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**StephenJackson** · 01-13-2006, 10:20 AM

http://www.probasketballnews.com/amico_0113.html

Quote:

By Sam Amico
Jan. 13, 2006

When it comes to trading Ron Artest, the Indiana Pacers are back to where they started.

That’s what NBA front-office types are telling
ProBasketballNews.com, with the Feb. 23 trading deadline
just six weeks away.

According to various reports, the Pacers have been close to
sending Artest to everyone from the Golden State Warriors to
Denver Nuggets to both Los Angeles franchises. If there
were a team on Neptune, you can be sure somebody would
write that Artest was on his way there -- assuming his salary
matched that of the intergalactic being for whom he was
about to be dealt.

“I’ll tell ya what,” said one NBA general manager. “If it wasn’t
for Internet rumors, I’m not so sure a post-Michael Jordan
NBA would even exist.”

Initially, Artest was headed to the Clippers for Corey
Maggette. Then that deal reportedly fell through. Then it
caught fire again. Then several major news outlets reported
it was dead again -- as Maggette is expected to be sidelined
several more weeks with a foot injury.

Today, the best source on a trade between the Pacers and
Clippers is none other than Al Harrington, who just happens
to play forward for the Atlanta Hawks. And Harrington has
insisted it’s a done deal.

Make sense? Of course not.

Quote:

The Artest Contenders

A list of teams most likely to land Ron Artest, according to discussions PBN.com has had with league executives:

• Warriors: Golden State is willing to part with anyone from Murphy to Mike Dunleavy to Mickael Pietrus to a few other “throw-in” types. GM’s comment: “Expect the Pacers to ask for Diogu until the last minute, then settle for Murphy and someone like (Adonal) Foyle.”

• Lakers: L.A. wants Artest -- bad. The Lakers are placing numerous daily calls to make a deal happen, almost becoming less NBA franchise and more telemarketing firm. GM’s comment: “Funny thing is, the Pacers originally wanted Lamar Odom and the Lakers said no. Then the Lakers said OK to Odom, and suddenly the Pacers don’t want him anymore. No matter, the Lakers are far from out of it. If they do get (Artest), they’ll probably have to wait until the middle of February.”

• Nuggets: The Pacers were indeed talking to Denver about Nene and Earl Watson. Those discussions reportedly stopped when they heard Kenyon Martin was on the market. He’s not. GM’s comment: “I’m ready to believe an Indiana-Denver trade is dead, but I know as soon as I say it is, they’ll make a trade. Either way, it’s highly doubtful they’re still talking about Watson.”

• Timberwolves: All of the trade talk has surrounded Wally Szczerbiak -- as usual. But Szczerbiak makes $3.5 million a year more than Artest, so somebody like Scot Pollard or Jeff Foster will need to be included from the Pacers’ end. GM’s comment: “The thing that makes it so hard to believe is Szczerbiak has been the focus of trade rumors since he set foot in Minnesota, yet he’s still there. And you have to wonder why they would risk trading him when he’s having a career year. It would be very risky, because they very well could win that lousy division and earn a top three seed (in the Western Conference playoffs).”

• Hornets: The scuttlebutt has New Orleans/Oklahoma City sending Speedy Claxton, Arvydas Macijauskas, Jackson Vroman and its top draft pick to Indiana for Artest and Anthony Johnson. GM’s comment: “If the Pacers made this trade, I would demand a congressional hearing. With all the stuff that’s being offered, no way is this the best they can do.”

If we turned down Odom................

absolutebest · 01-13-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Rob, MN: Delayed by an important call, eh??...Please tell me it Kevin Mchale telling you he finally was able to deal McCant and Kandi Man for Artest.

Chris Sheridan: It was an important call concerning Artest and what might happen now that the Maggette deal is dead. I think the Pacers are no closer to doing anything with the Nuggets, Warriors or Timberwolves than they were 2 weeks ago, but I'm hearing that the Rockets _ who don't have anything outside of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady that interests the Pacers _ are trying to find a player that Indiana does like. The end result would be a three- or four-way trade that would bring Artest to Houston.

That is from ESPN's Chris Shridan who just wrapped up a chat. Houston, huh...

**MillerTime** · 01-13-2006, 10:31 AM

On Cold Pizza this morning they said that sources close to Walsh/Bird said the only deal they considered in doing was the Clippers deal, and with Maggette being hurt now, that is off the table. They said, don't expect a deal to be made til mid-Feb.

absolutebest · 01-13-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MillerTime

On Cold Pizza this morning they said that sources close to Walsh/Bird said the only deal they considered in doing was the Clippers deal, and with Maggette being hurt now, that is off the table. They said, don't expect a deal to be made til mid-Feb.

I know they think that come all-star weekend that some desperate team is going to give us a great package. Well, what if other teams are waiting for us to get desperate, too? Do we bite Artest for the year and trade him in the off-season. I'm seriously concerned about what amounts to basically two years off would do to his trade value.

PacersguyUSA · 01-13-2006, 12:55 PM

Why wouldn't we take Odom? I guess if we would have had to throw in another player that I wouldn't do it either, but if it's a 1 for 1 deal, no reason not to.

jdohman · 01-13-2006, 01:09 PM

If we seriously passed on odom that bugs the **** out of me. Odom is a great talent and has alot he could bring to the table for the pacers. I would rather have him then maggette personally

**StephenJackson** · 01-13-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdohman

If we seriously passed on odom that bugs the **** out of me. Odom is a great talent and has alot he could bring to the table for the pacers. I would rather have him then maggette personally

I would take Odom over Maggette any day of any week.

**Diable** · 01-13-2006, 01:47 PM

I'm really tempted to start my own Artest rumor and see how long it takes to hit the papers.How about Artest for Miguel Tejada and a fruitcake to be named later.

JayRedd · 01-13-2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diable

I'm really tempted to start my own Artest rumor and see how long it takes to hit the papers.How about Artest for Miguel Tejada and a fruitcake to be named later.

I just heard Peter Vecsey say that a deal of Artest and Bender for Kobe and Odom could be done as soon as tomorrow.

**PaCeRhOLiC** · 01-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diable

How about Artest for Miguel Tejada and a fruitcake to be named later.

LOL....

You got it....

Go PaCeRs!!!!!

Banjoriddim · 01-13-2006, 04:56 PM

I must say that the one and only reasone I am reading thes romors is coz I am bored...

now back to the business... Odom? really? well I would like this one.

thekid · 01-13-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacersguyUSA

Why wouldn't we take Odom? I guess if we would have had to throw in another player that I wouldn't do it either, but if it's a 1 for 1 deal, no reason not to.

Odom's salary is too big to match with Artest's. I'm quite sure the Lakers do not give up Lamar now.

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