Artest

by Twith on Jul 1, 2009 9:56 PM PDT

EDIT: Thursday at 5:30 PM

Artest is a goner now.

Though it may still be fun to think about what might have been.

It's looking like Artest isn't returning to the Rockets.

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/nba/090701_artest_return_unlikely

He just twittered ""Thanks a lot Houston I had alot of fun "

Now that's out there, I'll present my case for making a run at Ron Artest.

1. Defense

Our biggest problem last year was defense. Yeah, the Playoffs stunk because we couldn't get a consistent 3rd scorer which Turkoglu would definitely solve. I think fans (and possibly management) are looking too closely at what bounced us from the Playoffs and not enough at what limited us during the regular season.

If the NBA were NBA Jam Tournament Edition, I'd give Artest an 8 at steals, an 8 at power, and a 6 at blocks. I'd give Turkoglu a 4 at steals, a 4 at power, and a 4 at blocks.

2. Scoring

You may say, "What if we run into another team like the Rockets in the postseason next year? We'd have too few scoring options again. Not having Turkoglu would get us right back to where we started." I'd respond "Though not by as much as Turkoglu, Artest is a better scoring option than Batum." Second, I'd say, "Now that WE have Artest, one of the guys who made life horrible for us in the Playoffs, we aren't running into a team like the Rockets next year." That team was custom-built to defeat elite shooting guards, with two premier perimeter defenders and a giant in the post. They beat us and had a real shot at beating Kobe if Yao hadn't been hurt. That team won't exist next year, and we're unlikely to see another one.

Again with NBA Jam TE, I'd give Artest a 7 at speed, a 7 at 3pt (he shot 40% last year), a 4 at passing, and a 7 at dunks. I'd give Turk a 6 at speed, a 7 at 3pt, (and that's generous, I know he's better than his 36% last year, but maybe not), an 8 at passing, and a 5 at dunks.

3. Price

With all this talk of Ariza making $7-8 million, why not get the same guy, just 5 years older and light-years ahead offensively, for essentially the same price? There's no way you can convince me that Artest is worth less than Turkoglu, though for some reason there is much more talk about Turkoglu as the premier FA this summer. Artest has been rumored to be interested in taking the MLE from Cleveland to play with a contender. Anybody think we could convince him to come to a tier-2 contender for a few million more per year? I think so.

4. Culture

Admit it Blazer fans. KP has turned this team around to the point where winning is the first priority. We remember the Jail Blazer days, but the wound is no longer fresh. The culture has been turned around and our players are at the top of the sporting world in terms of likeability. I think the people of Portland can stomach the idea of getting one stinker for the sake of a push to the championship. Plus, Ron is really weird and a funny interview, and could find a strange niche in Portland like Channing Frye did, and his worst days seem behind him. A part of me misses the days where we *gasp!* received a technical foul occasionally. Artest brings street cred, yo.

And honestly, if we had the opportunity to sign Artest and make a serious push towards the top of the league and KP turned it down because of culture, a lot of people here would be pretty upset.

5. Re-SPEC

We all remember what Ron said about Roy after Game 2. I think Ron wants to win badly enough to defer his sometimes crazy offensive game to Roy when the time is right.

Well there, I did it. Go ahead, freak out if you want to. It's not like he ever punched his OWN fans.

Bonus: NBA Jam TE ratings for the three guys mentioned here.

ARTEST
7 Speed
7 Dunk
7 3PTS
4 Pass
8 Power
8 Steal
6 Block
5 Clutch

TURKOGLU
6 Speed
5 Dunk
7 3PTS
8 Pass
4 Power
4 Steal
4 Block
8 Clutch

ARIZA
8 Speed
7 Dunk
5 3PTS (He shot 31% last year, don't let the playoffs fool you)
4 Pass
5 Power
8 Steal
0 Block (The Rudy-smack brings this down to zero)
? Clutch (Never taken a big shot in his life)

Tweet Comment 51 comments | 7 recs |

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Comments

You had me at..

Artest.

He’s by far my favorite free agent this year.

Also, there’s an NBA Jam TE with new players? Mine still has Drexler/Porter.

It's = It Is
Its = Belongs to It

by 12sharks on Jul 1, 2009 10:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Oh, wait..

re: NBA Jam TE, nevermind. I suppose that’s just wishful thinking!

It's = It Is
Its = Belongs to It

by 12sharks on Jul 1, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions

I would've given this argument a 9

but the NBAjam references bring it down to a 5. It’s hard to take anyone seriously when they try to represent players by numbers in a video game. That aside, your other reasons for Artest are along the right lines. Having Artest would bring toughness and help us defend elite scoring guards while taking pressure off of Roy. The question becomes is Artest as interested in Portland as he is in Clevelnad. I think Artest helps us win a champ better than hedo does.

by lurtsman on Jul 1, 2009 10:05 PM PDT reply actions

The rankings were a bonus

They were a gift, not meant to be taken seriously.

by Twith on Jul 1, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Don’t listen to him – that guy was a jerk. The Jam references sold me on this post!

Keep up the good work. There’s room for a little creativity on a FANBOARD.

It’s hard to take anyone seriously when they claim to try to take blog posts created for free viewing by amateurs seriously.

It's = It Is
Its = Belongs to It

by 12sharks on Jul 1, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions

If I had to watch Ron Ron dribble for 22 seconds only to jack up an ill-advised leaner...

All while wearing a Blazer uni, I would have to gouge my eyes out.

by BlazerBen on Jul 1, 2009 10:05 PM PDT reply actions

That said,

I just have a feeling Artest is not on KP’s radar.

by BlazerBen on Jul 1, 2009 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree, I am worried something happened to KP and he needs Psychiatric help

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Jul 1, 2009 10:10 PM PDT up reply actions

Seriously?

you wouldn’t take an elder ron ron?

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."

-Dave

by faith on Jul 2, 2009 4:15 AM PDT up reply actions

no

Without you out there, we're nowhere here

by 22baylor on Jul 2, 2009 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

nba jam stats, lol. but im hoping kp scraps the hedo plan and goes after ron ron

by elconquistador on Jul 1, 2009 10:10 PM PDT reply actions

I vote neither Ron Ron or Hedo

But this isn’t a democracy.

Ron’s a chucker, and is an offense killer. Great defender, but he needs to play well with others on the other side of the court too, and he doesn’t.

As for Hedo, he’s like Ariza – flavor of the month. If there had been other teams in the finals everyone would be drooling over those players instead. Look at the numbers, don’t rely on the starring cast in the only games played in June.

by baduk on Jul 1, 2009 10:16 PM PDT reply actions

Ron is a Chucker, and that does make him a liability

He doesn’t seem like a Nate or Blazer guy.

by LaoTzu on Jul 1, 2009 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions

That said, I like Artest and he has matured

by LaoTzu on Jul 1, 2009 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions

but he has matured too far

and his defensive skills, while still good, are not what they once were. – Elgin

Without you out there, we're nowhere here

by 22baylor on Jul 2, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

but they are still good, and that is our biggest need

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Jul 2, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions

why would you want a chucker whos declining in defense ability

Oden...Aldridge...Roy.....THE REAL BIG THREE

by CroRupt on Jul 1, 2009 10:18 PM PDT reply actions

Fatty, back me up

by Twith on Jul 1, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions

At least I could really see him helping

Batum mature and get tougher. I feel like he could teach him a lot

You have my axe!

by you have my axe on Jul 2, 2009 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions

I love his defense (love it, love it, love it)

but he’s a ball-hog and a chucker on offense. He’s also got an uncontrollable personality that will probably end up clashing with Nates. Nate’s a lot more controlling than Adelman and make get into a conflict with him.

by ninjasocks on Jul 1, 2009 10:21 PM PDT reply actions

Folks, I agree, but this isn't utopia, the simple fact is he's a vast upgrade in our weakest area, which is much more necessary than a vast upgrade in our strongest area, offensive efficiency

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Jul 1, 2009 10:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Any chance we sign Hedo, trade him to Celtics with Rudy, and get Rondo & Scraps

Or Hedo (8 million), Rudy (1), Outlaw (3.5) for Big Baby & Rondo, I have to dream after this day…

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Jul 1, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions

AAAAAAAaaaaaagggghhhhh!!!

by LaoTzu on Jul 1, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

i second that

and raise you a BLEEEARRRGHHHHHH

by richardb on Jul 2, 2009 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Ron won't pass the psych eval.

B.S. Liberal Studies OSU '06
Trade for Gerald Wallace!!

by TyboOSU on Jul 1, 2009 10:50 PM PDT reply actions

Of course he's going to pass the psych eval

(after he eats it).

by ninjasocks on Jul 1, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions

Both ninjas fought hard

by LaoTzu on Jul 1, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs

LMAO!

I get it now!

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 2, 2009 11:36 AM PDT up reply actions

...

No way, I like Artest but he will do nothing but chuck up threes when not necessary. The only reason why we managed to win 2 games was pretty much Artest not making good ball decisions.

I’m sorry, I just don’t want him on the blazers.

-brandonmitchell.org

by brandonmitchell on Jul 1, 2009 11:01 PM PDT reply actions

I know what my prayers will consist of tonight.

I never thought I would see the day when I wanted Ron Artest as a Blazer, but i feel like he has turned his act around, that and he wont cost us 50 million and he will play some mad D which we obviously need. That and he seems to really respect what we are doing here so I don’t think he would screw it up with off the court issues.

by RipCityRoyCity on Jul 1, 2009 11:36 PM PDT reply actions

Word

This is the truth…wreck

by Illmatic88 on Jul 2, 2009 1:15 AM PDT reply actions

Now that's out there, I'll present my case for running over Ron Artest.

1. Weirdo

2. Crazy Person

3. Gunner

4. Jerk

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Jul 2, 2009 7:39 AM PDT reply actions

thump thump

Yeah I think you got him, with both axles Timbo. – Elgin

Without you out there, we're nowhere here

by 22baylor on Jul 2, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

ron has his bad offensive nights

but i think he would curb it on this team, as nate would pull him if he didn´t. too much talent to huck 18 shots a night. getting ron means going after lebron and kobe. best players in the game are on the wing right now. Batum was never built to hassle a man of Lebron´s build… and he hits the 3 pretty darn well qand he can slash. ron and kirk- martell and Blake = 2 rings each

by Dudehere on Jul 2, 2009 8:30 AM PDT reply actions

"Can't cage a pit bull"

When Ron Artest was new to Houston, Rockets analysts noticed that he was taking some shots from inefficient spots on the floor. Ordinarily, that’s the kind of thing the team might talk to a player about, but GM Daryl Morey wasn’t sure how best to approach the new guy.

So he went to Artest’s teammate, Shane Battier, and asked him what he thought they should do.

Battier, Morey told the crowd at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, said that it would be a mistake to stifle Artest. Artest, he said, is a pit bull, and you “can’t cage a pit bull.”

-Truehoop

by ninjasocks on Jul 2, 2009 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions

yes... yes you can

i’ve seen them caged before.

"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Jul 2, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Me too....

But i didn’t tell anyone til now.

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 2, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions

when did you visit mike vicks house ?

The Blazers will play beautiful basketball.

Brandon will shoot the lights out. Blake will run and LMA will finish strong at the hoop. Bayless will play because we’ll be so far ahead in the 4th quarter, giving all the Jerryd fans something to smile about.

But wait, that’s not all. Rudy will go 5 of 5 from distance. Batum will posterize someone. And Channing will NOT lead the team in points.

qoute from ofred

by Kingzilla on Jul 2, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions

It seems to me like Artest is the worst of both worlds

Obviously, Ron Ron has his good traits, and I like him as a fit on a great deal of teams, but Portland is not one of them.

1. Ron parallels Hedo’s flaw of not fitting in the time-frame for this team. It is doubtful that Artest would be willing to sign a short enough contract where he would yield to Batum at a time that is optimal for Portland. This is probably the highest leverage time for Ron to lock in a longer contract at a decent salary. Plus, Ron is undoubtedly after his peak (like Hedo), so he will be getting worse on both ends as the rest of the team hits their competitiveness window.

2. Ron parallels Ariza’s inability to take pressure off Roy on the offensive end. While Artest is a better offensive player than Ariza (for now), the bad shots he takes coupled with the fact that he’s just not a #2 option (probably not even a 3 in the longer term) narrows the field down in terms of PG’s, since the Blazers would need a guy who can be a more reliable offensive option to complement the other 4 starters.

In short, I like Ron, but he is a bad fit for where Portland is now and where they want to go unless he wants a shorter deal than expected.

by dprodigy19 on Jul 2, 2009 10:10 AM PDT reply actions

i disagree on both points

1. The feeling seems to be that the Blazers are ready to go for a title shot next year. Batum is really not the guy for us by this time. The fact that ron and nic are quite different looks at sf and both are versatile leads me to believe that if push came to shove (no pun) we could play them at the same time, particularly once nic develops his offense more. It seems by saying that these guys don´t fit our timeline, you are saying you don´t want a vet upper level player in our starting line up? The two year Jason Kidd rental would be nice, but I don´t think he would be as productive for us as Ron (tho still good) and a lot more expensive.
2. Ron hits the 3 ball at a better percentage then most guys that are on our wish list; Harris, Kidd, Turk, and plenty more. He does´t have the handles that Turk does, but he is a huge upgrade offensively over Batum right now.
Plus if he´s looking for the MLE in Cleveland as rumored, he would likely be the cheapest to sign out of the difference makers.

by Dudehere on Jul 2, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Going for a title shot next year is the problem

It is almost impossible to argue that the squad as presently constituted will be better in 2009-2010 than they will be in 2011-2012. Not only that, but a series of teams (most notably LA and Boston) are better now than they will be further down the road.

You don’t weaken a brighter future just to take a flier on this year.

On your second point, Ron has had a higher 3PT percentage than Hedo ONCE in their careers (last season), which just so happened to be the only time Artest had a 3P% over 38% in a full season, something Hedo has done four out of the last six seasons.

Ron might be looking for the MLE in LA, but that’s because it’s all they have and he has made no secret about wanting to live there in years past- Portland can’t get him for the same price as the Lakers.

by dprodigy19 on Jul 2, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Good thing all the Lakers have is the MLE

Unless Artest strongly prefers LA to Portland, I think the extra $3 million we have could convince him.

Plus, $8 million in Portland is more than double $5 million in LA when you consider prices down there.

by Twith on Jul 2, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions

Chucker and ability to play on a team and influence

Those three things are my main concerns.

I like the defense. I like a little bit of grit.

I don’t want him killing the offense ala Zach. I don’t want him complaining if something isn’t 100% to his liking. I don’t want him bringing a “gangster life” much like what Zach pretended to live, to the blazers.

If he can play nice. If he can live with a team approach to the game, and if he can lay it out on the floor and show guys the tricks of the game without swearing every other word while smoking and drinking weed… (okay, maybe not drinking it), then I’d be cool with him.

But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html

by ratbastird on Jul 2, 2009 11:21 AM PDT reply actions

Please

No more Artest posts he will never be a blazer

by B1azerfan on Jul 2, 2009 12:46 PM PDT reply actions

because there's 30 million of them and little Hedo posts right?

My avatar is 3 years into the future for sure...

by Taskmaster on Jul 2, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs

BLAMO!

REC

"It's just senseless! 33 million for 2 years of Z-Bo? Might as well pay 33 million to get kicked in the balls 82 times a year."-Eric in Madison(Canis Hoops)

by YikesItsCameron on Jul 2, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions

Artest to LA

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303679

by himynameisjoey on Jul 2, 2009 5:01 PM PDT reply actions

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Pack it in Blazers, save some money, we’re not getting out of the West next year.

by Twith on Jul 2, 2009 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions

When Artest outplays H*DO, four times next year, I'm already expecting his our Turkish supporters to...

say “Well, they don’t really play the same position, H*DO is more of a ‘point forward,’ and secondly their offensive stats were somewhat similar, ect. ect.” while completely ignoring the fact that one of those guys will be playing pitbull defense, and one of those guys will be playing “Care-Bear” defense…

They’ll also completely disregard that one guy is making 9 million, the other guy 5.6 million, I can already see the excuses…I really hope I am wrong on this one, despite his faults, I see a “stud” when I see Artest, H*DO, not so much

by TrentEdwardsHoF2018 on Jul 2, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions

Artest is our eras version of Dennis Rodman. LA got a great pick up. Cleveland is going

to win it all next year though. Shaq is mad as hell that Kobe got that ring, and you know Lebron is fuming over losing to Orlando. Cleveland already has next year locked up.

by BRoyInThe4th on Jul 2, 2009 7:16 PM PDT reply actions