<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Want to hear something crazy? The Magic are considering trading Grant Hill for Ron Artest. OK, they actually only considered it for about 2.8 seconds on Sunday. That was how long it took Assistant General Manager Otis Smith to stop chuckling at the thought of trading the Comeback Player of the Year for the Go-Away Player of the Year. "We're both problem children," Hill joked. The difference is Hill's problems have required crutches. Artest's have required a straitjacket. That said, guess who called Indiana to see if they could work out some kind of deal? "You have to inquire about a player of that caliber," Smith said. You certainly do, no matter how insane it seems. The mere mention of the phrase "Artest" is enough to make most people break out a crucifix. He is the NBA's Sling Blade. One minute, he's sweetly and innocently eating french-fried potatoes. The next, he's chopping off his team's head with a lawn mower blade. It wasn't enough that he made the entire NBA look like a 50 Cent video last year. The Pacers stood by him, and he has repaid them by sabotaging another season. He said he can't function under Coach Rick Carlisle and demanded a trade. Now he says he wants to stay. The Pacers just want to get rid of Artest before Jermaine O'Neal throws a beer at him. If the sports world were sane, prospective employers would look at Artest and see a tsunami of trouble. Instead, they envision long, happy walks on the beach. "We all think a change of address is good," Smith said. "We all think getting around our guys and putting our staff around him will make the difference." We all think anyone is nuts for thinking that, but it's a bottom-line business. And the bottom line is Artest is one of the league's best players. As nice as it might be to get sanctimonious and say, "We'd never take that bum," the fact is a general manager isn't doing his job unless he at least inquires. About 20 teams have done so with Artest. They know fans initially will act as if the team just imported a 6-foot-7 Vietnamese chicken infected with the avian flu. But as soon as Artest shuts down LeBron James, fans will love him. Sometimes a change of scenery helps (see: Rasheed Wallace, Corey Dillon). But some head cases carry their issues wherever they go (Larry Brown, a certain Philadelphia Eagles receiver, Sling Blade). Artest's fate is predictable. He'll get a new team, he'll work hard and everybody will sing redemptive praises. But sooner or later, the time bomb will explode. Even with that, Artest is worth acquiring if your franchise is out of alignment. Teams such as Detroit and San Antonio don't need the disruption. Teams such as the Knicks and Lakers have no chemistry to lose. Teams such as the Magic have to be pragmatic. If you can get Artest for 50 cents on the dollar and he behaves for a couple of seasons, it's worth the gamble. Wouldn't you trade Hedo Turkoglu for Artest and a psychiatrist to be named later? And though the contracts make it almost impossible, what about a 26-year-old small forward entering his prime for a 33-year-old small forward who sadly limped through much of his? Put away the pitchforks, it'll never happen. But as much as Artest deserves to be banished for another season, teams would be nuts not to try to pick him up. Then they'd really be crazy to think it's going to last.</div> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...?coll=orl-magic This guy makes it sound like this is a stupid deal for the Magic but I would pull the trigger on this one in a second. Artest is a better defender and less injury prone then Grant and I would rather have him on our team. Since our team is putting a lot of emphasis on defense this year, Ronny would be the perfect fit our team.
Grant Hill for Ron Artest huh? Well if i were the Magic then I would probaly pull the trigger, but since Hill is my favorite player i want him to stay in O-Town. I did this on Realgm and it worked <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Orlando Trade Breakdown Outgoing Grant Hill 6-8 SF from Duke 17.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg in 30.0 minutes DeShawn Stevenson 6-5 SG from Washington Union (HS) 12.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.2 apg in 35.4 minutes Incoming Jonathan Bender 7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS) 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes Eddie Gill 6-0 PG from Weber State 0.0 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.0 apg in 2.0 minutes Change in team outlook: -5.7 ppg, -0.2 rpg, and -1.0 apg. Indiana Trade Breakdown Outgoing Jonathan Bender 7-0 SF from Picayune Memorial (HS) 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.0 apg in 10.5 minutes Ron Artest 6-7 SF from St. John's 19.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 2.2 apg in 37.8 minutes Eddie Gill 6-0 PG from Weber State 0.0 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.0 apg in 2.0 minutes Incoming Grant Hill 6-8 SF from Duke 17.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg in 30.0 minutes DeShawn Stevenson 6-5 SG from Washington Union (HS) 12.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.2 apg in 35.4 minutes Change in team outlook: +5.7 ppg, +0.2 rpg, and +1.0 apg. Successful Scenario Due to Orlando and Indiana being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Orlando and Indiana had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.</div>
Wow, I would have done that trade easily if I were the Magic. The Magic have a nice group of young players, so you would think that they would rather build around more younger talents. This deal makes sense for both teams, the Pacers could use a mature player like Grant Hill if they want to make a run at a championship. Hill would also be a nice second option next to Jermaine O'Neal. This would be nice for Orlando, they get an All-Star talent. Some may say that he has "mental" issues, but a change of scenery can do wonders for a player in this game. Maybe if Ron gets a reality check, he'll wake up a mature some as a player.
That would be a great deal for Orlando talent wise. I would hate to give up on Grant Hill though with all that he's been put through in Orlando, but it's business.
It would be a great deal for Orlando but theres no way I see Indy making that move...Hill is too risky, and I'm sure the Pacers can get a lot more in return...
I think this trade is basically even and would help both teams out. The Pacers would get rid of their main distraction in Ron Artest and would acquire veteren leadership and a second scoring option in Grant Hill. The Magic would get a top All-Star defender in Artest and would no longer have to worry about Hill's medical status. While some people say the Pacers could probably get better, I'm not sure they can. The only other deal I have seen that's better then this is Seattle offering Rashard Lewis. And even still, Lewis becomes a free agent after the season is over and Artest doesn't really fit into the Sonics style of play so who knows how practical that rumor is. All I know is that the Magic are offering a good player and a good leader in Hill and the Pacers should definently consider this offer. Grant is a great player and everything but I'm not sure if he is the type of guy who can push us into the playoffs. One thing I know for sure is that he isn't someone we can rely on to be here in the future because of his age. Artest is younger, more athletic, a better defender and less injury prone then Hill so I would be glad to welcome him to our team. The only scary thing about him is the off-court distractions. Like some of you said, maybe a sceney change would do the trick but isn't that what people said when he left Chicago for Indiana a couple years back? The fact is, Artest has had off-court issues throughout his entire career and we can't expect one trade to completely alter his attitude. If we do get him I would consider it an improvement and just cross my fingers that he behaves.
artest will help orlando win games but... do u think steve and dwight would be fine with this trade... would any of the other player would be happy with this?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tr@cy&ya0:</div><div class="quote_post">artest will help orlando win games but... do u think steve and dwight would be fine with this trade... would any of the other player would be happy with this?</div> Plus, Artest said he wants to play in an offense where he's allowed to shoot more.
