make the cavs yet most people on the board often post that they wouldn't want him on the celtics. Go figure.

I would love to have Artest. He gives PP fits every time he faces him. Artest is still a good defender and can score the ball. He's NOT going to accept a backup role though.

He would make Cleveland much stronger and would allow them to play LeBron at the 4 spot at times. Cleveland is pulling out all the stops to win a title.

Gotta give them credit if it happens.

[winsomme]

so does Artest only sign for one season or do they not re-sign Varejao?

I don't see how they do both and still leave money for Bosh next off season.

[PosImpos]

If the Cavs sign Artest then I think we'll absolutely have to sign Sheed in order to stay even with them.  We might need to sign Hill or Parker also to stay even if they also resign Varejao.

[KungPoweChicken]

If the Cavs sign Artest and are serious about playing LBJ at the 4, they will certainly have the most muscle in the front court.

[guava_wrench]

I'm surprised at how good everyone thinks Artest will make the cavs yet most people on the board often post that they wouldn't want him on the celtics. Go figure.

Yeah. Doesn't make much sense.

I would take Artest anytime. Dude can defend and he plays hard.

[Vermont Green]

I see Artest as very good player but he doesn't seem to fit the Cavs.  Yeah, LBJ could play PF but really one or the other is going to be playing out of position if they are on the floor at the same time.  I say Sheed makes more sense for the Cavs.

Now Artest on the Celtics, that makes more sense.  PP can play the SG and we are really big or Artest can play PF for spot rotations against Orlando for example.

With LBJ at PF, can you imagine the match up against KG?  That would present problems both ways.

[greg_kite]

Artest would trump our move of howard so I hope they don't sign him. Also Artest would play the 3 & Lebron the 2 & they would retain Verajao or sign Joe smith again to play 4.

Our move of Howard?  What's this?

[snively]

I like Artest a lot, but I'm not sure he's that much better for the Cavs than D. West.  They already have the best big 3 in the game.  Why add another big 3 behind him?  Sure you can bump one of them to the 2 or 4, but neither will be at their best there.

The free agent market doesn't look that great for the Cavs.  They need a real two who can shoot, handle and pass or a 2-sized 1 to allow West and Williams to stick to doing what they do best.  They could also use a big with speed, but I'm not sure they'll be willing to spend much more on their 40 million dollar big man rotation.

I'd be concerned if they managed to land Kidd. 

[pearljammer10]

What a lineup that would be. Varejo (as a resign), Z, and Boobie off the bench makes an incredible 8 man rotation. Yikesamundo.

Lebron is a freak and could easily play against some of the easterns PF's and Ron Artest can put his body into them as well. Thatd be a scary scary team.

[snively]

Why would you want to make Bron a 4?  He's already a mismatch for everyone at his natural position of SF.  Put him at the 4 and he has to start banging for boards and defending post scorers. As for getting to play against opposing 4s on D, opponents would just switch their 4s onto the far less dangerous Artest and happily accept his moderate match-up advantage to have Bron get smacked around among the big men.

And I'm not sure a contending team wants Artest as their starting 4 if you want to play it that way.

[Moranis]

Why would you want to make Bron a 4?  He's already a mismatch for everyone at his natural position of SF.  Put him at the 4 and he has to start banging for boards and defending post scorers. As for getting to play against opposing 4s on D, opponents would just switch their 4s onto the far less dangerous Artest and happily accept his moderate match-up advantage to have Bron get smacked around among the big men.

And I'm not sure a contending team wants Artest as their starting 4 if you want to play it that way.

Lebron won't guard the 4.  Hell against Orlando he barely guarded the 3 as the Cavs hid him against the 2 most of the time. 

Put it this way, if the cavs and C's are playing in the playoffs, then they will go big with Williams, Artest, Lebron, Varejao, and Shaq and Lebron will guard Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo.  If they are playing the Magic they will go small with Williams, West, Artest, Lebron, and Shaq and Lebron will have Carter or Nelson. 

[wildo05]

If you believe the Celtics should make a play for Ron Artest and want to show him the love (ala Houston creating a Gortat Twitter Site) I have created a Come 2 Boston Artest twitter page. If you belong to twitter look up Come2BosArtest! Atleast we can try to do our part! The only way we can get our voice heard! I love what Danny is Doing!

[connerhenry43]

I'm surprised at how good everyone thinks Artest will make the cavs yet most people on the board often post that they wouldn't want him on the celtics. Go figure.

I would love to have Artest. He gives PP fits every time he faces him. Artest is still a good defender and can score the ball. He's NOT going to accept a backup role though.

He would make Cleveland much stronger and would allow them to play LeBron at the 4 spot at times. Cleveland is pulling out all the stops to win a title.

Gotta give them credit if it happens.

2 years ago, most people would have stayed away from artest. he has been pretty quiet for a few years, even showed a sense of humor in the playoffs (doesn't he know i'm ron artest). that makes him more attractive to most nba fans. i would love for the c's to get him and would be very worried if the cavs got him.