Artest to Rockets?

by **benji** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:14 am

In a stunning move designed to push the Rockets from solid playoff team toward legitimate NBA contenders, the Rockets reached agreement Tuesday with the Sacramento Kings to acquire gifted but controversial forward Ron Artest, according to an NBA executive with knowledge of the deal.

The Rockets will give up guard Bobby Jackson, a No. 1 draft pick next season and another player that the individual with knowledge of the trade could not name. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey could not be immediately reached for comment.

Because of contract considerations, the trade will not be announced until Aug. 14, though that would indicate the deal could include Rockets’ first round draft pick Donte’ Greene. Greene is not permitted to be traded until then, one month from when he signed with the Rockets.

There could also be other players involved to make the money match but none that the Rockets would plan to keep. The Rockets will also send the Kings cash in excess of $1 million.

by **cyanide** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:16 am

If the Rockets get Artest for Bobby Jackson and a scrub, they'll be a tough team, that is, if everyone can stay healthy.

by **rdelizo35** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:27 am

Benji,

Wow, that's some stunning news. If this deal does get done, the Rockets got a whole lot more dangerous with Artest as a defender and Brent Barry as a 3-point specialist. Now if Yao and McGrady can stay healthy and motivated, Houston might surprise a lot of teams this year, especially in a tough Western Conference.

by BZ on Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:44 am

Apparently, the unnamed player is the Rocket's 1st round pick Donte Green. This is a similar trade to the Battier trade imo, where the Rockets give up youth and potential for a veteran defender. Too bad Artest is nowhere near Battier in terms of character. But having both on the court will be simply fucking awesome in terms of defense.

by **[Q]** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:11 am

cyanide wrote:If the Rockets get Artest for Bobby Jackson and a scrub, they'll be a tough team, that is, if everyone can stay healthy.

true true. especially since he's played under Adelman before he'll be immediate help to the team.

by **Modifly** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 12:56 pm

As a Rockets fan, I'm not sure whether I should be happy or not.

Acquiring Artest would boost the Rockets on both ends of the floor, but giving up a potential like Donte Greene can results in a bad move.

This is similar to the Battier trade indeed. The Rockets gave up Rudy Gay back then. And guess what, Gay averaged 20 points last season. :shock:

Giving away Bobby Jackson wouldn't cause much of a harm really. He always took wild shots in the game. :lol:

What I'm concern about is how will the Rockets organise their Rosters? Will T-MAC slide over to the point guard position? What position will Artest play?

They got Scola at PF and Alston at PG. If they ever managed to get Artest someone will get benched obviously. He plays the same position as Battier but I'm quite certain that both of them will be on the floor together. That means Artest will have to play at either PF or SG. That being said, T-Mac will have to slide over to PG and Alston will get benched. :roll:

IMO, Scola and Yao will remain on the starting five. That means Alston will get bench because Battier, T-Mac and Artest will definitely start. The weird thing is, they do need a real PG. I dont think things will work out with T-Mac at PG. We'll have to see how they organise the roster..

Anywho, I'm looking forward to Aug 14.

by **TheBlackout!** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:22 pm

Modifly wrote:As a Rockets fan, I'm not sure whether I should be happy or not.

Acquiring Artest would boost the Rockets on both ends of the floor, but giving up a potential like Donte Greene can results in a bad move.

This is similar to the Battier trade indeed. The Rockets gave up Rudy Gay back then. And guess what, Gay averaged 20 points last season.

Giving away Bobby Jackson wouldn't cause much of a harm really. He always took wild shots in the game.

What I'm concern about is how will the Rockets organise their Rosters? Will T-MAC slide over to the point guard position? What position will Artest play?

They got Scola at PF and Alston at PG. If they ever managed to get Artest someone will get benched obviously. He plays the same position as Battier but I'm quite certain that both of them will be on the floor together. That means Artest will have to play at either PF or SG. That being said, T-Mac will have to slide over to PG and Alston will get benched. IMO, Scola and Yao will remain on the starting five. That means Alston will get bench because Battier, T-Mac and Artest will definitely start. The weird thing is, they do need a real PG. I dont think things will work out with T-Mac at PG. We'll have to see how they organise the roster..

Anywho, I'm looking forward to Aug 14.

I belive Battier is gonna be benched, and Alston is just gonna distribute the ball. Just like Rondo in Boston. Maybe Battier will be traded then, for a better PG. Artest can do the same Shane does defensively and a boost offensively.

And about Donte' I wouldn't worry too much, I mean, Gay was the 8th overall pick, Greene is the 28th. Maybe in a long term he can become a solid player, but by that time, T-Mac and Yao will be aging.

by **Jing** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:23 pm

Shocking... Would make a pretty mean starting 5.

by **NovU** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:32 pm

c - ming, tumbo(goner?)
pf - hayes chuck, cola, landry(goner?)
sf - battier, artest
sg - tmac, head(goner?), barry
pg - alsto

rockets will have more trading to do if they really get artest. how will all those forwards share minutes and stay happy. i mean t-mac and barry could be said sf as well.

by **BigGameJames** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:50 pm

As a Laker fan I am pissed, the Maloof bros are a couple of douchebags, we offered Odom who is way better than the scak of shit that they are getting from Houston. Before anybody says it I know you never trade within the division but seriously, this trade sucks ass!!!! Way to go Sac-A-Crappo, just keep getting better, you've got Bobby Jackson back, maybe you can go after Mike Bibby, Peja, and ask Vlade and CWebb to come out of retirement, then the resurrection of the 2002 team would be complete, just can't let go of the old days can you? BTW the Maloofs can play hide and go fuck themselves!!!!!!!!! :evil:

No disrespect to Houston either, cause if this trade goes through they just raped Suck-ramento.

by **Fresh8** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:57 pm

BigGameJames, firstly, it's understandable if a Division rival doesn't want to make you a better team. Secondly, although I wanted to see Ron Artest in LA, I didn't want it at the expense of Lamar Odom. I don't see why you are so angry. It's probably better we keep Odom instead of trading him for Artest because Odom is a far superior rebounder than Artest is, which is what we need especially since Turiaf is gone.

My thoughts on the potential deal: This could spell the end of Battier's tenure there. If this goes through, he'd be the team's sixth man until he gets traded. I can see a Battier trade happening but not sure who they would trade him for.

by **Lamrock** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:09 pm

BigGameJames wrote:As a Laker fan I am pissed, the Maloof bros are a couple of douchebags, we offered Odom who is way better than the scak of shit that they are getting from Houston. Before anybody says it I know you never trade within the division but seriously, this trade sucks ass!!!! Way to go Sac-A-Crappo, just keep getting better, you've got Bobby Jackson back, maybe you can go after Mike Bibby, Peja, and ask Vlade and CWebb to come out of retirement, then the resurrection of the 2002 team would be complete, just can't let go of the old days can you? BTW the Maloofs can play hide and go fuck themselves!!!!!!!!! No disrespect to Houston either, cause if this trade goes through they just raped Suck-ramento.

lol

by **Iceman_44** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:11 pm

ESPN is reporting the deal is now Official :
Rockets agree to send pick, Greene, Jackson to Kings for Artest

NBA front-office sources confirmed to ESPN.com that Artest will be dealt to the Rockets in exchange for Houston's first-round draft pick in 2009, ex-King Bobby Jackson (who arrives with a $6.1 million expiring contract) and the draft rights to Donte Greene. The Kings will also receive more than $1 million in cash, according to The Houston Chronicle, but the deal can't be announced before Aug. 14 because Greene is not eligible to be traded before then.

Yao + Artest + TMac = Scary Lineup

by **Modifly** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:19 pm

Damn. Thanks for the update Iceman_44. We can be certain to see this happen then.

I would be extremely disappointed to see Battier get trade though. I wish we could retain him and share the minutes sensibly.

by **Laxation** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:25 pm

What an awesome lineup...

Ming
Artest
Battier
Mcgrady
Who-the-fuck-ever

Defence ftw...

by BZ on Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:50 pm

Laxation wrote:What an awesome lineup...

Ming
Artest
Battier
Mcgrady
Who-the-fuck-ever

Defence ftw...

As good as that looks on paper, the realistic lineup at this point would be:

Yao
Scola
Artest
Mcgrady
Alston

If T-Mac can be effective as a point guard, I'm sure all of Rockets fans are all for it to have Battier on the floor as well.

by **ryan6liu** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:06 pm

2 artests? u mean alston at guard right

by BZ on Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:09 pm

ryan6liu wrote:2 artests? u mean alston at guard right

My bad, yeah, I meant Alston. Corrected my post. Thanks for pointing that out.

by **dansensei** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:46 pm

Laxation wrote:What an awesome lineup...

Ming
Artest
Battier
Mcgrady
Who-the-fuck-ever

Defence ftw...

i don't think they're going to start artest in the PF position...

by **jonthefon** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:58 pm

...now the Kidd trade is even more costly.

Mavs offered Stackhouse+Bass which is pretty much on even par to Jackson and Greene (Stack is an expiring contract, OMG!) but they couldn't toss in an 09 first-rounder because you can't trade consecutive first-rounders. So they go to a 2010 dra-oh wait, that went in the Kidd deal!

Now the Rockets can beat up on the Mavs like the good ol' days.

by **huddy187** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:31 pm

come on LA you guys suck you waited to long

by **dansensei** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:35 pm

^ the lakers are just not ready to let odom go...

by **huddy187** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:37 pm

why did they resign sasha they could of got artest

by **Emiliano** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:43 pm

dansensei wrote:^ the lakers are just not ready to let odom go...

Actually, the Lakers are the ones that offered Odom to Sacramento. The Kings just didn't accept that.

by **huddy187** on Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:47 pm

odom didnt show up in the finals damn you LA artest and kobe is mj and scottie pippin.......well almost

Artest to Rockets?

Artest to Rockets?

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