The Lakers don't seem interested in bringing in Ron Artest if it means getting rid of Lamar Odom. I can't see a trade that the Kings accept for Artest from the Lakers if it doesn't mean giving up either LO, Kobe, Pau, or Bynum. Source: ESPN
I don't understand why the Lakers wouldn't do this deal if it were on the table. I see Artest as a guy with Odom's scoring ability, not his passing, but then the defensive game easily in Artest's favor. No reason why LAL shouldn't be interested.
If we can give out Luke Walton and get, say, a 2nd round pick as well, I'd be EVEN MORE into this deal.
When you can acquire Gasol for Kwame Brown you earn the right to play this out and hope Sacramento gets desperate. Ron Artest is doing a good job of forcing Sacramento's hand with his latest trade request and criticism of the franchise. He said they lied to him about his role and future with the organization and now wants out. If the Lakers can acquire Artest by trading Walton or Radman instead of Odom, I don't think anyone's going to complain. I think the Lakers are also trying get something back for taking Kenny Thomas in the deal. Either a future 2nd round pick or one of Sacramento's young players. If you're the Lakers you have to argue with the Kings why you should take Kenny's contract when he has another year remaining on it paying him $8.5M. Having $8.5M less to spend in a year we need to extend Bynum and Ariza should be a deal breaker. I'd argue the Lakers are better off sticking with Odom and letting him and his $16M deal walk next summer than take on Kenny's $8.5M. Or wait for later in the season when Odom's expiring contract will have more value and teams out of contention will be more willing to unload a quality player. Another option the Lakers might be working on is matching Turiaf's Warrior deal and packaging him with another player for Artest. Or possibly a sign and trade sending the Machine to Sacramento for Artest. There's a lot of scenarios out there and the Lakers aren't in a position of desperation no matter how impatient we get with wanting a deal done.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Jul 14 2008, 10:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When you can acquire Gasol for Kwame Brown you earn the right to play this out and hope Sacramento gets desperate. Ron Artest is doing a good job of forcing Sacramento's hand with his latest trade request and criticism of the franchise. He said they lied to him about his role and future with the organization and now wants out. If the Lakers can acquire Artest by trading Walton or Radman instead of Odom, I don't think anyone's going to complain. I think the Lakers are also trying get something back for taking Kenny Thomas in the deal. Either a future 2nd round pick or one of Sacramento's young players. If you're the Lakers you have to argue with the Kings why you should take Kenny's contract when he has another year remaining on it paying him $8.5M. Having $8.5M less to spend in a year we need to extend Bynum and Ariza should be a deal breaker. I'd argue the Lakers are better off sticking with Odom and letting him and his $16M deal walk next summer than take on Kenny's $8.5M. Or wait for later in the season when Odom's expiring contract will have more value and teams out of contention will be more willing to unload a quality player. Another option the Lakers might be working on is matching Turiaf's Warrior deal and packaging him with another player for Artest. Or possibly a sign and trade sending the Machine to Sacramento for Artest. There's a lot of scenarios out there and the Lakers aren't in a position of desperation no matter how impatient we get with wanting a deal done.</div> Holy shit Shape, I hope you're right. It would be a dream to be able to dump Luke/Rad at this point, on any team. Their contracts are just ridiculous at this point.
