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Three teams that need Artest
posted: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 | Feedback
With the Ron Artest-Indiana Pacers divorce at risk of dragging into the New Year … you've got to wonder whether NBA teams are being too conservative in their offers for Artest.
Clearly the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers have shown significant interest. But have any of them offered anything the Pacers really want? So far, apparently not, unless Indiana changes its mind.
Which leads me to wonder, why aren't NBA teams offering more?
In a risk-reward analysis, Artest's personality is the risk. But the reward -- his talent -- warrants teams making substantial offers.
And no one has to give up an All-Star for Ronnie. Just potential and an expiring contract.
I can think of three teams that should jump at the chance.
Golden State Warriors
Two weeks ago in my chat, I said that a deal that sent Mickael Pietrus and either Ike Diogu or Andris Biedrins (along with Calbert Cheaney's expiring contract to make the numbers work) was a deal the Warriors should consider and one the Pacers might find attractive.
Given their recent slide and their defensive woes, I think the Warriors have more motivation than any other team in the league to make this happen. The team is going through the longest playoff drought in the league. The expectations were huge this year, and the season seems to be slipping away, in part because of the Warriors' inability to contain anyone on the perimeter.
Artest would fix that problem. The trade would allow the team to move their biggest defensive liability, Mike Dunleavy, to the bench and replace him with arguably the best perimeter defender in the league.
An Artest trade would cost the Warriors some young talent. But that's the one thing that the Warriors have in abundance.
It would be a big risk for Warriors GM Chris Mullin, but a calculated risk. Both Mullin and Artest played at St. John's, and I'm told they have a positive relationship. Given Mullin's deft touch with players, it should be a great fit.
If Artest were to perform to his norm, the Warriors would have a legitimate shot at winning the Pacific Division and grabbing a top three seed in the West.
However, if he were to struggle for any reason, the Warriors would have lost two young players -- albeit players who are coming off the bench.
For Indiana, this would be the best-case scenario, especially if they could pry away Diogu. In Pietrus, they would get a young, athletic player who can nearly match Artest's intensity on the defensive end of the floor. In Diogu, they would get a young big that they could develop behind or alongside Jermaine O'Neal.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have surprised the league with their strong start this season, but if Jerry West is eyeing anything more than the second round of the playoffs, he knows that he needs a second star to pair with Pau Gasol.
The good news for the Grizzlies is that they have plenty of assets to offer to Indiana.
They could do a straight-up trade of Mike Miller for Artest.
Or, more to the Pacers' liking, I'm sure, they could do a multi-player deal that would send Shane Battier to Indiana.
Because Battier's a base-year player, a one-for-one deal is impossible. However, a deal of Battier and Lorenzen Wright (who happens to be in the last year of his contract) for Artest, Anthony Johnson and Fred Jones would work under the salary cap.
So would a larger deal combining Miller, Battier and Wright for Artest, Johnson, Jones and Stephen Jackson (Artest's most loyal friend on the Pacers' roster).
However, so far the Grizzlies appear unwilling to make Battier part of an Artest deal.
In any case, there would be a risk involved for Memphis, where team chemistry is definitely an issue. The team got better this summer by subtracting a few talented players (Jason Williams, James Posey, Bonzi Wells and Stromile Swift) who created chemistry problems last season.
However, the addition of Artest, who has more talent than any of the four they jettisoned, clearly would put them in the mix with the other elite teams in the West. The clock is ticking for West and this Grizzlies team. If they're going to make a run at a championship, a big risk like this may be the only way.
For Indiana, this is another solid scenario. Battier wouldn't solve their scoring woes, but he would add defense, versatility and team spirit. Wright would provide some long-term cap relief. If Miller were included in the deal (for Jackson), it would give the Pacers a long-range shooter who isn't nearly as volatile as Jackson.
Houston Rockets
The disappointing Rockets haven't been able to catch a break, with injuries and other problems galore. I had them ranked as the second-best team in the West coming into the season, and now they look like a lottery team. If Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy and GM Carroll Dawson are going to save their jobs, they have to be bold.
A deal including David Wesley (in the last year of his contract), Moochie Norris (also in the last year of a guaranteed contract), Luther Head and a No. 1 pick for Artest, Johnson and Jones would work under the cap.
Naturally, an older team like the Rockets is reluctant to give up Head, who has shown intriguing potential, and a future No. 1 pick. But for the Rockets, the future is now. They are spending a lot of money, and they have two stars in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and a big-time coach.
It's possible Artest would further destabilize an already fragile chemistry in Houston. And if he thinks Rick Carlisle is conservative on offense, he's not going to like Van Gundy much either. But Artest is a Van Gundy type of player defensively and could help cure some of the Rockets' offensive woes.
If Houston doesn't want Artest, they also could be the trading partner for a team like the Nuggets, Lakers or Timberwolves, who are all desperately trying to acquire him.
For instance, the Nuggets could offer the Rockets Andre Miller or Earl Watson. The Timberwolves could offer Szczerbiak. The Lakers could offer everything from Lamar Odom down to expiring contracts.
For Indiana, a Houston deal wouldn't have the luster of a Memphis or Golden State deal. But it would give them two young assets and significant salary relief, enabling the Pacers to be more aggressive in the free agent market this summer.
Three teams that need Artest
posted: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 | Feedback
With the Ron Artest-Indiana Pacers divorce at risk of dragging into the New Year … you've got to wonder whether NBA teams are being too conservative in their offers for Artest.
Clearly the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers have shown significant interest. But have any of them offered anything the Pacers really want? So far, apparently not, unless Indiana changes its mind.
Which leads me to wonder, why aren't NBA teams offering more?
In a risk-reward analysis, Artest's personality is the risk. But the reward -- his talent -- warrants teams making substantial offers.
And no one has to give up an All-Star for Ronnie. Just potential and an expiring contract.
I can think of three teams that should jump at the chance.
Golden State Warriors
Two weeks ago in my chat, I said that a deal that sent Mickael Pietrus and either Ike Diogu or Andris Biedrins (along with Calbert Cheaney's expiring contract to make the numbers work) was a deal the Warriors should consider and one the Pacers might find attractive.
Given their recent slide and their defensive woes, I think the Warriors have more motivation than any other team in the league to make this happen. The team is going through the longest playoff drought in the league. The expectations were huge this year, and the season seems to be slipping away, in part because of the Warriors' inability to contain anyone on the perimeter.
Artest would fix that problem. The trade would allow the team to move their biggest defensive liability, Mike Dunleavy, to the bench and replace him with arguably the best perimeter defender in the league.
An Artest trade would cost the Warriors some young talent. But that's the one thing that the Warriors have in abundance.
It would be a big risk for Warriors GM Chris Mullin, but a calculated risk. Both Mullin and Artest played at St. John's, and I'm told they have a positive relationship. Given Mullin's deft touch with players, it should be a great fit.
If Artest were to perform to his norm, the Warriors would have a legitimate shot at winning the Pacific Division and grabbing a top three seed in the West.
However, if he were to struggle for any reason, the Warriors would have lost two young players -- albeit players who are coming off the bench.
For Indiana, this would be the best-case scenario, especially if they could pry away Diogu. In Pietrus, they would get a young, athletic player who can nearly match Artest's intensity on the defensive end of the floor. In Diogu, they would get a young big that they could develop behind or alongside Jermaine O'Neal.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have surprised the league with their strong start this season, but if Jerry West is eyeing anything more than the second round of the playoffs, he knows that he needs a second star to pair with Pau Gasol.
The good news for the Grizzlies is that they have plenty of assets to offer to Indiana.
They could do a straight-up trade of Mike Miller for Artest.
Or, more to the Pacers' liking, I'm sure, they could do a multi-player deal that would send Shane Battier to Indiana.
Because Battier's a base-year player, a one-for-one deal is impossible. However, a deal of Battier and Lorenzen Wright (who happens to be in the last year of his contract) for Artest, Anthony Johnson and Fred Jones would work under the salary cap.
So would a larger deal combining Miller, Battier and Wright for Artest, Johnson, Jones and Stephen Jackson (Artest's most loyal friend on the Pacers' roster).
However, so far the Grizzlies appear unwilling to make Battier part of an Artest deal.
In any case, there would be a risk involved for Memphis, where team chemistry is definitely an issue. The team got better this summer by subtracting a few talented players (Jason Williams, James Posey, Bonzi Wells and Stromile Swift) who created chemistry problems last season.
However, the addition of Artest, who has more talent than any of the four they jettisoned, clearly would put them in the mix with the other elite teams in the West. The clock is ticking for West and this Grizzlies team. If they're going to make a run at a championship, a big risk like this may be the only way.
For Indiana, this is another solid scenario. Battier wouldn't solve their scoring woes, but he would add defense, versatility and team spirit. Wright would provide some long-term cap relief. If Miller were included in the deal (for Jackson), it would give the Pacers a long-range shooter who isn't nearly as volatile as Jackson.
Houston Rockets
The disappointing Rockets haven't been able to catch a break, with injuries and other problems galore. I had them ranked as the second-best team in the West coming into the season, and now they look like a lottery team. If Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy and GM Carroll Dawson are going to save their jobs, they have to be bold.
A deal including David Wesley (in the last year of his contract), Moochie Norris (also in the last year of a guaranteed contract), Luther Head and a No. 1 pick for Artest, Johnson and Jones would work under the cap.
Naturally, an older team like the Rockets is reluctant to give up Head, who has shown intriguing potential, and a future No. 1 pick. But for the Rockets, the future is now. They are spending a lot of money, and they have two stars in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and a big-time coach.
It's possible Artest would further destabilize an already fragile chemistry in Houston. And if he thinks Rick Carlisle is conservative on offense, he's not going to like Van Gundy much either. But Artest is a Van Gundy type of player defensively and could help cure some of the Rockets' offensive woes.
If Houston doesn't want Artest, they also could be the trading partner for a team like the Nuggets, Lakers or Timberwolves, who are all desperately trying to acquire him.
For instance, the Nuggets could offer the Rockets Andre Miller or Earl Watson. The Timberwolves could offer Szczerbiak. The Lakers could offer everything from Lamar Odom down to expiring contracts.
For Indiana, a Houston deal wouldn't have the luster of a Memphis or Golden State deal. But it would give them two young assets and significant salary relief, enabling the Pacers to be more aggressive in the free agent market this summer.
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