Rashard Lewis is now off the market after he signed with the Orlando Magic and so another borderline playoff team in the East improved itself.
With that I say go for it, Isiah. Damn the torpedoes and made a trade for Ron Artest.
Beat up the East. Be the hated Knicks again.
A few blogs ago I promoted the theory of patience. Now that Isiah has tossed that plan overboard with the Zach Randolph trade, I say he might as well go full speed ahead. Getting Artest -- as long as it doesn't result in David Lee going the other way -- would certainly add to the potential for off-the-court trouble, but it would make the Knicks a handful on the court, as well.
What would the Knicks have to give up for Artest? I would think Thomas would be more than willing to send Jared Jeffries, but I'm not sure if the Kings want that contract. That's the tricky part, what goes back to the Kings in a money-match? I'll leave it up to you armchair GM's to give me some scenarios to consider.
(I believe Jeffries has a place on the Knicks roster, especially as a defensive player off the bench. But if you can move that contract, you move it!)
We all know what Artest brings. You wouldn't be reading a Knicks blog in July if you didn't. A former All-Defensive player who gives you a lot of grit. A lot of New York. His outside shot has improved over the years, but he can't be considered a consistent deep threat. Still, when he gets hot, as we saw when the Knicks visited Sacramento in January, he can light it up.
He's best at the other end, defending, agitating. I'm convinced he'd be rejuvenated playing in his hometown. As for the potential headaches? Hey, that ship sailed when you took a chance on Zach Randolph. If he can come here with a clean slate, why can't Artest?
Make up for a mistake made all those years ago. At this point what more have you got to lose?
* * *
Some Thoughts:
- I know it seems I have something personal against Nate Robinson and I want to set the record straight: I don't. For real. He's just a maddening player to me. He has so much physical potential. Speed. Ridiculous hops. A relentless motor. A very good stroke (and excellent form). He should be a dynamo off the bench; a bundle of energy that doesn't stop until he checks out of the game. He should make opposing guards take a deep breath when he comes in because they know he'll be on them full-court and then he'll be charging the ball up the floor the other way. He'll be running off screens with abandon and popping out for threes. Fans already love him for his charismatic personality and his energy (and hops).
But defense should be his staple. It should be what keeps him in the league. Right now, it's what will drop him behind Mardy Collins on the depth chart.
And the reason why I jokingly added that Nate should be kept away from the "Hoop Family" was because he's very much a follower, from what I've seen and heard about him. So you can see him getting into trouble with the wrong crowd. But, to be honest, I was just kidding.
Really, I just want to see the guy show some maturity and take his career serious. His contract is almost up and it's time to start making real money. He has the physical tools to do that, despite his 5-9 height. But his post-practice workouts need to involve things he hates doing but needs to work on - ball-handling, footwork (on defense, for a quick guy, his agility is awful) and watching film on opposing guards and tendencies -- instead of halfcourt shots and three-point contests.
And he's not a point guard. You can't consider him a point guard. He doesn't even consider himself a point guard. He's a shooting guard in a point guard's body.
There, I said it.
- The Daily News included Mo Peterson as a potential addition by Isiah Thomas as a mid-level exception signee. Mo-Pete can stroke it from three, but I don't know if he gives you that much more that it's worth giving him a contract. I'd rather keep Quentin Richardson at the three spot if you can't get Artest.
- One thing to consider with Randolph, he does give the Knicks options. Consider this frontcourt trio when you need to get rebounds - Randolph, Lee and Renaldo Balkman.
Comments (19)
I agree, go get Artest. We can give Sacremento some expiring contracts (Dickau, F. Jones) and some young talent not named Lee or Crawford. I`m thinking Dickau, Jones, Nate and R. Morris? I want to keep Balkman if possible. Of course I have no clue what the Artest market is. Can the Lakers or Heat trump that offer of cap space and young player? A line-up of Curry, Zach, Artest, Collins and Marbury with a second unit of Lee, Q, Balkman and Crawford. Isiah would probably switch Collins and Crawford but I just think Crawford fits better with that second unit though he does feed the post well. And if this doesn't work, Dolan can offer RC Buford $10 mill a year and a penthouse on Central Park West...
i think getting artest would be a great idea are weekest position is probably are 3 because we can't trust q rich and we would have a great defender which is what we need because we have enough scoring.....if we do get artest do you think q rich would come off the bench or slide to the 2 spot and jamal off the bench?
Artest is exactly what we need! Its obvious that the expirings of Jones & Dickau will go. The difficult part is who will make it worthwhile for the kings when Frye is a Blazer. I would think that a protected 1st or Morris & Balkman would do the trick. Yes I am of the belief that despite his issues the bids will be high.
Alan, I too was on the build with youth/manage the cap bandwagon, but since the Knicks have decided to go in another direction, I would endorse the acquisition of Artest. At best, he one of the NBA's top defenders, someone who brings energy/grit/anger to the court, at worst, he is out of control and looks for trouble. However, he only has two years left on his contract, so whatever happens, he won't be a long term problem. I would offer Chandler//Collins/Rose (Jones and Dickeau cannot be traded as part of a package until August 29th)
to get artest i think we could offer jones, dickau, and crawford... we could get rid of crawford now because like i said q rich could move to the 2 and i think the salaries would match.... leaving our starting 5 to be curry, zach, artest, q rich, stef and coming off the bench dlee, balkman, nate, mardy, maybe some randolph morris or jerome jeffries giving curry a breather
We can't trade Dickau and Jones until August? That stinks. Replace those two with Malik in my original offer an hope we have a deal.
Some fan website in Sac-Town thinks they are getting Lee for Artest. They are already patting themselves on the back for ripping Isiah off. He better not trade Lee for Ron-ron
Funny thing is, the Heat and Sacremento are mirror images of each other right now. Both teams have only 9 players under contract, so a trade between them would seem to be kind of difficult. Straight up, the only salary close is Antoine Walker, and any other combination of players would leave Miami barely able to field a squad of 5! I don't know how Riley will pull that off. Sacramento's best player is Kevin Martin I guess, and they lack depth at 2 and 3. I think the Knicks have an excellent chance at this because we have contracts that can go 3 for 1 or even 4 for 1 where they need depth. Dickau plays point (they're tired of Bibby), Fred can play 2 or 3, give them Robinson too and you still don't equal Artest's cap number. That's better than Laker's best offer too I would think - any combo of Vujacic, Evans, Farmer, Cook.
Now if we really had competition, we could take Bibby off their hands (his contract expires 08-09) as well for Malik Rose/James and Jeffries (they could use his size and agility with the dinosaurs they have in the front court) and be out of those two contracts years earlier. Depending on where the cap is set for 2009-10, we'd be well under when Bibby's contract expires. Bibby's a good soldier (I think) and would be good insurance for Marbury should he get injured or need to rest those knees.
Jon,
Do you truly believe that Sacrommento would trade their two best players for what you,re suggesting?
WAKE UP!!!
Cap wise, Morris,Balkman, Robinson or Lee can go with the expiring conracts for Artest. Now how much of a pain will the Kings be about wanting Lee?? Can we get Artest without giving up Lee and using the expiring contracts and another player?? But remember we can't trade the expiring contracts for 30 days, maybe by the end of the summer Kobe comes in play if Garnett or O'neal don't end up on the Lakers.
Hold on there Scott, I just want Artest in a 3 or 4 for 1 to trim the roster and fill out the starting 5. If a team trumps the Knicks offer of capspace and younger players for Artest the so be it. Dickau, Jones, Morris, Nate would be ideal. Who beats that? Miami with Dorell Wright? Lakers with Farmar?
I'll say this. Keep Lee and crawford. DO NOT TRADE those guys. We were a lock for the playoffs with them healthy last season and still thier best years are very much ahead of them. Keep them. find some other players to trade. nate can go, jeffries csn go, expiring contracts can go. cool.
I would love to get Artest!! This is a team mike and the mad dog would love to hate with Artest and Randolph on it.Cap wise, Morris,Balkman, Robinson or Lee can go with the expiring conracts for Artest. Now how much of a pain will the Kings be about wanting Lee?? Can we get Artest without giving up Lee and using the expiring contracts and another player?? But remember we can't trade the expiring contracts for 30 days, maybe by the end of the summer Kobe comes in play if Garnett or O'neal don't end up on the Lakers.
All for an Artest deal, so long as Isiah lowballs the hell out of SAC...his trade value has dropped like a rock and the Kings have little leverage since everyone knows management hates him and he WILL opt out after this year if he isn't moved.
Jeffries, Nate and the 2 expirings...this deal is a perfectly good opportunity to play hardball.
What the hell is the big deal with Lee sure he's a great role player with good numbers but we also have Randolph Morrison the pine the next great thing so if we can offload a bad contract on sacto while trading lee and getting Artest then drop the hammer Zeke
How about Lee and Marbury for Bibby and Artest?
The Knicks are a playoff team today based on talent, if they can get Artest without giving up much. If I am the Knicks I am calling Sacramento and offering Q-Rich, Randolph Morris, Nate Robinson, Dan Dickau, Fred Jones, Malik Rose, Kelvin Cato, Jarad Jeffries, or Jerome James in any combination that works for them. Furthermore, this would be a take it or leave it deal. Once word get back to Artest that NY wants him Sacramento will have no choice but to trade him to the Knicks. Which other team is going to trade for Artest knowing that he wants to play in New York. Isaiah needs to make a move for Artest but he should be in control no Sac-Town.
When 2 playoff teams (Pacers and Kings) can't wait to dump a player that they need to win, it should raise all kinds of red flags. They have a nice core young group that is motivated to play hard, listen to the coach and do what it takes to win over personal goals or stats. If those were the qualities of Artest he wouldn't be looking at his third team in 3 years. He's not worth the headache and would sabotage a Knick season the way he did the Pacers by taking a fight into the stands that year.
Make up for a mistake made all those years ago. At this point what more have you got to lose? ...Alan Hahn...July 2007
At this point what more have you got to lose?
One year later, Alan's point is more valid than when he first wrote it!
"Beat up the East. Be the hated Knicks again."
That's exactly what the hell we need!