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Rotation player
Well we had the 3 page convo about his pros and cons. I came across this artcle from a few days ago on Ron Artest.
What do you guys think?
I'd be glad to have Artest here and I know Ron Artest would absolutely die to be a Knick. If it's anywhere you can change your perception or image it's NYC baby.
Ask Latrell.
Ron Artest > Amare
Artest has that black-sneaker Knick mentality of the past
When the Kings were looking to deal Ron Artest last summer, of course they came calling to the Knicks, who, during Isiah Thomas' tenure, were rumored to want him. But Donnie Walsh, who had Artest in Indiana and dealt him away out of necessity following the Malice at the Palace, declined. We envision Walsh, who was knee-deep in Stephon Marbury, quoting Jack Nicholson's character in As Good As It Gets:
"Sell crazy someplace else. We're all stocked up here."
Perhaps it was just never meant to be. But as you watch Artest battle like he has in the playoffs, stand up for himself and his teammates, speak with such entertaining candor, you can just tell he grew up on the old black-sneaker Knicks of the 1990s.
And wherever he learned to play this game is the meanest place on the planet.
Just listen to this story he told after the game last night:
<object width="425" height="344">
<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z3_xmYLBnnA&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></object></p> A year after passing on Artest last summer, Marbury is gone and the need for the type of gritty defense that only belongs in those black sneakers (remember when they used to symbolize the playoffs?) is so vividly evident that perhaps Walsh would reconsider Artest, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
First, the reality: Artest, who has brought his snarl to the Rockets series with the Lakers (tied 1-1), will be looking for a lot more than the $5.8M mid-level exception, which is the best the Knicks can do for a free agent. Artest made $7.4M this season and, at 29, is still very much in his prime. His ability to play rugged defense, willingness to use his body and a fairly-consistent ability to score should motivate the Houston Rockets to re-sign him (they own his Bird Rights) to a better number than the MLE.
[Bloghost note: He may have been ejected in Game 2 for his confrontation with Kobe Bryant, but by making an issue of it he may have forced the NBA to scrutinize Bryant's elbow and suspend him for Game 3.]
There is the option of a sign-and-trade, but the 2010 Plan wouldn't allow that kind of a move. Of course things could change with that 2010 Plan quickly if LeBron and D-Wade both sign extensions this summer. Things would change dramatically.
We don't need to explain the history here with Artest. By now, all Knick fans know too well about Ed Tapscott and the 1999 draft and Fredric Weis. Artest still bears the scars of that night and the pride of Queensbridge still longs to one day be in orange-and-blue.
As he's shown with the Rockets, he's a great supporting-cast piece in the right situation. I believe Walsh was correct to avoid bringing him in this past season, considering the demolition that needed to take place. Artest is better off in a successful environment. He would be far too unsettled to endure a rebuild like this. To start the season with Artest and Marbury under the same roof would have been too combustible (ol' Starberman would have giddily typed his fingers off with all the sensational quoteage).
It turns out the move to Houston was best for Artest, who is back in the playoffs, where he can be the most effective as a stopper and an energy booster.
But the Knicks could sure use him, especially if they wind up not getting LeBron and still have to face him four times a season.
Just bloggin.
What do you guys think?
I'd be glad to have Artest here and I know Ron Artest would absolutely die to be a Knick. If it's anywhere you can change your perception or image it's NYC baby.
Ask Latrell.
Ron Artest > Amare