I am saying it. "Needs". Not "can use". Not "wants". Not to validate Zeke's plans. Not to fill the seats. The Knicks need Ron Artest because (i) he is a lock down defender,(ii) the toughest player on the Knicks is Mardy Collins (runner up to Nate Robinson) neither of whom can command respectable playing time (iii) more than toughness, no player has attitude nor intimidation. Not since the days of Oakley patrolling the paint and Charlie Ward scrumming with big Zo has any Knick had real pride in their team. I am not talking about brawlers, but players who intimidate the other teams enough not to brawl. Jeffries doesn't do it. Balkman isn't their. Besides Bruce Bowen, I cannot name another player as defensively tough and intimidating as Ron Artest. Furthermore, the New York native wants to come home. We all love a guy from our own backyard. Curry, Randolph, Marbury, Crawford? These guys have no toughness. You don't fear a guy who puts his towel over his head in the second half. These guys have no toughness.

I am not saying Ron Artest does not come with his baggage. Who know whether he will take time off to author a rap cd. Maybe you pencil in a record label contract in for the offseason. I can't talk about his personal life. It does reflect on the team. But the guy can flat out play. But if I had Ron Artest on the court with me, I might swagger a bit more, and play a bit tougher. Hell, we all watched Fugazy Tim Thomas take boxing lessons to compete with KMart. Nobody else was tough enough to protect their teammates. You don't want guys like Mardy Collins retaliating. You want a crazy pitbull like Ron Artest making the other team question whether they are going to throw an elbow in the first place.

When it comes down to it, Ron Artest is among the best defenders in the league. He brings more to the table. If we are going to compete in this league, its time to get tough. From what I've seen, defense is contagious. Guys watch one player lock down his opponent and they start to do the same. We should roll the dice on Ron Artest. I would offer both Lee and Crawford for him. Somebody check the salaries and make it work. This team needs defense and toughness and Artest has both. NY needs Ron Artest.

I see Renaldo Balkman stepping into that role before I want to see Artest in NY. He's just too much of a maniac.

Maybe jsut give up expiring contracts instead of lee

Ron Rons talents could be needed on just about every team. He is a unique player, a powerforward body who can defend the perimeter and rebound.

But the intangible emotional baggage he carries on a fragile psyche team of wayward orphan millionaires man-children such as the one we have can negate his talents.

While Isiah can be questioned for a lot of things, he has intimate knowlege of thie guy after coaching him in Indiana and if he don't want him, then wer really should stay clear of him.

Posted by Nalod:


Ron Rons talents could be needed on just about every team. He is a unique player, a powerforward body who can defend the perimeter and rebound.

But the intangible emotional baggage he carries on a fragile psyche team of wayward orphan millionaires man-children such as the one we have can negate his talents.

While Isiah can be questioned for a lot of things, he has intimate knowlege of thie guy after coaching him in Indiana and if he don't want him, then wer really should stay clear of him.

I too trust Zeke's opinion of players, I mean, he traded Jalen Rose for him to get him to Indiana. I tend to think that Zeke is a smooth talker that will say anything to put the right spin on things. Fact of the matter is, I believe any talk about not wanting Ron Artest was more protective of Channing Frye and David Lee than not wanting Ron Artest. I think the baggage that Artest is a HUGE problem. I am not inviting this guy to Christmas dinner. Heck, the guy might be fit for a straight jacket. I thought a lot of the same things about Latrell (whose worst transgression in NY was his mysterious broken hand during the offseason). I am willing to bet on Artest and take that risk. Maybe he can toughen up some of these other players.