I was working on my “What I’ve Been Reading” Best of 2005 list, but I just couldn’t stay quiet about this any longer.
Ron Artest. You want to be traded? Good. Go Away.
I’ll never claim to be an impartial basketball fan – I’ll always sway towards the Indiana Pacers, just like Eric will always sway towards the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kerrie will sway towards the Phoenix Suns. It’s part of being a fan.
So it’s not a surprise that when someone decides to turn their back on my favorite team, I prepare to bid them adieu.
Which is exactly what Ron Artest is doing. I’m not surprised; I’ve been waiting for this for months.
From ESPN.com:
“I still think my past haunts me here,” Artest told the Star. “I think somewhere else I’m starting fresh. I’m coming in with baggage but people already know about it and how I’m going to be. Either they’re going to be for me or they’re not going to trade for me. Here I think my past haunts me.
Please. Artest needs to cut the martyr act. He wants out, but he doesn’t want to look like the bad guy. He wants to be the top dog on a team, and he’ll never make it that high playing alongside Jermaine O’Neal. He’s trying to force his way off the team by acting like the scapegoat, the victim, the tortured soul that only wants his team to be successful.
Ron? You are the best defensive player in the league. You are leading the league in steals. You’re averaging nearly 20 points per game. Many of the basketball media consider you the best two-way player in the league. You’re on a perennial contender, one of the top four teams in the league. Why do you think the Pacers would be better off with you?
Additionally, your team stood by you last year when you went crazy and got yourself kicked out of the league for 72 games. They rallied around your cause and managed to take the Pistons to a sixth game in the second round despite missing the reining Defensive Player of the Year due to suspensions and half of the rest of the team due to injuries. Your actions, in my opinion, single handedly cost the Pacers their shot at the NBA Championship. They cost Reggie Miller his last shot at the title. To think that the team still accepts you into the fold is mind-boggling.
ESPN.com
“I think I cause a lot of problems here,” Artest told the Star in a one-on-one interview Saturday; the story first appeared on the newspaper’s Web site. “If the trade rumors, if there is any truth — maybe it won’t be a bad thing. They probably could win more games without me.”
Oh? The trade rumors? You mean, you asked for a trade, and now you’re saying that they’re all rumors? Come on.
The Pacers, truthfully, don’t need Artest. They could trade him nearly anywhere for less than what he’s worth and lose the distraction, the head-case, the instigator, and the time-bomb of their team all at the same time. Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh has already said he’s shopping Artest around. Good. Artest just asked for a trade, and Donnie will oblige.
Do you think Walsh or GM Larry Bird will send Artest to a good team? No. Don’t kid yourself. He’s not going to send a player that good to a team that will contend against the Pacers anytime soon. They’ll trade him to the Hawks and get Al Harrington back. Or to the Raptors for Mike James and picks. Or to the Knicks for Quentin Richardson and Malik Rose.
I say send him where he belongs – the Portland ‘Jail’blazers. Send back Darius Miles, or one of those three point guards that are always injured. Hell, just send a future draft pick – the Pacers will be fine with Greg Oden or OJ Mayo down the line.
Regardless, just send him anywhere. He’s worn out his welcome in Indiana. Maybe he can be someone else’s problem.
That’s the only way he’ll ever stop being a problem to the Pacers.
speaking of bball will you have time for me to bring a little minnesota thunder down on your pitiful so dak ball skills when im in town from the 23 to the 26? Maybe the 24????
What, did you learn to jump?
heck i wont even have to run.
Bah!
first off corey, kg is the best two way plaer in the league, mn bias? maybe, but i don’t really think so.
the thing about ron is that he’s real cheap, so in order to get someone good, they’ll probably have to include someone else in the trade to make the money work out. but i suppose i would let him play here in minnesota if say, wally went to indy…
I agree with the KG “two-way player” thing… I’m just saying that a lot of media types, the ones who don’t want to sound like a broken record, pick Artest. KG, as the best player in the league, obviously would be the best two-way player.
And as far as cheapness, I think they could throw in Austin Croshere’s monster “I had a great 2000 Finals and they paid me too much” contract.
Wally for Artest would be something else… especially when they meet up again on Jan 20th.
Wally has hurt the wolves in the past by trying to do too much. Artest hurts his team by being a dumbass. Eric have you seen Wally’s stats over the past 4 weeks?? He’s scored over 30 points in 3 or 4 games and his defense has improved dramaticaly but thats not saying much (0×2=0). But now that EG isn’t shooting threes every time he touches the ball and is actualy staying near the basket to block shots and get rebounds he and Wally can sub for each other when their individual skills are needed. Keep Artest away from my team.
don’t worry branum, there’s no way in hell this will happen.
as for wally, sure he’s playing well now but let’s talk in two weeks.
Wally has come into his own this year. The Wolves may be a legit playoff team in the West. Now I won’t go so far as to say that they are finals material, but they are better than most. How that worked out, I can’t tell you. McHale is still one of the worst GMs in the NBA and should be axed. Letting Flip go was a terrible solution to a temporary (Spree and Cassel) problem, but Casey is a pretty good replacement so far. Still, the Wolves are first in their division and playing well. Go Wolves!
i thought wally came into his own four years ago. remember that? he made the all star team and everyone was excited. yeah, wally has a few good weeks every year, then he changes back into his ol “i can’t dribble for shit, but it sure is fun to try!” self again.
this is temporary.
I’ll give you that Eric. I still cringe whenever he drives the lane.
I think Wally looks too pretty to be a decent basketball player. When was the last time you saw a GQ Style basketball player that was any good?
Exactly.
Anyway, maybe we can get Channing Frye from the Knicks. I also hear that Phil Jackson wants Artest… maybe we can get Lamar Odom, a player that’s TRULY coming into his own this year. He’s becoming another Scottie Pippen… except with worse defense and a less bumpy head.
i dunknow corey lets see michael jordan was on the cover of gq at least once lebron james too i think.
Bah, those guys are chumps.
well corey somewhere in the desert of insanity lies a cherry pie
Corey hates all that is not Indiana basketball or Miami football.
Seriously, Jordan was a handsome dude. Yeah, I said it, so what?
yeah, i see wally quite a bit in the neighborhood i work in. we eat at the same bruegger’s bagels! he looks kinda funny in person though.
you know he gets his eye brow (singular) waxed regulary
and corey is the one that said he was GQ not me. also tony parker was just in GQ as well.