<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Indy Star reporter Mark Montieth was on WNDE 1260 radio in Indianapolis this afternoon and said that the report about Ron Artest and Jalen Rose going to the Lakers is not likely and that it was a case of "poor journalism." Montieth went on to say that a trade with Denver was more likely, with Nene being the centerpiece of the deal. It sounds like Artest will be moved in the next two to three days, but Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird aren't about to tip their hand as to what they are working on. As for the Jalen and Artest to the Lakers story, it's still a possibility, but it doesn't sound probable as of right now. If nothing else, it sure livened up the basketball world today. Dec. 29 - 4:37 pm et</div> http://fantasybasketball.rotoworld.com/con...a.asp?sport=NBA So the trade is legit but its not likely to go down.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">http://fantasybasketball.rotoworld.com/con...a.asp?sport=NBA So the trade is legit but its not likely to go down.</div> Well it's legit at the very least and hopefully the Lakers can outbid Denver. I think the Lakers have the pieces to put a better package together, it sounds like it's a matter of them wanting to risk them on Artest or not. This is turning into another "Baron Davis" fiasco for Laker fans. I'm going to be furious if the Lakers don't land Artest. Thanks for the update Run BJM.
Lakers flagship radio station is also reporting this and say it will be done by tomorrow at the latest. Rose and Artest could get the Lakers to the second round of the playoffs.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers flagship radio station is also reporting this and say it will be done by tomorrow at the latest. Rose and Artest could get the Lakers to the second round of the playoffs.</div> Yeah I hope so, then all Laker fans can celebrate the New Year a day early. I just don't see how Denver can put together a better offer with Nene being the centerpiece. He might not ever play for the Pacers because he's done for the year and they don't have the cap space to re-sign him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah I hope so, then all Laker fans can celebrate the New Year a day early. I just don't see how Denver can put together a better offer with Nene being the centerpiece. He might not ever play for the Pacers because he's done for the year and they don't have the cap space to re-sign him.</div>I agree with you on that one. The Nugs will have a tough time bringing Artest in with Nene. Plus, the Nugs don't even make sense. Artest plays the same spot as 'Melo, so you'd have to move one of them down to the 2 or put Artest at the 4, something like that. Plus, with Camby down for a while and the Nuggets down to essentially Martin as their last good big guy, I'd think they'd try to acquire another big man, not another 3. And really, if you look at it, the Lakers have a better offer than anyone else can really make. They send over a talented yet inconsistent Lamar Odom and what will essentially turn into $5mil in cap in Devean George. The Pacers get someone who's not going to complain about his role on the team and someone who will give them a good 3rd option, along with a good rebounder in Odom. And as I stated earlier, they get cap space from Devean George here in about 8 months and until then, a decent backup SF. I think it's going to be tough for teams to beat out that offer.
Im willing to make a gentlemans bet that this doesnt happen. I cant possibly believe that a team like the pacers would give up Artest for mediocre players. Basically, if the Lakers arent giving up Odom...i dont believe a word of it. EDIT: nevermind, it seems that the deal is Odom for Artest...or something of the sort. I believe it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting whatthef?:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers flagship radio station is also reporting this and say it will be done by tomorrow at the latest. Rose and Artest could get the Lakers to the second round of the playoffs.</div> How akward! Some hating laker radio station is reporting this will not go through while a lakers radio station says its already done. Like I said, the topic shouldnt be about Artest and Rose coming but what number should Artest wear. If he wears 93 I will have to make a locker room visit. Artest is coming to L.A. and well the rest can continue hating while kobe continues to prove the doubters wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">down to essentially Martin as their last good big guy</div> To further prove your point- Martin hasn't been playing recently due to his knee's so they are in desperate need of a big. There fearsome 3 of Camby, Nene and Martin is down to nothing. While the nuggets might want Artest, they NEED a big man. I'm not going to speculate whether I think this trade will or will not go down because I don't know the specifics of any of the situations, but pure common sense doesn't put the Nuggets in major contention for Artest, even though they may have been ahead of the Lakers at one point in their bid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Montieth went on to say that a trade with Denver was more likely, with Nene being the centerpiece of the deal.</div>A trade involving Nene is more unlikely, with Nene injured for the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks for the email and the kind words. I'd like to think every trade I report is going to happen -- but that's just not the case. Sometimes, my sources are just wrong. The one I used for this story, however, has been right many times, including when he told me about Jason Williams and Antoine Walker going to Miami. Anyway, it's starting to sound like if this deal does take place, it will also involve either Odom or Kwame Brown. So ... we'll see.</div> This is the response I got from Sam Amico, who was the one that reported the Artest to Lakers trade to begin with. In my email I asked him what his personal thoughts were on this happening, since his article was very matter of fact.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">This is the response I got from Sam Amico, who was the one that reported the Artest to Lakers trade to begin with. In my email I asked him what his personal thoughts were on this happening, since his article was very matter of fact.</div> Thanks for sharing and keeping us updated. I guess to take the positive out of this, the Pacers were considering trading Artest for George basically. So now if the Lakers increase their bid to Odom, I don't see how they can turn it down. Assuming the source is accurate, it's amazing how far Artest's trade value has plummeted. Sounds like the Pacers are the point where they are just sick and tired of Artest and want him gone.
I personally don't think getting Lamar odom in exchange is that bad of a trade for indiana, I mean obviously there are not going to get equal value back, but odom is good for 15 9 and 5 a night, I mean that is what he's averaging. You can't ask for a better role player than that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">i hope instead of Lamar leaving it would be Kwame, but we do need some big guys.</div> I don't think Indiana would even sniff that option lol.
I don't know...Kwame has gained Jacksons trust as a solid defender and rebounder...he also defended Shaq great- which is something one in about 100 centers can claim. Seeing as Indiana is looking to get back to contenderdom soon, getting someone to throw at Shaq who's name isn't O'neal could be a valuable asset. He's also cheaper than Odom.... all I hope is that Mitch tells Walsh he can pick whoever he wants on the Lakers that isn't named Kobe.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">i hope instead of Lamar leaving it would be Kwame, but we do need some big guys.</div>I would rather see Odom leave than Kwame leave. Odom has shown that he's not cut out for his role in the offense this year, and if he can't fill that role, he really becomes nearly unnecessary. I like his hustle on the boards and what not, but he just hasn't fit. He hasn't been able to flourish in a system that was meant for him to flourish in. To me, that's a huge downside on him. Plus, if we trade Kwame, we lose a person who is turning into a solid low post defender and then our frontcourt proceeds to get even thinner. I'd rather see Odom gone, that's all there is to it. He's been a failed experiment in LA, and if he can't manage to flourish in a system made for him, he's never going to be successful as a Laker. Plus, we get his huge payroll off the cap....beyond that, Kwame's contract runs out two years before Odom's does anyways. Getting rid of Odom will bring in more cap space for us two years down the line, cause we'll have Kwame, Jalen, and Artest coming off the books all in the same year, giving us cap flexibility to either bring back Artest or lure in a big name FA.
Its apparent that Odom is not fit for a number 2 to option. I believe keeping him in LA as a third option with Artest as second option would help Odom flourish greatly. But to get Artest without loosing Odom is a bit tricky. If the Lakers play their card right and land Artest without loosing Odom, I see this team going for another championship run.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cliplove777:</div><div class="quote_post">Its apparent that Odom is not fit for a number 2 to option. I believe keeping him in LA as a third option with Artest as second option would help Odom flourish greatly. But to get Artest without loosing Odom is a bit tricky. If the Lakers play their card right and land Artest without loosing Odom, I see this team going for another championship run.</div> If the Lakers can get Artest without giving up Odom more power to us. However, I'm not sure if Odom will flourish greatly even as a third option on the team. I remember last season he disappeared when Butler emerged as the number two option. Kobe and Butler had some great chemistry, and Odom disappeared for the most part. To me, Odom is dead weight on this team because his production doesn't justify the contract he's being paid. Even if they get Artest without giving up Odom, I hope they still trade Odom for more consistent role players.
