Who takes on the headcase? (Artest)

[jayC]

Jho, Vanhorn for Artest and Croshere. Artest is a top 15 maybe top 25 player. The Mavs can't handle LA and Kobe. Kobe avgs 41 a game against us. T-Mac went nuts in the playoffs and nearly won the series. The mavs would be clear cut favorites to win it all. The weaklink is at shooting guard. Sure Kobe is awesome, but we need a physical defender to slow him down. Artest is one year older than Jho.

Damp/Diop
Dirk/Powell
Artest/Croshere
Griffin/Daniels
Terry/Harris

[kriD]

Source: Denver major player in Artest race

By Marc J. Spears
Denver Post Staff Writer

Oakland, Calif. - The Nuggets are now major players in the Ron Artest sweepstakes, according to an NBA source Monday.

The Indiana Pacers are expected to deal the controversial Artest, a 2004 NBA all-star, in the near future. The potential Artest deal likely would include numerous teams for financial reasons. If the likely multiteam deal is consummated involving the Nuggets, expect injured forward-center Nene to be included.

"We're just waiting to hear from (Pacers CEO) Donnie (Walsh) on something," Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, said via telephone Monday.

Stevens recently predicted Artest would be dealt after the holidays and has been talking to Walsh regularly. With Christmas now past, the Pacers have intensified their hopes of trading Artest. He recently asked to be traded and then recanted the statements, but the Pacers still plan on moving him.

The Eastern Conference Pacers also seem intrigued about moving Artest to the Western Conference. Rumored interested West teams include Denver, the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Golden State and Minnesota. The Pacers reportedly also could be interested in adding a player who is in the final year of his contract to cut salary. Nene and Nuggets guard Voshon Lenard, who has asked for a trade, are in the final years of their contracts.

"Anytime you deal a player, you would like him to go out of the conference," Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird told The Indianapolis Star on Monday. "We're looking at the West, but if it's the East, that's how it's going to be.

"Whether we get a draft choice or a player, we're going to make sure it's the right deal. We've done enough to back Ronnie. We're in a position where we have to protect the franchise now."

Artest was suspended 73 games by the NBA for his involvement in a fight with fans last season and has a history of drama. The 2004 NBA defensive player of the year is averaging 19.4 points and 4.9 rebounds this season, but has been suspended indefinitely by the Pacers and hasn't played since Dec. 6 versus Dallas.

Nuggets guard Earl Watson's name also has been mentioned in trade rumors with Indiana, Atlanta and Seattle. But Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Sunday that of late he has been very impressed by Watson, who entered Monday's game against Golden State scoring 10-plus points in six straight games.

"We didn't sign anybody to trade them," Vandeweghe said. "We signed them because they're good players. I think Watson's definitely proved himself there."

(...)

[Five-ofan]

Why does denver want artest? Im assuming they would keep melo. Both of them are sfs who cant play any other position. I have heard about melo going to the 2 but over extended periods that would be terrible for him. One of them would have a huge advantage in the post over the opposing teams weaker swing player though.

[snoop]

there wa a three way deal between atl ind and den that would have netted den artest but atl pulled out.

[kriD]

Bird expects to trade with 1 team

Pacers president thinks deal for Artest most likely will bring 1 or 2 players

By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.com

Larry Bird was cool in the clutch as a player and dramatically dispassionate as a coach.

It shouldn't be surprising, then, that he's not panicking as a team president.

While trade speculation involving Ron Artest swirls through the NBA, Bird and Indiana Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh calmly work the phones. They plan to make a deal someday, but can't say when someday might come. The Pacers have gone 7-6 since Artest last played Dec. 6.

"We're talking to teams, but to say we're going to put a date on it, we're not," Bird said in a telelphone interview Friday. "We're getting some good offers, but we're talking about an All-Star player.

"We'd like for it to be over with so Ron can get back to playing and we can get going. But from the beginning our strategy has been that a trade has to be right for our franchise. To me it's like Ronnie's injured."

Bird said he's open to trading for a player at any position. The most likely scenario is obtaining one or two players for Artest, as opposed to a larger deal involving other Pacers. Bird doesn't rule out any possibility.

"What's interesting is that you'll be talking about the Ronnie trade and (other teams) bring up other players," Bird said.

"I can't guarantee all our guys are going to be here, but the way we've been talking it seems like it will be a one-player-for-one or one-for-two trade. We'd like to keep all of our players."

Bird and Walsh believe their options will improve as the Feb. 23 trade deadline approaches, as teams get a better handle on their prospects for this and future seasons.

"This is what I expected," Bird said. "It could take a lot longer. Once you get to February, teams know what they're going after."