Link <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Lakers continue to be regarded as the favorites for Ron Artest as they offer Lamar Odom. Their willingness to swallow the remaining two years and $16.5 million of Kenny Thomas' contract is considered the only holdup</div>
Jesus Christ, swallow his god damn contract already. Get this freakin' deal done before it's too late.
They just need to bite the bullet and get over it. Swallow the contract. At worst, he eats up some cap space for a season and becomes trade bait next year. In the process, we get Artest and will probably be able to extend him for relatively cheap, or at least a LOT cheaper than Odom. Plus, Thomas does give us some depth that we may need next year at the PF/C spot. Mihm has become garbage, we lost Turiaf, so who else do we have? Mbenga hasn't been resigned.....and I can't really think of anyone else (though I'm sure I'm forgetting someone). Hell, I think he might be able to do pretty well for us - he'd give us a solid rebounder and a somewhat decent scorer. As much as his contract sucks, he'd be able to give us something, at least I think he would.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The good news for Lakerland dwellers hoping Artest eventually will arrive this summer to address the defense and toughness issues exposed by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals: Maloof has shot down the oft-cited theory that the Kings, because of their fierce on-court rivalry with the Lakers early in the decade, are reluctant to make a trade with their divisional neighbors. "Absolutely not [true]," Maloof said. "We're rivals with the Lakers, but we respect them as an organization. If we can make a move that improves our situation, it doesn't matter who the other team is."</div> Maybe the trade will go down. I hope that it does. Espn.com
"Apparently" the Kings are now offering Artest with Shelden Williams and Quincy Douby for Lamar Odom If that's the case, I jump on it no questions asked. But I doubt this offer has any legs to it at all
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 19 2008, 12:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>"Apparently" the Kings are now offering Artest with Shelden Williams and Quincy Douby for Lamar Odom If that's the case, I jump on it no questions asked. But I doubt this offer has any legs to it at all</div> Where'd you hear that? The Artest + Thomas for Odom deal makes sense, because in the process, the Lakers have to take on a bad contract. Taking Thomas out of the deal and adding two valuable up-and-coming young players in Williams and Douby just makes the steal a straight-up rip-off by the Lakers. If that deal goes though, I will have lost my faith in the NBA (er... who am I kidding, I lost that a long time ago).
My bad, here's the article <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>This is the potential compromise. Kenny Thomas out, Shelden Williams and Quincy Douby in. No difference to the Kings in lineup impact, big difference to the Lakers in money. It's still Ron Artest for Lamar Odom at the bottom line, except the salary-cap ballast has changed and the Lakers, in this version that will undoubtedly be discussed between the teams, if it hasn't been already, get away from Thomas and his $17.3375 million due the next two seasons. For a team paying the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, as L.A. is, that's actually a $34.675-million hit for Thomas. You can see the hesitation. Williams is on the books for $3.4 million in 2008-09 and Douby for $1.43, along with Artest's $7.4 to match up under the cap rules to Odom's $14.15 million. Nearly 5 mil combined for a power forward that never plays and a guard that never plays is a bad thing. But Williams and Douby have guaranteed money next season only while Thomas is down for two more and, specifically, $8.775 million in the second one. That's the key. Taking Artest, Williams and Douby, the Lakers are bringing on $12.23 million ($24.46 including the luxury tax) for 2008-09 and nothing after. Total commitment: $24.46 million. Taking Artest and Thomas, the Lakers are bringing on $16 million ($32 mil) for 2008-09 and $8.775 ($17.55 mil). Total commitment: $49.55.</div> http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sport...ves/013938.html After re-reading it, it's just speculation by the writer. I knew the Kings weren't THAT stupid
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moo2K4 @ Jul 17 2008, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They just need to bite the bullet and get over it. Swallow the contract. At worst, he eats up some cap space for a season and becomes trade bait next year. In the process, we get Artest and will probably be able to extend him for relatively cheap, or at least a LOT cheaper than Odom. Plus, Thomas does give us some depth that we may need next year at the PF/C spot. Mihm has become garbage, we lost Turiaf, so who else do we have? Mbenga hasn't been resigned.....and I can't really think of anyone else (though I'm sure I'm forgetting someone). Hell, I think he might be able to do pretty well for us - he'd give us a solid rebounder and a somewhat decent scorer. As much as his contract sucks, he'd be able to give us something, at least I think he would.</div> Gasol and Bynum are starting PF/C. Odom can play the PF. I think they need to bring in a veteran centre like P.J. Brown. Look what he did in the playoffs for the Celtics. Bynum won't be able to handle the situations that arise in the finals, we need to bring in a veteran at the C. Mbenga needs to go.
