Posted by oohah:

"Things are starting to clarify. The number of teams is down to three or four, and I'm dealing with one or two a day in a serious way. The players [being offered] are better, and I think teams realize if they're going to do it they have to offer good players. Draft choices and cap space don't equal a good player," Walsh told ESPN.com.

So no more Ariza, Davis and Rose for Artest scenarios please!

oohah

Wonder if Phoenix would say the same thing, since they turned cap space into Nash...

Posted by NYKniCksFan87:

as much as we all hate timmy t....i still think he can contribute a good 10-12 points on a contender....but he;s such an enigma...he had a stretch witht he knicks last year where he had like 10 games where he had 20 or more points...as soon as the streak snapped....he had 5 the next game...has all the potential...just never was able to handle it right

Posted by oohah:

Wonder if Phoenix would say the same thing, since they turned cap space into Nash...

Phoenix did a great job on that one, but they were in an entirely different situation. The year they traded Marbury was a lost season. Indiana wants to win this year, and they want a good player now.

oohah

Ron isn't playing- Ariza would contribute more.

granted, though, involving other pieces like croshere is different

Posted by djsunyc:

The latest Ron Artest rumor, a report by Sacramento Kings flagship station KHTK that Denver, Golden State and Indiana had agreed to a three-team deal, was shot down by Pacers president Donnie Walsh even before it hit the airwaves Thursday night.

So ended Day 26 of the Artest Watch, which will move into its second month if the Pacers don't get a deal done by the end of the upcoming weekend.

If the Pacers have a timetable, they're keeping it to themselves.

"I'm not going to box myself in by saying something like that," Walsh said, adding the passage of time since Artest's initial trade request has brought an improvement in the offers the Pacers are discussing.

"Things are starting to clarify. The number of teams is down to three or four, and I'm dealing with one or two a day in a serious way. The players [being offered] are better, and I think teams realize if they're going to do it they have to offer good players. Draft choices and cap space don't equal a good player," Walsh told ESPN.com.

The main suitors for Artest continue to be the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Lakers, Clippers, Grizzlies and Warriors, and reports in recent days have suggested the Seattle SuperSonics could be getting into the mix. The Pacers have expressed a preference to deal Artest to a team in the Western Conference, and Indiana's dialogue with Eastern Conference teams has quieted considerably.

Of course, word is if one Eastern Conference team -- the Atlanta Hawks -- had been willing to take on Earl Watson, this entire exercise might have been completed weeks ago. That proposed deal is the first of several rumored trade proposals over the past four weeks that are worth taking a look at:

Rumor: Three-way deal sending Artest to Denver, Watson and Nene to Atlanta and Al Harrington to Indiana.

Veracity: This one was real, and the reason why it didn't happen depends on whom you talk to. Some say Atlanta balked at taking on Watson's contract; others maintain Indiana wouldn't pull the trigger. The Nuggets are still talking to several teams about Watson -- Memphis, Seattle and New York are three of the pursuers -- but seem disinclined to pull the trigger on anything until they know how the Artest situation will be resolved.

The latest: Denver coach George Karl has been effusive in his praise of Watson's work ethic and has been using him in a four-guard alignment along with Andre Miller, Earl Boykins and Greg Buckner.

Rumor: Anyone on Minnesota's roster, excluding Kevin Garnett, for Artest.

Veracity: The St. Paul Pioneer-Press cast doubt on this one Thursday, although several sources have indicated the Timberwolves are open to almost anything. Wally Szczerbiak's agent laughed off his client's inclusion in Artest rumors, noting they were about the 100th trade rumor he had heard involving Szczerbiak over the past few seasons. A three-way deal between Minnesota, Indiana and Atlanta sending Michael Olowokandi's expiring contract, a draft pick and a third player from the Wolves to the Hawks, with Harrington going to Indiana, would make sense.

The latest: Minnesota owner Glen Taylor gave a strong hint Thursday a three-way deal is still being discussed.

Rumor: Artest and another player to the Lakers for Lamar Odom.

Veracity: The Lakers have not offered Odom -- at least that's what they're telling Odom. Los Angeles would be willing to part with Devean George, a young player and a draft pick, but Indiana is not biting. Efforts by the Lakers to find a third team to broker a trade have been fruitless.

The latest: Lakers coach Phil Jackson, on the verge of the first six-game losing streak of his NBA coaching career, told reporters: "Right now it looks like no one's in it. I don't know what's happening. It's been a month-long saga.

Rumor: Artest to Golden State for Mickael Pietrus, Calbert Cheaney, a third player and a No. 1 draft pick.

Veracity: Makes sense from Golden State's point of view in terms of getting Artest at a reasonable price, but would Artest be a good fit for an offense dominated by guards Baron Davis and Jason Richardson? There also has been talk that forward Mike Dunleavy could be moved, but he signed a contract extension on the eve of the season, which turns his deal into what is known as a "poison pill" contract (his cap value no longer equals his salary), making him much harder to deal. Troy Murphy's name was thrown out earlier this week, too, but agent Dan Fegan was reportedly told by general manager Chris Mullin that Murphy had not been offered. The Warriors also do not want to trade Ike Diogu.

The latest: Murphy sprained his ankle in the Warriors' 99-89 loss to Indiana on Thursday night. Quote of the night on Artest came from coach Mike Montgomery: "Picture me as Sgt. Schultz. I know nothing."

Rumor: Artest to the Los Angeles Clippers for Corey Maggette.

Veracity: When the teams first spoke in mid-December, the Clippers said no to any deal that included Maggette. But that was back when they were 14-5 and leading the Pacific Division. Losses in seven of their past 10 games as well as an injury to Maggette may have changed their thinking. Coach Mike Dunleavy has said he'd welcome the opportunity to coach Artest, but general manager Elgin Baylor has sounded less enamored of the idea. Indiana is believed to have asked for Maggette and Chris Wilcox, offering another player along with Artest.

The latest: Maggette's left foot is weeks from being healed. A cast will be removed from his foot next week.

Rumor: Artest to Sacramento for Peja Stojakovic.

Veracity: The Kings shot this one down early, and it has not been rekindled. Stojakovic's sights seem set on being one of the top two or three free agents available in the summer of 2006, and sources around the league maintain there's a strong possibility he'll end up in Chicago playing for Scott Skiles, who coached him in Greece nearly a decade ago. Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal has endorsed the idea of trading Artest for Bonzi Wells.

The latest: Stojakovic is averaging only 17.1 points -- down nearly seven points from his All-Star numbers of two years ago.

Rumor: Artest to Toronto in a three-way trade in which Jalen Rose would go to Los Angeles.

Veracity: This one was dismissed as fiction when it came out last week. The Raptors also were rumored back in mid-December to be offering Morris Peterson, Matt Bonner and a first-round pick.

The latest: If there's an Eastern Conference team making a strong bid, it's being done well below the radar.

[Edited by - djsunyc on 01-09-2006 1:21 PM]