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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2304512

Personally, I would have thought Indiana could have gotten more from somebody else for Ron. I guess, in a way, this makes up for Indiana pilfering Jermaine O'Neal from us. Except, we still need to rob Sacramento blind to make it all come full circle.

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When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

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Fork

Here's an interesting read to go along with the above story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2281289

"March 9, 2003: Suspended one game for flagrant foul (sixth of the season, which led to automatic suspension) on Trail Blazers' Bonzi Wells."

Reunited and it feels so good.

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When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by. -- Japanese proverb

GrandpaBlaze

My question is whether this makes either team any better.

Artest is undoubtably talented but he is also very unfocused when it comes to basketball. Will this trade improve the Kings or cause more problems? Will Artest be reasonably happy in the west?

On the other hand, Peja can shoot but seems rather one-dimensional. In some ways he seems like a better version of Austin Croshere, can shoot but limited in other abilities.

Gramps...

SodaPopinski

Personally, I'm just glad the Lakers didn't get him. Should be an interesting fit in Sacramento. I'll enjoy watching him go up against some of the great guards in this conference.

-Pop

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Fork

I have heard speculation that once the Artest deal went down, the floodgates would open and a flurry of trades would happen. Anybody think that? Personally, I'm not so sure. I think there will be a small number, but not a real rash of trades.

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When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. -- Sinclair Lewis, 1935

If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by. -- Japanese proverb

Blazer Ringbearer

Yikes Artest and Bonzi on the same team?

Not sure what to think...

mook

nice. that's exactly the kind of deal the old Blazers would've made a few years ago--trading a decent player for a much better one with "character" issues. it's a great gamble for Sactown--if it fail miserably they really aren't much worse off than they are right now.

Peja's a fantastic long range threat, so he's a decent compliment to Jermaine O'Neal on offense. it's a massive downgrade in defense, though. he's right up there with Wallyworld in the realm of "worst defensive starting SF in the league." Peja's certainly better than nothing, though, which is really what they had to use before the trade.

I wonder if this'll be similar to when we swapped Brian Grant for Shawn Kemp (different deals, but same time.) A lot will be written about it, but maybe it's the nail in the coffin to both careers as All Stars.

GrandpaBlaze

Yeah! I heard the Laker are trying to upgrade their PF and are VERY interested in Zach Randolph. I hear a Zach + Filler is in the works for Kobe.

Word is, when Kobe breaks Wilt's single game record of 100 points, he wants to do it against the Lakers.



Gramps...

Dan

tW is right. This has "blazer move" written all over it.

it also has "potential clusterfrick" written all over it too.

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A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

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Kmurph

I think this is a win for Indiana...

Peja is a premier scorer\shooter IMO...Artest is a more versatile player....very good defender and underrated offensively...however, he is very unstable, and I think you have to take that into acct (well I do for sure)...

Peja is not a great defender...Is he average? I don't know enough to say...and he seems to dissapear in big games (ie playoffs)....

But all that being said I think Peja will help Indiana more than Artes will help Sacramento, and that is not taking into account if Artest melts down at all, which is very likely IMO to occur at some point.

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Quit the Webster hate

cpt.napalm

So this is a straight up deal? No extra pieces?

Interesting. This gives Indiana more of an inside out game.

Now we wait and see what else comes of this trade wise. If 5 teams were in the running that means there are still quite a few teams with pieces on the table still looking for somwhere to ship them.

STOMP

I see this as a big upgrade for the Kings this year, but I have my doubts how things will work out for them in the long run. Artest does have a player out option after next season. If/when Bonzi comes back at full strength they'll have quite a talented starting lineup that would seem to have complimentry talents IMO. No doubt how they'll be portraited if they rally and make the playoffs though...

Peja has really fallen off this season, and is reportedly having a lot of problems with his back. I think the stats do a pretty good job of illustrating this...

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/predrag_stojakovic/

I think the situation in Indi is a good one for him, but that won't matter if his back continues to hamper him.

STOMP

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BlazeTop

According to Dan Patrick on Sportscenter this trade has FELL THROUGH because Artest will refuse to play for the Kings....

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chula vista blazer

Once Bonzi is back, I like the starting lineup

C- Brad Miller
PF- Shareef
SF- Artest
SG- Bonzi Wells
PG- Bibby

Only the curse of Shareef can stop them from getting the 8 seed now!!!

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