I have to defer to Isiah- he's coached him and knows what kind of person he is, and whether he would be coachable or not here in NYC.

From a fantasy basketball perspective, absolutely- adding artest addresses many weaknesses this squad has- assuming you move a 2 or 3 for 1, you help balance out the roster

Matt - all=star calibre players like Artest (baggage) and all, don't come cheap.

If David Lee is required to get the deal done, given the ability to play Zach, Malik and even Randolph Morris at forward, do you pull the trigger?

Ask yourself... Why would any GM settle for only Nate and Mailk Rose for Artest?

Posted by misterearl:

Why would any GM settle for only Nate and Mailk Rose for Artest?

He probably won't. Though if we can offer some of our ending contracts in Jones and Dickau thats a start. I'd look at including Balkman as well.

David Lee for Artest should be simply off limits. Talent vs. Talent we would be getting the better deal, and Artest (again, skill-wise) is a better fit.

But the risk of it not working out is simply too high to give up a known quantity like Lee. Look at the +/- stats...Lee made this team work, and without him the season tanked.

With two guys in the front-court who need the ball, Lee is more important to us than an SF who thinks he should be the #1 option.

Rembee - the Lee debate has some curious angles. But the unique trait of Artest's game is his ability to spread the floor with his outside range.

Sharing shot attempts is another challenge, especially with Sir Hoist-A-Lot, Jamal Crawford on the floor.

Yes, Lee for Artest SHOULD be off limits.

But ask yourself the fundamental question, do you deal a sixth man for a starter?

and I love David Lee

The better question?

Would you rather give up Lee or Crawford in a package?

I think with Mardy defense and all the scoring we would have in our starting lineup with Marbury, Artest, Randolf, Curry you get rid of Jamal because lee like Balkman are selfless players that are perfect to plug in with guys that need the ball.

Sac might be willing to do Jamal, Morris, Chandler for Artest I would rather give up that package than a double double guy that is intelligent knows how to play and produces wins when he plays. Your basically doing an erractic shooting guard that is great for 40 games, and sucks for 40 plus two late first round picks for one of the top 20 players in the nba, and a guy thats going to be able to focus on the wades, lebron, etc. Subtracting crawford while keeping lee and balkman gives you a ton of defense and energy off your bench and you can retain the sideshow clown for a few offensive burst.

But look for Isiah to move Lee, because he believes he is a genius and balkman is going to give you everything lee would.

And comparing lees progression from year 1-2, to Frye is just plain stupid. Take your gm hat off, anyone that really watched the two all season realize lee had a ton of potential and frye was just a jump shooter, and his effectiveness toward the end of his first season really went down after the allstar break.

He has better hands than frye, is a better finisher, jumps higher, runs faster, can handle the ball, has balls, and can rebound.

Lee is just a rebound guy? He averaged a double double in 30 minutes a night without one play for him, not to mention that if isiah had any clue he would have been an allstar, but he had to start frye, **** around with jefferies when lee should have been playing another 8 minutes a night. Lee is only going to get better and he is actually a good kid that helps you win. He doesn't get blazed and embarrass the organization like marbury, get arrested like zach or blow off team functions like the rest of these *******s.

You win in this league with selfless talent, the guy shot 60% improved his free throw percentage by nearly 30% in one season and is a guy people want to play with.

Artest is the missing link, I agree I think with lee, balkman and collins off the bench we could easily beat anyone in the east, but tempo changers are what win in this league you don't move them

Posted by misterearl:

djsu - THIS is the debate of the month.

Without a doubt Artest is the ultimate risk. How does a player with his past respond to the intense attention in the media? Does he feel the heat of the bright lights everywhere he goes or does he simply know the city too well for his own good?

Marbury/ Collins

Crawford/ Jones

Artest/ Balkman/ Chandler

Randolph/ Rose/ Morris

Curry/ James

one day artest does something retarded.

another day, he apologizes and he seems sincere.

then he goes and says something retarded.

then he does something sincere.

how many times should one get a clean slate?

historically, isiah and artest have not had a pleasant history together. and with isiah having to keep tabs on zach, can he also have the time and patience to keep tabs on artest AND continue to coach the team?

last time we heard from artest, he wanted more shots. is that happening here?

but if artest plays nice, we have ourselves a bonafide STUD.

trading for him could make you a legendary gm, or it can get you fired. considering where we are as a team, isiah DOES NOT make an artest deal. but considering where the east is in terms of talent, how can you not get an itchy trigger finger?

obviously, but what he can do is help you win games.

Chandler is a question mark, as is morris, and the kings need pieces to rebuild and we have enough young guys on the team.

Zach, eddy, lee, balkman, collins all young, the kings have holes at the pf, sf, and need another scorer to replace bibby and i think they would take that deal if you offered it to them.

Sacramento Trade Breakdown
Outgoing
Ron Artest
6-7 SF from St. John's
18.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 3.4 apg in 37.7 minutes
Incoming
Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.4 apg in 37.3 minutes
Randolph Morris
6-11 C from Kentucky
0.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.2 apg in 8.6 minutes
Wilson Chandler
6-8 from DePaul
No games yet played in 2006/07

Only way lee drops off is if they don't give him the minutes