Mods if you think this one needs to be merged with the other story please do.
I posted this. As NY times more reliable. Article from today, and its' more specific.
December 16, 2005
Inconsistent, Nets Ponder Making Bid for Artest
By JOHN ELIGON
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 15 -
The Nets placed a call to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, their first official expression of interest in forward Ron Artest.
But the Nets would not say how intensely they plan to pursue Artest, who demanded a trade earlier this week. Rod Thorn, the Nets' president, described his talks with the Pacers as a "fact-finding" conversation.
"Any time that there's a player out there who is a great player, one of the better players in the league, there's always interest," Thorn said in a telephone interview.
Thorn said he believed that more than 20 teams had contacted the Pacers about Artest. But the Nets have an advantage over many other clubs in that they could afford to trade a star, Vince Carter, and possibly still improve as a team. The loss of Carter could be mitigated by the presence of Richard Jefferson, who can be just as dangerous offensively. Artest could bring a defensive toughness that is not Carter's strength.
The call to the Pacers on Thursday was just one of many that Thorn made on what was the de facto start of the trade season. All trade restrictions have been lifted, with teams now eligible to deal players they signed in the off-season.
For Thorn, Thursday meant there was a lot of work to do.
After the Nets (9-12) endured an embarrassing 91-83 loss at home to the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night, their third consecutive defeat, it became apparent that Thorn would intensify his efforts to bolster his underachieving team.
Thorn said he had been busier "than normal in both fielding and placing calls."
Several Nets could be on the trading block, including Marc Jackson and Jeff McInnis, both off-season acquisitions who have not seemed pleased with their roles on the team. The reserve guard Zoran Planinic, who was on the inactive list Wednesday night for the first time this season, may also be a candidate to be traded.
Coach Lawrence Frank held Jackson and McInnis out of the lineup against the Bobcats, and after the game Jackson said, "If the coach don't believe I can help the team, then let me go some place where I can help the team."
Planinic's agent, Marc Cornstein, expressed a similar sentiment about his client on Thursday. He said he has had several conversations with Nets management in recent days, but he still does not understand why Planinic has been given limited playing time.
"You may not always agree, but typically you can understand why a player is, or is not, getting the minutes they are," Cornstein said in a telephone interview. "I certainly would not be shocked if Zoran is packaged in a trade."Thorn apparently made an effort Thursday to reach out to the entire team in a meeting before practice.
"He was just speaking to being committed to the team and support your fellow teammates, which I think everybody does," Jackson said.
Thorn expressed his continued confidence in Frank.
"To me, our coach is as prepared as anybody," Thorn said. "I think the coach is doing a good job, so I don't have any problem with our coach."
Earlier in the season, the Nets had expressed a desire to upgrade the roster with an athletic power forward.
Now, it seems, the Nets are in search of anyone who could help them become consistent. They have been especially up-and-down on defense, and they have been burned by several swift perimeter scorers this season, including Michael Redd, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton.
To that end, Artest, who is widely considered the best one-on-one perimeter defender in the N.B.A., could be just what the Nets need.
Artest is set to make about $6.5 million this season, and Carter will make about $13.8 million. If the teams agreed to a trade involving those players, the Pacers might also have to send the Nets another player, perhaps power forward Austin Croshere, who will make about $8.9 million this year, to make the salaries match. The Nets could also include either Lamond Murray or Scott Padgett, forwards signed through free agency last summer, in a deal.
Jefferson, who will make about $10.2 million this season, would be difficult to trade because of his contract structure.
Though the Nets fancy Artest's talent, they realize that they must consider his behavior. He was suspended for most of last season after charging into the stands during a game with the Pistons.
"If you're interested in him, I think that's the first thing," Thorn said earlier in the week.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/16/sp...gewanted=print
I posted this. As NY times more reliable. Article from today, and its' more specific.
December 16, 2005
Inconsistent, Nets Ponder Making Bid for Artest
By JOHN ELIGON
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 15 -
The Nets placed a call to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, their first official expression of interest in forward Ron Artest.
But the Nets would not say how intensely they plan to pursue Artest, who demanded a trade earlier this week. Rod Thorn, the Nets' president, described his talks with the Pacers as a "fact-finding" conversation.
"Any time that there's a player out there who is a great player, one of the better players in the league, there's always interest," Thorn said in a telephone interview.
Thorn said he believed that more than 20 teams had contacted the Pacers about Artest. But the Nets have an advantage over many other clubs in that they could afford to trade a star, Vince Carter, and possibly still improve as a team. The loss of Carter could be mitigated by the presence of Richard Jefferson, who can be just as dangerous offensively. Artest could bring a defensive toughness that is not Carter's strength.
The call to the Pacers on Thursday was just one of many that Thorn made on what was the de facto start of the trade season. All trade restrictions have been lifted, with teams now eligible to deal players they signed in the off-season.
For Thorn, Thursday meant there was a lot of work to do.
After the Nets (9-12) endured an embarrassing 91-83 loss at home to the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night, their third consecutive defeat, it became apparent that Thorn would intensify his efforts to bolster his underachieving team.
Thorn said he had been busier "than normal in both fielding and placing calls."
Several Nets could be on the trading block, including Marc Jackson and Jeff McInnis, both off-season acquisitions who have not seemed pleased with their roles on the team. The reserve guard Zoran Planinic, who was on the inactive list Wednesday night for the first time this season, may also be a candidate to be traded.
Coach Lawrence Frank held Jackson and McInnis out of the lineup against the Bobcats, and after the game Jackson said, "If the coach don't believe I can help the team, then let me go some place where I can help the team."
Planinic's agent, Marc Cornstein, expressed a similar sentiment about his client on Thursday. He said he has had several conversations with Nets management in recent days, but he still does not understand why Planinic has been given limited playing time.
"You may not always agree, but typically you can understand why a player is, or is not, getting the minutes they are," Cornstein said in a telephone interview. "I certainly would not be shocked if Zoran is packaged in a trade."Thorn apparently made an effort Thursday to reach out to the entire team in a meeting before practice.
"He was just speaking to being committed to the team and support your fellow teammates, which I think everybody does," Jackson said.
Thorn expressed his continued confidence in Frank.
"To me, our coach is as prepared as anybody," Thorn said. "I think the coach is doing a good job, so I don't have any problem with our coach."
Earlier in the season, the Nets had expressed a desire to upgrade the roster with an athletic power forward.
Now, it seems, the Nets are in search of anyone who could help them become consistent. They have been especially up-and-down on defense, and they have been burned by several swift perimeter scorers this season, including Michael Redd, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Richard Hamilton.
To that end, Artest, who is widely considered the best one-on-one perimeter defender in the N.B.A., could be just what the Nets need.
Artest is set to make about $6.5 million this season, and Carter will make about $13.8 million. If the teams agreed to a trade involving those players, the Pacers might also have to send the Nets another player, perhaps power forward Austin Croshere, who will make about $8.9 million this year, to make the salaries match. The Nets could also include either Lamond Murray or Scott Padgett, forwards signed through free agency last summer, in a deal.
Jefferson, who will make about $10.2 million this season, would be difficult to trade because of his contract structure.
Though the Nets fancy Artest's talent, they realize that they must consider his behavior. He was suspended for most of last season after charging into the stands during a game with the Pistons.
"If you're interested in him, I think that's the first thing," Thorn said earlier in the week.
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