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Rich
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http://www.nypost.com/seven/07042007/sports/knicks/artest_ing_the_market_knicks_marc_berman.htm?page=0
ARTEST-ING THE MARKET
By MARC BERMAN
July 4, 2007 -- Rashard Lewis is off the table, Ron Artest is on the block, and Isiah Thomas must decide if it's worth trading David Lee to the Kings to put his former Indiana star on the Knicks.
With Lewis agreeing in principle to sign with the under-the-salary-cap Magic, Thomas can concentrate his sights and trade assets on a run at Artest, who played three seasons for Thomas in Indiana but now is being shopped in Sacramento.
Thomas, who negotiated with Lewis' agent July 1, also has spoken to the Kings about Artest.
Lewis' signing in Orlando is a double blow to the Knicks, who could be fighting it out with the Magic for a final playoff seed. Orlando made the playoffs last season, in the eighth slot.
When Artest was peddled by Indiana 18 months ago, the Knicks had tepid interest. Thomas had a brief conversation with Pacers president Donnie Walsh and told him he wasn't willing to give up any of his young players. The conversation ended there.
Times have changed. The Knicks are in a different place following the Zach Randolph trade. The organization believes it is not that far away from competing for the conference title in the awful East and is willing to part with a young player or two. They now boast as much talent as any Knicks team since the 1998-99 version that went to the NBA Finals.
The Knicks always could wait on Artest, 27, until next summer, when he may opt out of his contract for 2008-09. Artest is on record saying in his final days in Indiana he didn't care where he was traded, he'd still opt out in 2008 to sign with the Knicks. Thomas is comfortable with his roster, but said Monday, "I don't consider this a finished product by any stretch."
"Let it be known Ron loves Isiah, always has," Artest's agent, Mark Ste- vens, told The Post yesterday. "Being a Knick, that's his childhood dream. He's a New Yorker. We'll see if it happens."
If it was once, Artest's baggage is no longer considered a major deterrent, especially because Thomas has coached him. Owner James Dolan's philosophy is not to judge a player on his past but on what he does as a Knick.
Dolan, a recovering alcoholic and former cocaine user, believes in second chances, as the Vin Baker signing showed and the Randolph deal confirmed. Artest's list of NBA suspensions, low-lighted by the brawl with the Pistons, will not scare away the Knicks.
Small forward is their lone weak link, with Quentin Richardson, coming off disk surgery, and offensively challenged Jared Jeffries sharing duties. The Knicks need to improve their perimeter defense to make up for the poor interior "D" of big men Eddy Curry and Randolph.
Thomas never has wavered on his belief Artest is an elite player, even when his image was battered. When Artest was traded for Peja Stojakovic, Thomas' lone comment was a subdued, "He's a great player."
Offering Lee could seal a package with the Kings. But that may not be a popular move with Knicks fans, who loved Lee's rebounding and hustle. Lee averaged a double-double last season and is a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate. On the flip side, the Knicks have a Lee-in-the-making, Renaldo Balkman.
For now, Thomas would rather make available Jeffries or Malik Rose and a prospect or two, either Randolph Morris, Mardy Collins, Nate Robinson or Balkman. First-round pick Wilson Chandler and Demetris Nichols also can be traded because they have not yet signed a contract. The total aggregate of salary going back to Sacramento would have to total in the $8 million range.
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7/3/2007 3:34 PM
