ESPN radio 950 was reporting all morning that Isiah had made that quote, and I was in shock. But it was sloppy reporting by the local guy. Still somewhat interesting
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...p-318240c.html
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Knicks should get Artest
Tuesday, December 13th, 2005
Out in Detroit, when Larry Brown needed a small forward, he could always go with a complete player, if not a rising star, in Tayshaun Prince. But now when he needs a small forward, Brown has only limited players, just as Lenny Wilkens and Don Chaney had before him.
But really, has any Knick coach been able to send a big-time threat onto the floor at that position since Bernard King played here 20 long years ago? Unfortunately, the franchise that gave us Bill Bradley tries to make do these days with the likes of Quentin Richardson, Malik Rose, Trevor Ariza and Qyntel Woods. Last night at the Garden, Richardson was back from his personal nightmare, the shooting death of his older brother, Lee, and started against the Bucks.
When the bludgeoning was over, it again was obvious that the Knicks don't have Tracy McGrady or anybody close at small forward. That's why they should take a chance and make a run at Ron Artest.
Bringing in Artest, risky as it might be, would be a vast improvement. Come to think of it, anything would have been an upgrade off last night, when the Knicks got five points out of Richardson, five out of Woods and four from Ariza in Milwaukee's 112-92 rout.
Brown didn't harp on the lack of production from his small forward spot. In his postmortem, he went after the point guard position, cleverly never naming names. Given that his team had no direction or leadership - "we don't have anybody with a head," Brown said at one point - it's obvious that if he could bring in a real playmaker and get rid of Stephon Marbury, he'd do it. But who?
At least we know that Artest is available and on Isiah Thomas' radar. Yes, he's acted like a clown half of his career and perpetrated one of the more heinous acts in the history of the league by doing more damage than any other player in that riot in Auburn Hills. But didn't Latrell Sprewell, after his own monumental screwup, come to New York and change his ways? Until he had some run-ins later with Garden CEO Jim Dolan, Sprewell was a model citizen and a very good player, playing out of position at small forward. You'd think that as much grief as Artest has brought on himself, he might be able to change while finally giving the Knicks a genuine talent at small forward.
"Since he's been at Indiana," Brown said, "his reputation has been as a special player, at both ends."
Artest is 26, but is as immature as the next baby. He can't stand the fact that he won't get maximum money from Indiana and will never be its featured player. So, taking the easy route, he wants out. That's the gratitude the Pacers get for giving him their total support when he all but destroyed their season a year ago. Indiana CEO Donnie Walsh said yesterday he wants him gone and he's not alone.
"I fully think management should do their best to move a player that doesn't want to be here," Jermaine O'Neal said. "If he doesn't want to be here, he won't give his full effort."
But you can bet that Artest will give 100%, every night, as a Knick. It has nothing to do with coming home. That, in itself, could be problematic. But he knows he has to resurrect his career, just as Sprewell once did.
"My past was kind of controversial," Artest said. "It's been a distraction. But there are 29 teams out there. I'll take that baggage to one of them."
Good to know he's honest about what he's toting around. His rap sheet - smashing TV monitors, requesting time off to promote his "musical" act, sprinting into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills to duke it out with fans - isn't going to stop Isiah Thomas. If he wants to go out and trade for Attila the Hun, he's got Dolan's backing.
The tough part for Thomas will be putting together a package that the Pacers would accept - if they even want to trade Artest to an Eastern Conference team. They're looking for expiring contracts and a young stud and want to get rid of some deadwood in the form of bad contracts.
"The Pacers don't want to take on wild guys who play no defense and who are not controllable," said a person familiar with Indy's thinking. "Right now, they've got enough problems with Stephen Jackson."
Right now, at 6-14, the Knicks have big troubles of their own. Point guard? Sure. But there still isn't a small forward worth your All-Star vote.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...p-318240c.html
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Knicks should get Artest
Tuesday, December 13th, 2005
Out in Detroit, when Larry Brown needed a small forward, he could always go with a complete player, if not a rising star, in Tayshaun Prince. But now when he needs a small forward, Brown has only limited players, just as Lenny Wilkens and Don Chaney had before him.
But really, has any Knick coach been able to send a big-time threat onto the floor at that position since Bernard King played here 20 long years ago? Unfortunately, the franchise that gave us Bill Bradley tries to make do these days with the likes of Quentin Richardson, Malik Rose, Trevor Ariza and Qyntel Woods. Last night at the Garden, Richardson was back from his personal nightmare, the shooting death of his older brother, Lee, and started against the Bucks.
When the bludgeoning was over, it again was obvious that the Knicks don't have Tracy McGrady or anybody close at small forward. That's why they should take a chance and make a run at Ron Artest.
Bringing in Artest, risky as it might be, would be a vast improvement. Come to think of it, anything would have been an upgrade off last night, when the Knicks got five points out of Richardson, five out of Woods and four from Ariza in Milwaukee's 112-92 rout.
Brown didn't harp on the lack of production from his small forward spot. In his postmortem, he went after the point guard position, cleverly never naming names. Given that his team had no direction or leadership - "we don't have anybody with a head," Brown said at one point - it's obvious that if he could bring in a real playmaker and get rid of Stephon Marbury, he'd do it. But who?
At least we know that Artest is available and on Isiah Thomas' radar. Yes, he's acted like a clown half of his career and perpetrated one of the more heinous acts in the history of the league by doing more damage than any other player in that riot in Auburn Hills. But didn't Latrell Sprewell, after his own monumental screwup, come to New York and change his ways? Until he had some run-ins later with Garden CEO Jim Dolan, Sprewell was a model citizen and a very good player, playing out of position at small forward. You'd think that as much grief as Artest has brought on himself, he might be able to change while finally giving the Knicks a genuine talent at small forward.
"Since he's been at Indiana," Brown said, "his reputation has been as a special player, at both ends."
Artest is 26, but is as immature as the next baby. He can't stand the fact that he won't get maximum money from Indiana and will never be its featured player. So, taking the easy route, he wants out. That's the gratitude the Pacers get for giving him their total support when he all but destroyed their season a year ago. Indiana CEO Donnie Walsh said yesterday he wants him gone and he's not alone.
"I fully think management should do their best to move a player that doesn't want to be here," Jermaine O'Neal said. "If he doesn't want to be here, he won't give his full effort."
But you can bet that Artest will give 100%, every night, as a Knick. It has nothing to do with coming home. That, in itself, could be problematic. But he knows he has to resurrect his career, just as Sprewell once did.
"My past was kind of controversial," Artest said. "It's been a distraction. But there are 29 teams out there. I'll take that baggage to one of them."
Good to know he's honest about what he's toting around. His rap sheet - smashing TV monitors, requesting time off to promote his "musical" act, sprinting into the stands at The Palace of Auburn Hills to duke it out with fans - isn't going to stop Isiah Thomas. If he wants to go out and trade for Attila the Hun, he's got Dolan's backing.
The tough part for Thomas will be putting together a package that the Pacers would accept - if they even want to trade Artest to an Eastern Conference team. They're looking for expiring contracts and a young stud and want to get rid of some deadwood in the form of bad contracts.
"The Pacers don't want to take on wild guys who play no defense and who are not controllable," said a person familiar with Indy's thinking. "Right now, they've got enough problems with Stephen Jackson."
Right now, at 6-14, the Knicks have big troubles of their own. Point guard? Sure. But there still isn't a small forward worth your All-Star vote.
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