Houston, We Have a Contender: Rockets Nab Artest
NBA July 30th. 2008, 9:45am
This kind of came out of nowhere, huh? The Kings, realizing that Ron Artest had zero intention of staying with the team after next season, knew they had to trade him. Perhaps sticking it to Mark Cuban and the Mavs - who recently had offered Stackhouse and Brandon Bass - Sacramento dealt the defensive dynamo to the Rockets last night in exchange for a fossil (Bobby Jackson), a mildly promising rookie (Dontae Green), a No. 1 draft pick (2009) and two other rookies who are likely to be released (Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing Jr.). Not an incredible haul, but considering the Kings were a fringe playoff contender at best, it’s not terrible.
Which means that Daryl Morey might be a GM to watch, because he simultaneously vaulted the Rockets out of the first round of the postseason and made Houston the best defensive team in the NBA.
That is, assuming Rick Adelman can handle juggling the minutes: Yao and Dike at center; Scola, Landry, Chuck Hayes and Joey Dorsey at PF; Artest and Battier at SF; T-Mac and Brent Barry at SG, and Alston, Head and Brooks at PG. That’s a defensive-minded roster. Let’s assume T-Mac and Yao can both stay healthy for an entire season. Here’s how we’d reshuffle our predictions for the West in 2008-2009:
1. Lakers - Think Bynum.
2. Jazz - Guessing Koufos will get some PT and have an impact.
3. Spurs - Roger Mason will be the new Mike Finley.
4. Rockets - Battier and Artest defending Kobe is bound to get Phil Jackson roiled.
5. Hornets - Posey addition is nice, but Artest trumps it.
6. Blazers - We will be getting the NBA ticket just for Portland.
7. Suns - Almost everyone else improved; Phoenix got a new coach.
8. Mavs - Is Gerald Green the best upgrade they could do?
9. Clippers - If Ricky Davis can shake the selfish, and the jump shots fall, they could actually sneak in.
And then there’s Denver, followed by Golden State. We’ll be hoping Oklahoma City and Minnesota make it interesting, but each is probably a year away.
Ron Artest set for deal to Rockets (Houston Chronicle)
82 Responses to “Houston, We Have a Contender: Rockets Nab Artest”
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July 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Taking the easy way out with the headline, I see.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Golden St. > Denver
July 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
as ridiculous as it sounds, i agree…mason in the cavs-wiz series last year showed some serious onions.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
So the Jazz jump over the Spurs and Hornets because they drafted Koufos? Am I missing something?
July 30th, 2008 at 9:50 am
TBL.. go look at ricky davis’s career teams played and what they did with him on their roster.. he’s played with dwyane wade lebron james and paul pierce and still has never made the playoffs.. thats pretty hard to do man… clippers will be in the lottery next year, book it
July 30th, 2008 at 9:52 am
The Clippers are definitely intriguing and could capitalize big time should the “Old” teams (Spurs, Suns, Mavs) falter.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:54 am
the battle for NBA Finals loser gets more interesting.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:54 am
So they have built a defensive team but fired a defensive coach before last season? Rick Adelman will flop with this team
July 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
This is awesome…
the Rockets got Artest for his OFFENSE though. Not his Defense. He’s Battier with an offensive game to go with it.
No way Utah is #2…
Rockets would (will?) be #1 when they acquire a legit PG.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Question from the dumb side of the room: Why?
Artest is the best defender in the NBA. But the team he’s now going to had Shane Battier (arguably the second best defender. Bruce “Low Blows” Bowen might disagree). So does that really help them all that much — unless they ship Battier out for a real PG?
Oh and who’s going to keep Artest in check in that locker room? T-Mac? Yao? Rafer Alston?
July 30th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Artest > Posey!?!?
blasphemy!
July 30th, 2008 at 9:59 am
The Southwest Division is a fuckin’ beast.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Battier isn’t the second best defender in the NBA, Artest can score and run Adelman’s system without an adjustment period. This is a great deal for the Rockets.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Portland #6? wow
I knew Grungedave would be on here today. I think it is a great deal for the Rockets. They are getting a healthy Yao back as well.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Besides since when did having two good defenders become a bad thing. There’s no excuses for TMac now. Now if we can only get Yao to defect we will be on our way.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:02 am
damn…the west is fucking stacked. can’t wait…NBA Ticket could cost $1,000 and i’d still get it.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I would have went with “Houston, We Have A Player Who Will Appear In Upwards of 50 Games”
July 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
i think we all might be overestimating artest’s impact with the Rockets, but it is definately an improvement and they didn’t lose much. The first rounder will be a late one, so unless Artest blows up, this was a great deal for Houston. Could Sact. have done better for Artest?
July 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Well then, someone on the Rockets who actually has a pair of testicles, depending on how much Ron still has in the tank this helps them quite a bit. Tracy “first round” McGrady will have to work a little harder to screw this up, luckily I think he’s up to the task.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:03 am
that’s funny. an oxymoron one might call it. let’s see, the last 3 years game totals: 57,48,55.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
The Rockets are going to have all sorts of “looks” to be able to throw at teams now… this is our rotation as of today: (starters) Rafer, T-Mac, Artest, Scola, Yao. Off the bench - Battier (who’d he start over?), Brent Barry, Carl Landry (when we sign him), Chuck Hayes, Luther Head (ugh, must trade him). We also still have Steve Francis under contract - and he was decent when healthy last year. And Dikembe might come back, too.
The best part of this deal is that T-Mac won’t get away with whining in the locker room anymore. It’s going to be hard for him to blame everyone else with Artest glaring at him to stop being a p*ssy.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:06 am
We still won 55 games last year even though Yao was out for half the season. Artest at least gives us a chance if the big chinamen goes down
July 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Lets be realistic Grunge, Franchise was a Les Alexander signing and will have no impact.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:07 am
If Utah isn’s #2, they’re #1. At least in a College Football preseason poll kind of way.
I think this upcoming season is going to turn out a lot like last years, with maybe 5 games separating the top 6 or 7 teams. Seriously, would it really shock anyone to see Phoenix end up on top? Yes, it would take a healthy and motivated Shaq, but still…
July 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
What’s it like commenting from 2004?
July 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
damn…the west is fucking stacked.
Whats New.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Iron Sheik is definitely the two seed.
Hulk Hogan may be ‘roiding, but we all know he can’t handle Sgt. Slaughter. No way he gets out of the first round.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Are you sure Ewing Junior and Singletary were included? I can’t seem to find that reported anywhere.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am
unlike last year though, there aren’t 9 good teams competing for 8 playoff spots. no way the number 9 team wins 50 again this year
July 30th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Anywhere else, rather.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Yao missed 26 games last year. T-Mac missed a bunch of 4th quarters. Especially in May. And yet the Rockets still won 55 games (22 in a row at one point)… and pushed TBL’s annointed #2 team to 6 games. Without an actual point guard or center. Now we get yet another enforcer and a third scorer.
Even if/when T-Mac and Yao go down next year - we have depth to cover for it and not suffer a drop-off in offense or defense. What other teams can legitimately say the same if their two best players go down?
July 30th, 2008 at 10:15 am
@grungedave - most teams plan on their best 2 players staying healthy
July 30th, 2008 at 10:16 am
@Hakeem: The chinaman is not the issue here, Dude. I’m talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT… Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:17 am
+1 Dr. C
July 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
NO teams can say that, including the Rockets. If Yao and TMac go down we suddenly become last years Clippers team, some talent but nothing scary.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:19 am
man bites snake, lives
July 30th, 2008 at 10:19 am
@ Dr. C
The man in the black pajamas, Dude. Worthy fuckin’ adversary. / Who’s in pajamas Walter? / Shut the fuck up, Donny.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Should have specified - these are how i think the playoff seedings will go. I like Utah over the course of a season better than the Spurs. Doubt I’m ready to take the Jazz in a 7-game series, though.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Yeah, which leads to some pissed off owners/execs when plans go awry. As the tend to do. That’s why Morey is a boy-genius. He has a solid team AND a contingency plan already in place.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I can’t believe Detroit was looking into bringing Raging Ron in… THAT would have gone over real well… Joe D. is becoming more and more like Matt Millen everyday. I can’t believe people still give him a free pass on the Darko debacle. WE COULD HAVE HAD MELO, DWAYNE WADE OR BOSCH! That is unforgivable.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am
@August: Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Now, what happened to your face? Did Jackie Treehorn do that as well?
Ah, no that was the chief of police of Malibu. A real reactionary.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Isn’t Yao the reason they didn’t win more games. Teams just run him off the floor
July 30th, 2008 at 10:32 am
You want a toe? I can get you a toe, believe me. There are ways, Dude. You don’t wanna know about it, believe me.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am
.. by 3 o’clock. with nail polish.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am
The Spurs, Rockets, AND Jazz ahead of the Hornets? I say no. The Rockets can’t stay healthy, Yao always looks tired 10 minutes into the game, and McGrady is flaky at best. The Spurs doesn’t seem to care about the regular season until March, and even if you include Mason, I don’t see how they have improved from last year. The Jazz have a nice starting lineup and a great coach, but I don’t think their bench is all that good.
1. Lakers
2. Hornets
3. Jazz
4. Spurs
5. Blazers
6. Rockets
7. Clips
8. Mavs
July 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am
The Biggest complaints about the Suns were always D’antoni’s short rotation and lack of overall depth. They addressed that.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Houston Chronicle, which broke the story:
The Rockets also are expected to acquire rookies Patrick Ewing Jr. and Sean Singletary to make the money in the deal match, but both have partially guaranteed contracts and are likely to be released. The Rockets also will send the Kings roughly $1 million.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Yao average 25 and 11 before he went down, he wasn’t the reason we weren’t winning more games
July 30th, 2008 at 10:38 am
I’m probably in the minority, but I’d really like to see these guys duplicate last season. It ALL went right for them.
How?
July 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
So they got Ron because he’s a great teammate? Yeeesh
July 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Barnes, Lopez and a coach that will actually use Strawberry this year.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:40 am
So tired he can barely average a 22-11. What a waste of a player. Tired ass.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I can’t believe Detroit was looking into bringing Raging Ron in… THAT would have gone over real well… Joe D. is becoming more and more like Matt Millen everyday. I can’t believe people still give him a free pass on the Darko debacle. WE COULD HAVE HAD MELO, DWAYNE WADE OR BOSCH! That is unforgivable.
He gets a pass because the Pistons teams sucked balls before he became the GM. Now, they’ve made the Eastern Conference Finals 6 straight years, the Finals twice, and have a World Title. Every other team in the NBA(except maybe the Spurs, Lakers), would kill for a streak like that.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am
+1 NickP
July 30th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I don’t care about his 22-11, stat-boy. He probably can average 35-19 with all the skills he has. But his tall ass stays winded, if you actually watched a game instead of the stat line afterwards, you’ll know that.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:44 am
last i checked the Lions haven’t been to the playoffs under Millen. let alone 6 straight conference championships.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Roger Mason is the new Mike Finley???? Has anyone looked at his numbers? How does this equate to Michael Finley? I’m pissed about this comparison if I’m Mike Finley, his mom, his agent, or a Cheesehead. Links below to compare, which is no comparison at all…
He was onions in the playoffs against the Cavs? Seriously? 8 pts, <1 rb, 1 ast per game is onions? He is “turrible” (thanks Chuck).
Mason - http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/masonro01.html
Finley - http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/finlemi01.html
As for the Rockets: Good trade. Maybe they’ll win a playoff series now. They still can’t stay healthy. I also think Bobby Jackson was some sort of glue for them that they will have to replace. Artest is obviously better, but is he worth the baggage? Who will put a thumb on him in the locker room and on the floor?
July 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I’ve watched a game, I don’t think he stays winded. Yeah he’s slow because he weighs 300 lbs. and has a 7′6″ body to move. You’re not on the bench when he gets off the court you have no idea if he’s winded
July 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Bobby Jackson sucked, he provided no glue
July 30th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Which brings it back to….teams run him off the court.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
So tired he can barely average a 22-11. What a waste of a player.
That would make Yao the equivalent to Wilt Chamberlain using the Andrew Bynum scale (where 13-10 makes you a perennial All-Star starter).
July 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Haha great point Mak. Yao sucks because he’s doesn’t put up Wilt Chamberlain type numbers (35-19). Instead he has mediocre 22-11 bullshit fag seasons.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:48 am
1. Lakers
2. Blazers
3. Hornets
4. Jazz
5. Spurs
6. Rockets
7. Mavs
8. Suns
13.Seattle (too soon?)
July 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I’m curious why the Rockets did this trade.
Sure, Artest is a great defender. But where is he going to fit? The Rockets already have a very good defender in Shane Battier at the SF position. Luis Scola seems to have entrenched himself as the starting PF. Artest can’t play guard and won’t, even if T-Mac is traded. So where does that leave Artest? You can’t put him in the starting front court in exchange for Scola. We all saw the 6-foot-8 Scola get manhandled down low because of his height disadvantage. Artest is a generous 6-foot-7. He can’t play PF. And there’s no reason to bench Battier. This trade doesn’t make sense.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Teams run him off the court? Do you ever watch Yao play, if they ran him off the court he would be useless as a player and wouldn’t put up the numbers that he does.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:52 am
@Hakeem: It’s science. If teams didn’t run him off the court, he’d average 75-25. He sucks.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:54 am
The Rockets did this trade because we haven’t got past the first round in 11 years. Battier is overrated as a defender and is very limited as an offensive player. Artest is a major upgrade
July 30th, 2008 at 10:55 am
You’re right nick, my basketball iq sucks
July 30th, 2008 at 11:01 am
And it’s not like having too many good players is a bad thing. You can control their minutes, keep them rested for the playoffs, and (possibly) injury free.
It’ll be nice to bring either Battier or Artest in off the bench. As a Cavs fan, I love when Lebron needs a breather, and we turned to…Devin fucking Brown.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:02 am
So is Battier and his wrinkly scalp trade bait?
July 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Battier is overrated as a defender
Huh?
Hey, get the Rockets to trade Battier to the Hornets then please!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:16 am
When I’m watching a game and see a player bent down, tugging the bottom of his shorts, I’m going to assume that he’s tired. Vince Carter average 21 points and 5 assist a game last season, you’re telling me that he played hard too? He gets his ’stats’ because he’s a skilled basketball player. T-Mac gets his ’stats’ because he, also, is an all-star NBA player. It’s a fact, that even though T-Mac had great ’stats in the playoffs, he scored very little points in the fourth quarter of those games. It’s also a fact that even though Yao averages 22-11, he’s not the most conditioned athlete on the team.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I’ve watch Steve Nash run circles around him the last 5 years, Now I will watch CP3 do it for the next 10.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I wonder if Poppovich would have vetoed this trade.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Hye, guys was trying to set up a fantasy football money league with just the TBL commenters. About $20 a entry with roughly 10-14 teams. All this is subject to change depending on what the actual managers in the league decide. Only have a couple guys so far, so if you’re interested, here’s the particulars. Any questions, just leave them in the comments section.
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Password: football
July 30th, 2008 at 11:37 am
HTD, please turn in your Rockets-fan-ID at the front desk.
That’s just a shameful statement.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Overrated doesn’t mean bad.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:42 am
considering Battier has NEVER been First Team All Defense… not even this year when he should have been DPOY… anything other than “Battier is an underrated defensive player” is an unacceptable statement by anyone professing to be a Rockets fan.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am
So because he’s never been named one of the top 2 defenders at Forward, he’s underrated?
July 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am
nick p. stop using logic in here.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Considering he has been one of the top 2 defensive players at forward for at least 3 years now, I think that is precisely why he is “underrated”