Ron Ron Crazy level is approaching a 7

[Fafnir]

http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=Artest-110202

Now he's open to being traded? This story could get very ugly if his poor play continues and Matt Barnes comes back and takes his minutes again.

(The Lakers went small with Kobe at the 3 and Blake at the 2 last night in the fourth and OT)

[Donoghus]

Sounds like Randy Moss syndrome.  The whole "feeling of marginalization"

Everything starts off all rosy but, in the end, things get disruptive although this guy is a helluva lot crazier than Moss. 

Part of me wants to see the Trilogy completed but the other part wants to see this team implode.

[GreenFaith1819]

lol...the one player that could arguably be responsible for helping LA beat us in Game 7, with his play on defense and his timely offense - is now on the trading block?

Nice going LA.

If they do this, I don't see them bringing back a player of his caliber - no matter how young they get be in the process.

In a potential Finals rematch with us, if LA thinks that Matt Barnes is going to hold Paul, then all they have to do is look at what Paul did to Matt when he was with ORL last yr.

Paul shredded Matt.

[Fafnir]

I don't think he's tradeable, not with his contract. The Lakers are just going to have to try and get him focused in for the playoffs when they finally get here.

Man the regular season is a grind.

[wdleehi]

I love it.

[Fafnir]

In a potential Finals rematch with us, if LA thinks that Matt Barnes is going to hold Paul, then all they have to do is look at what Paul did to Matt when he was with ORL last yr.

Paul shredded Matt.

Yeah he did, but lately Artest has been playing poorly on defense as well. He's also been bad offensively and on the backboards this year.

His game 7 still burns me, complete abberation from his play that entire post-season argggghh.

[fairweatherfan]

Just to 7?  Are you sure it might not go all the way up...to 11?



I'm inclined to agree that Artest's contract makes him very tough to trade, but if there's one thing I've seen over the past few years, it's that almost no contract is untradeable.

But now that Bynum's health is looking shaky again, I don't know what kind of chips LA could package with Artest to bring back any kind of value.  Shannon Brown, Derick Character, and low 1st rd picks aren't going to bring a whole lot I think.

[Fafnir]

I'll put it to 11 when he shows up for playoff game in just his underwear.

[GreenFaith1819]

In a potential Finals rematch with us, if LA thinks that Matt Barnes is going to hold Paul, then all they have to do is look at what Paul did to Matt when he was with ORL last yr.

Paul shredded Matt.

Yeah he did, but lately Artest has been playing poorly on defense as well. He's also been bad offensively and on the backboards this year.

His game 7 still burns me, complete abberation from his play that entire post-season argggghh.

I just think he's bored. He's one of those players that just needs a kick every now and then.

From a die-hard Celtics Fan standpoint - sure, LA - do it. Trade Ron Ron.

I'd love to see Matt Barnes chasing Pierce (or Durant) in a seven game series. 

I just think that if Mitch can keep that purple and gold ship from sinking over the next two months, then LA will right itself for the playoffs.

God I hope so. I don't want a repeat of 1986. I want this Celtics Team to get Banner 18 at the expense of the Los Angeles/Minnesota Lakers.

Ron Ron just needs the motivation of the playoffs at this point in the season. If they trade him, then who is going to guard Durant (much less Paul Pierce)?

LA would've lost to OKC last year without Ron Ron. Durant was shredding everyone else except him.

[Who]

It would be nice for Ron Artest if he could get a trade out of LA and join a team where he could have some freedom offensively. It must be very frustrating to completely fail to integrate himself into LA's Triangle offense. To just stand in a corner and try not to cause problems.

It would be nice if he could get a fresh start somewhere.

[Mike-Dub]

In a potential Finals rematch with us, if LA thinks that Matt Barnes is going to hold Paul, then all they have to do is look at what Paul did to Matt when he was with ORL last yr.

Paul shredded Matt.

Yeah he did, but lately Artest has been playing poorly on defense as well. He's also been bad offensively and on the backboards this year.

His game 7 still burns me, complete abberation from his play that entire post-season argggghh.

He came up big against the Suns in game five I believe it was.

[mgent]

JO for Ron!

[pearljammer10]

JO for Ron!

Haha, just beat me to it.

[TheLegendaryClub]

Indiana was my favorite matchup during the millennium drought years because Artest and Pierce always got up big to battle, taunt, and pants each other. Artest surpassed Kobe for me on the public enemy listing. I was disappointed that he didn't show up during Sunday's game, but I guess it's time to face the reality that these guys I've been watching all my life are slowing down.  

[rondohondo]

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/210541/Artest_Hopes_To_Be_Traded

Ron Artest hopes to to be traded before the Feb. 24th deadline, according to a source.

Artest's agent David Bauman declined comment.

Artest played just 5.5 seconds of the fourth quarter and overtime in Tuesday's game against Houston.

Another item of concern for Artest is the limit to what he is allowed to do offensively. Artest is almost always the fourth or fifth option when it comes to scoring.

Artest is also weary of being blamed for the struggles of Lakers.
Via ESPN

What the hell were the Lakers thinking signing him to that long of a contract, you knew he would be unhappy sooner or later .

So what teams would be interested in Ron ?