http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/498..._eye_on_knicks/ Two years ago - when Indiana put Ron Artest on the trade market - his agent told The Post that if the Queensbridge native wasn't dealt to the Knicks, he'd just opt out of the final year of his contract and sign with them as a free agent. IMO Sacramento are pressured to trade him or else they might lose him for nothing lol Kwame + picks for Artest?
I'll rather try to sign him this off season then trade for him, doubt that the Kings will trade him to the Lakers.They will probably want either Crittenton or Farmar and I really don't want to trade them to a team like the Kings that is in our conference.
If he wasn't sicko he would be a top 5 player in the NBA. Any team that signs him better be prepared to lose him for long periods of time a year.
I'd swap him for either Kwame or Odom without thinking twice about it. I agree, we shouldn't give up much for him because we can pursue him over the summer. It makes no sense to overpay in any deal involving Artest. I do like what Ariza has been giving us on the defensive end. He's made some key plays already in crunch time. The block he had last night late in the game tipped the momentum back to the Lakers. I still think the Lakers need to get another post defender since they cannot count on Kwame staying healthy. Mihm doesn't look right and the team is thin upfront with only Turiaf and Bynum giving us steady production. Adding a front court enforcer would complete this team.
