Comparing Spree to Artest is definitely something you'd have to research by looking beyond the stats and just watching the players. They were BOTH shutdown defenders big time. It took Vince Carter until the very last game of the 2000 playoffs to finally figure out the defense of Spree. That's 8 playoff games. And that was when Vince was healthy. Artest is probably capable like that too, but I would say in terms of offense, Spree gets the edge before and after GS, b/c he was a terrific team player and was consistently super aggresive. And he was the team leader. Artest is not the leader of the Pacers. O'Neal and Miller are. And he's been known for not playing with his teammates on the offense. I would take the younger Spree over Artest in an instant., and I wouldn't give so much like TT, the #7 and Sweetney for Artest. Way too much for a headcase like him. Way too much. We didn't even give up ANY picks in the Spree trade.

how will we afford to legitimately solidify the frontcourt so that we becomea contender with Artest and all the other Huge contracts on the team? I'll take Green who will be a lot cheaper, a potential star and it would leave the chips and flexibility to solidify the frontcourt so that we can contend for a title not the 7th or 8th seed and an early playoffexit.

The Knicks would still never win a championship with Artest.

The only way to go is to blow up this terrible team.

the bottom line is, are you gonna get a player better than artest with the #7 pick? i think sweetney is very overrated and if you have a chance to get one of the top 2 perimeter defenders in the league who happens to be a 20 ppg scorer, I think you take it...our goal is to draft someone who will hopefully be that good...why not just take the proven player? how much better do you think our #7 pick will be? Sweetney has his moments but overall i think you need to take a chance to get ron artest. Briggs, you might be happy with tim thomas at the 3 but I can't stand these punks that don't play defense.

the comparison to the Mcdyss trade is fair- your giving up a good young player (Sweets/Camby) a top pick (Green?/Nene) and getting back a GIANT question mark in Mcdyss (bum knee- known issue) and Artest (Screw loose- known issue)

the difference is that mcdyss is still playing in the league, albeit in a reduced capacity. The next blow up for Artest & he will be playing in Europe.

This suggested scenario is the exact kind of deal that has gotten this knick team where it is- up a creek, no paddle.