Sorry for hijacking noaher’s post on the Deng trade, as the Artest story was just breaking and info slowly coming in.

As apparently first reported by the Houston Chronicle, Ron Artest will be traded from the Kings to the Rockets in exchange for Bobby Jackson, a yet-to-be-finally-named second player (according to AP and ESPN its #28 2008 draft pick Donte Greene) and Houston’s 2009 first round draft pick – which won’t be worth much if the Rockets are as good as they hope to be now.

We can be happy that Sacramento didn’t take the trade offer from the L*kers cause that would have been a very tough team (might still happen once Artest’s contract is up, but less likely). But this Houston team also poses some serious problems, and definitely might enable TMac to get out of the first round this year if everybody can stay healthy at the right time of the season.

P.S.: Some Kings fans joked the second player might be TMac. Tough luck, you are officially in rebuilding mode while Houston enters the “win it now or never” stage.

now we can get Battier for cheap!! Nice work Petrie, looking after your old boys!!

Without thinking about it further, my first reaction is that it’s a good trade for Houston, and it’s good for us.

We don’t have to worry about Sacramento competing with us for the 8th spot (they were only 3 games behind us or so, after all, and got good players), and we don’t got to worry about Artest going somewhere like the Nuggets (also giving us strong competition for the 8th spot) or the Lakers (which would really help that team).

And the Kings don’t do too bad either I guess, getting a hopefully promising young talent in Donte Green and a future #1. Is it protected? Yao/McGrady/Artest all coming off injury filled seasons (with the first two it’s sorta the norm I guess), who knows if the injury bug bites them bad and then that #1 pick turns into quite the niceness.

Artest wasn’t gonna stay in Sacramento, so they had to move him, but could they have gotten a better deal at the trade deadline? By then all the teams who are good will be mostly established, and teams will know what they really need. Most of them would need an Artest and would likely pay highly for him.

Is this trade too soon?

I guess it erases any possible Ron-Ron type distractions right away, and just goes full-tilt into rebuilding. I can’t argue with that.

I’m mostly just glad Artest didn’t go to the Lakers, and went to a team you can pretty much guarantee will make the playoffs without him already, thus not hurting our potential spot.

Mortimer

Jackson’s not in their long term plans (except maybe as BJEC whenever that’s applicable), but Donte Green and a first round pick are two nice building blocks to put next to KMart (Kenyon has to surrender the name due to obvious inferiority) and their young big men, in exchange for a troubled player who’s gone next year anyway. Other than getting rid of what’s his name’s contract, I think this was about the best they could’ve done. Hell, Denver wouldn’t include Kleiza in a deal last year. Houston will be good, but with the West being as deep as it is, they’re far from a lock to be a top 3 seed.

I also like the deal for Houston, though – they can’t wait on Green or next year’s pick to develop. Artest gives them two of the best perimeter defenders in the game and a nice third wheel to contribute on offense, as well. I think this might elevate them to the projected 2 seed, even.

Not sure they can beat the Lakers, because Scola and Yao will get killed by Bynum/Gasol (too fast, too explosive), but at least they can now throw a killer tag-team at Kobe.

Artest wanted to get out of Sacramento after learning slowly that he wasn’t a major piece for their future, and was mad at himself that he didn’t opt out already this year. The Kings reportedly get $1 million in cash. Bobby Jackson is a known quantity (he had his best years there), and his deal is expiring after this season for $ 6 million. They get a young forward talent in addition to the ones they already have (Francisco Garcia, Patrick Ewing Jr.). They get a first round pick (whatever this will be worth). Rebuilding, here we come.

Oh, and is it too early to start taking bets to which city the Kings are relocating in the next three years? My money is on the Vegas Kings right now, but Kansas Kings also has an interesting ring to it. Sorry, Sac-town.

Adding that personality? He will bowl over Yao.

Do you think Battier would be available now? He is WAY too good to back up Artest.

Nipping it in the bud before multiple fanposts proposing trades. Artest is on rent for one year. Battier is also a team player and will come off the bench. Rockets can also go small with Artest at PF, Battier at SF, and McGrady at SG.

Rockets get a guy who plays excellent one on one defense and a chucker on offense. Yes, Artest chucks and stops ball movement. He’s also a headcase. The Rockets problem wasn’t defense, it was injuries and offense. Good luck to Adelman with Artest.

“No. 1 draft pick”? Is Sac. going to be so awful that they’ll get No 1 next year??
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Oh, they mean a first round draft pick? Why didn’t they say so? ESPN right up there with the best once again.

fourth? fifth? I would assume Lakers, Spurs, and Hornets are locks.