Ron Artest in Silver and Black

[stxspurs]

he is gonna opt out anyway...so why not use him for this year....if he wacks out he can sit the bench...thats were elson was going to be anyway...i dont see pop putting up with him and i think ron would respect the way pop coaches...he wants a ring bad so he has the fire.....i think he is worth the chance....like i said he can be let go if he doesnt fit

[Kori Ellis]

I would like Ron Artest in the Silver & Black, but he definitely has some mental issues. However, he's not as good when he's on his medication because he doesn't play as intense. So it's kind of a weird catch 22.

[Mr. Body]

The team was partly built around Rodman when he was here - he was the second best player, third the nights Sean was playing well.

There's a big difference with Artest, who will some nights be the second best player, but overall has none of the status Rodman had, although largely he's just as good. Rodman screwed with the team because he was high up in the pecking order. Artest would never get that chance. He'd be, at least, fourth in line. And he'd start on the bench.

I'm not sure he'd accept that status, but he just might -- he's never been an 'ego' player like some others, and one of his problems has been playing on weak teams with even weaker structures of order. If he acts up, he sits on the bench. It's not a huge thing to give up Elson+Barry+something else for that. But it's clearly risky, but with huge reward. Starting lineups with him next to Duncan going small, or bringing him off the bench with Ginobili.

[Holt's Cat]

The team was partly built around Rodman when he was here - he was the second best player, third the nights Sean was playing well.

There's a big difference with Artest, who will some nights be the second best player, but overall has none of the status Rodman had, although largely he's just as good. Rodman screwed with the team because he was high up in the pecking order. Artest would never get that chance. He'd be, at least, fourth in line. And he'd start on the bench.

I'm not sure he'd accept that status, but he just might -- he's never been an 'ego' player like some others, and one of his problems has been playing on weak teams with even weaker structures of order. If he acts up, he sits on the bench. It's not a huge thing to give up Elson+Barry+something else for that. But it's clearly risky, but with huge reward. Starting lineups with him next to Duncan going small, or bringing him off the bench with Ginobili.

The difference is, when the Spurs dealt for Rodman they were on the outside looking in. Taking the risk was worth it because they had to see if they could close the gap. Now the Spurs have the championship formula. They don't need to make such a panic move. Gambling on Artest makes sense for a team like the Nuggets, a team that needs to find something that will vault them into the upper echelon of the West. If it blows up, hey, they tried. If Artest blows up the Spurs, you just wasted a potential le year(s).

[Ghost Writer]

I understand your reservations, but do you really think the Spurs will win it by doing nothing this year?

I'm not so sure with all the moves our rivals have made, coupled with the team's general atrophy.

Artest would be a mercenary for these playoffs.

If it was not a great fit for the team or the player, Artest walks in the summer.

[Zarko's Ghost]

We all know there are some problems with getting Crazy Ron Ron. But I think it is well worth the risk if he can be had for Barry, Elson and picks.
It provides the Spurs with great flexibility with their rotations, which is something they lack now.

He would create matchup nightmares for the other western conf. playoff teams if we play him at the poer forward position for 20-25 minutes. A lot of the rival power forwards are jump shooters (Nowitski, Al Harrington, David West, Scola/Hays, Boozer, Odom). When Shaq and Bynum are in the games, even Stoudemire and Gasol will be pushed out of the paint. Only Denver with Martin and Nene have tall brusing forwards who could give Ron trouble. I think he could check the rest of them on D and rebound with them. But none of them, with the exception of maybe Odom, could contain Ron at the offensive end. We would be able to dictate matchups instead of adjusting to others.

And, if he causes problems, just send his ass home. I suspect that since he will be playing for a new deal we would get "good" Ron for the rest of the year. Its well worth the risk.

[Holt's Cat]

So it isn't guaranteed that it will work, but let's gamble a championship year on it? F that.

[Ghost Writer]

There are no guarantees in life.

Wouldn't you feel better aggressively going for it?

How many years have we lamented the Spurs being that close to winning it during Duncan's reign?

[Zarko's Ghost]

So it isn't guaranteed that it will work, but let's gamble a championship year on it? F that.

It's not as if the championship is guaranteed if we stand pat. Since all the west teams are so close in talent, matchups are will play a huge role in determining which teams advance. Artest gives us an edge. I think it is worth the risk.

[Holt's Cat]

There are no guarantees in life.

Sure. But this team just won 3 les in the last 5 years. They're proven.

Wouldn't you feel better aggressively going for it?

We're worried about feelings now? Let's sit in a circle and hold each others c@cks while singing Kum Ba Yah.

How many years have we lamented the Spurs being that close to winning it during Duncan's reign?

Well, they're "close" no longer. This isn't 2001.

[Ghost Writer]

The Spurs were capable of winning the last 5 les and you d@mn well know it.

The mere fact that Pop will keep Artest on a short leash and we won't be locked into him beyond this season makes it a calculated risk.

[Holt's Cat]

The Spurs were capable of winning the last 5 les and you d@mn well know it.

Fine, they were 0.4* and one foul away from winning 5 in a row. Why exactly are we panicking now?

The mere fact that Pop will keep Artest on a short leash and we won't be locked into him beyond this season makes it a calculated risk.

So Pop benches him after a couple of games and then Artest sulks and does something incredibly dumb. You just gave up a 1st round pick for that as well as passing on whatever else you could have gotten for what you sent out for him. Yippee.

[Ghost Writer]

Yeah, but who we going to get in the first round that will either stick with us or make an impact?

For every Parker there's been 5 anonymous first rounders.

The Spurs will exhaust all options before pulling the trigger for Artest. They are calculatingly conservative.

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

Ron Artest as a Spurs makes too much sense for this to happen

[Holt's Cat]

Yeah, but who we going to get in the first round that will either stick with us or make an impact?

Maybe a Josh Howard who the Spurs would have drafted in '03 had they kept the pick. Maybe another Tony Parker for that matter. Perhaps a David Lee.

For every Parker there's been 5 anonymous first rounders.

Let's see, they have the rights to the most NBA ready big in Europe right now. They have an ultra athletic big in Austin who will be joining the club full time next year. Their '04 pick Udrih is still in the NBA and will be a starter.

The Spurs will exhaust all options before pulling the trigger for Artest. They are calculatingly conservative.

Right, which is why they will not panic and deal for Artest.

[SenorSpur]

The team was partly built around Rodman when he was here - he was the second best player, third the nights Sean was playing well.

There's a big difference with Artest, who will some nights be the second best player, but overall has none of the status Rodman had, although largely he's just as good. Rodman screwed with the team because he was high up in the pecking order. Artest would never get that chance. He'd be, at least, fourth in line. And he'd start on the bench.

I'm not sure he'd accept that status, but he just might -- he's never been an 'ego' player like some others, and one of his problems has been playing on weak teams with even weaker structures of order. If he acts up, he sits on the bench. It's not a huge thing to give up Elson+Barry+something else for that. But it's clearly risky, but with huge reward. Starting lineups with him next to Duncan going small, or bringing him off the bench with Ginobili.

I would beg to differ with you on that point, my man. Artest has never "outwardly" been an ego player. However he knows that he's an upper-echelon player and does have a natural compe ive pride and ego that sometimes he is unable to harness. I do remember reading an article in the Sac Bee, earlier this season, that describes Artest's behavior when going up against marqee players. It seems whenever Sac was playing a team that featured a superstar player, like Kobe, Artest would go to great lengths to prove that he could match that opposing player bucket for bucket- even if it meant getting into mano y mano scoring duels.

There was a specific instance where Artest would intentionally break off a play that wasn't called for him to setup in the post. Instead he'd run directly to the post and demand the ball. Beno, being the cupcake that he is, deferred to Artest and dumped the ball into him. Artest would then go 1 on 1 with the opposing player, totally disregarding the play that was called by the bench. As a result, Coach Theus yelled at Beno something to the effect that "if he was going to be the PG, he needed to "run the team" and the play in accordance to what was called."

While that may sound like typical compe ive player ego, it compromises the team objective. Especially when Kevin Martin is now billed as the "face and future of the Sac Kings". Another example of how Artest is quite a contradictory and conflicted player and person.

[Holt's Cat]

Artest is not a Rodman or a TO. He's mental. I mean, it's great when you're an internet GM because you have no real responsibilities or concerns when a move backfires or blows up a championship team. It's a little bit different when your livelihood depends on making the right call.

[Ghost Writer]

Dude. If he doesn't work out, he's gone in the offseason.

You really think given the opportunity to contribute to a le, Artest is going to go bananas?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Now id like an honest opinion and not a homerish one...... Of course its a spurs forum so i know there will be different opinions leaning more towards the latter

Would you guys be worried if the Nuggets got Artest or do you think it will just blow up and end up in disaster?

[anakha]

Would you guys be worried if the Nuggets got Artest or do you think it will just blow up and end up in disaster?

Whether he becomes the missing piece or ends up causing problems - either option is entirely in Artest's hands.

Are you willing to trust him with that responsibility?

[rascal]

I would beg to differ with you on that point, my man. Artest has never "outwardly" been an ego player. However he knows that he's an upper-echelon player and does have a natural compe ive pride and ego that sometimes he is unable to harness. I do remember reading an article in the Sac Bee, earlier this season, that describes Artest's behavior when going up against marqee players. It seems whenever Sac was playing a team that featured a superstar player, like Kobe, Artest would go to great lengths to prove that he could match that opposing player bucket for bucket- even if it meant getting into mano y mano scoring duels.

There was a specific instance where Artest would intentionally break off a play that wasn't called for him to setup in the post. Instead he'd run directly to the post and demand the ball. Beno, being the cupcake that he is, deferred to Artest and dumped the ball into him. Artest would then go 1 on 1 with the opposing player, totally disregarding the play that was called by the bench. As a result, Coach Theus yelled at Beno something to the effect that "if he was going to be the PG, he needed to "run the team" and the play in accordance to what was called."

While that may sound like typical compe ive player ego, it compromises the team objective. Especially when Kevin Martin is now billed as the "face and future of the Sac Kings". Another example of how Artest is quite a contradictory and conflicted player and person.

Artest won't be pulling that off with the spurs. The spurs are not Sac. and Artest knows that he could not play the mano a mano game and disrupt the play calling and get away with it on the spurs.

His compe ive fire is just what the spurs need and I see him as a player who could ignate a fire with his desire. Gives them another hard nosed defensive player who can also beat you offensively.

I don't know if Artest will work out long term but in the short term he could be a difference maker for this year.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Whether he becomes the missing piece or ends up causing problems - either option is entirely in Artest's hands.

Are you willing to trust him with that responsibility?

no way. Give me Mike Miller over him anyday

Id be more inclined to give up LK in a deal for Miller over a deal for Artest

[Holt's Cat]

Dude. If he doesn't work out, he's gone in the offseason.

And you just gave up something for nothing.

You really think given the opportunity to contribute to a le, Artest is going to go bananas?

Yes.

[Ghost Writer]

Whether he becomes the missing piece or ends up causing problems - either option is entirely in Artest's hands.

Are you willing to trust him with that responsibility?

Yes.

The Spurs are the perfect team to give Artest focus, discipline and stability.

[ATXSPUR]

The holier than thou posters here crack me up. Like one player can really disrupt the team chemistry we have. Most cases of one player screwing up a locker room happens on teams with very young and inexperienced players who probably didn't have guidance in the first place anyway.

Artest's talents are just too big to pass on if we can get him for nothing more than Barry Elson cash and a pick.

This would seriously help out chances for a repeat!