lal4l
01-16-2006, 02:02 AM
Rockets Throw In for Artest
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By Bill Ingram
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jan 14, 2006, 13:37
Before we even begin it's important to note that more teams than not have made overtures to the Indiana Pacers, hoping to land the coveted Ron Artest. At the same time, not all of the offers have been up to GM Donnie Walsh's standards. Part of the reason is that Artest is quite a gamble. His well publicized demeanor makes him a question mark in terms of what his contribution to the locker room might be. If the fight in Detroit wasn't enough to make other teams second-guess acquiring him, this latest trade demand certainly should. Artest is a head case. At the same time, he is an All-NBA defender, an All-Star, and the kind of player who should do well in Jeff Van Gundy's defensive system.
Bottom line? The Rockets need a third threat. Even when everyone's healthy the Rockets are a player short of being serious contenders. Many (myself included) thought that Stromile Swift would be that third threat - that he would come in and be a force on the glass and help the Rockets ignite their offense with his full-court fastbreak game. That hasn't happened. Even when everyone was healthy Swift hardly made an impact on the team's horrible offensive struggles. So perhaps Artest is worth the risk. The Rockets obviously think so. Certainly his 19 points per game, his long range game, and his rebounding - which is as good as Swift's has proven to be - won't hurt, either.
The Artest-for-Maggette was almost a done deal. Recent questions about whether or not Maggette will be able to come back this season may have been the reason for that deal falling apart. Whatever the reason, the Rockets would like to take advantage of it. The latest rumor is that the Rockets have offered anyone not named Yao or Tracy to the Indiana Pacers, and that they would be willing to include their first round draft pick in this year's draft as part of the deal. Given their current state - 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference - that might be a nice card to play.
My first question when discussing this possibility was: But who do the Rockets have 'not named Tracy or Yao' that the Pacers would be interested in?
I'm afraid it starts with Luther Head. For all of his struggles in summer league, training camp, and preseason, Head's elevated role on the team has revealed him to be quite a pick-up for the Rockets. His lights-out shooting and his willingness to go all out on the defensive end make him the kind of player any team would want.
Next let's talk about the Pacers' front line. Playing in a conference that will certainly be decided by the center position, the Pacers have David Harrison, Scot Pollard, and Jeff Foster standing between themselves and Shaquille O'Neal and Ben Wallace. If I'm Indiana I wouldn't mind adding someone like Dikembe Mutombo - you know, a serious defender - to help contend with those dominant inside players.
From there the Pacers may want to look at the buffet of ending contracts the Rockets hold, of which David Wesley's may be the most attractive. On the other hand, Ryan Bowen would give them a defensive stopper- filling the defensive void left by Artest - in addition to an ending contract. Then there is the possibility that they might want to take Bob Sura's contract, which could be an ending contract if he retires.
A question I am often asked is whether or not this Rockets team would be a contender if everyone were healthy. It's a difficult question to answer. The injuries have created opportunities for other players to step up and a couple of guys have taken full advantage. Unfortunately it hasn't been the guys who really should have benefited the most from the additional playing time and bigger roles. Stromile Swift and Rafer Alston have been very disappointing, and these were the two who were supposed to get the Rockets to the next level. Maybe they still will. Maybe the Rockets will get Yao, Tracy, and Sura back and make a solid run come April. Then again, maybe we've seen enough of this offensively challenged unit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bill Ingram
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Jan 14, 2006, 13:37
Before we even begin it's important to note that more teams than not have made overtures to the Indiana Pacers, hoping to land the coveted Ron Artest. At the same time, not all of the offers have been up to GM Donnie Walsh's standards. Part of the reason is that Artest is quite a gamble. His well publicized demeanor makes him a question mark in terms of what his contribution to the locker room might be. If the fight in Detroit wasn't enough to make other teams second-guess acquiring him, this latest trade demand certainly should. Artest is a head case. At the same time, he is an All-NBA defender, an All-Star, and the kind of player who should do well in Jeff Van Gundy's defensive system.
Bottom line? The Rockets need a third threat. Even when everyone's healthy the Rockets are a player short of being serious contenders. Many (myself included) thought that Stromile Swift would be that third threat - that he would come in and be a force on the glass and help the Rockets ignite their offense with his full-court fastbreak game. That hasn't happened. Even when everyone was healthy Swift hardly made an impact on the team's horrible offensive struggles. So perhaps Artest is worth the risk. The Rockets obviously think so. Certainly his 19 points per game, his long range game, and his rebounding - which is as good as Swift's has proven to be - won't hurt, either.
The Artest-for-Maggette was almost a done deal. Recent questions about whether or not Maggette will be able to come back this season may have been the reason for that deal falling apart. Whatever the reason, the Rockets would like to take advantage of it. The latest rumor is that the Rockets have offered anyone not named Yao or Tracy to the Indiana Pacers, and that they would be willing to include their first round draft pick in this year's draft as part of the deal. Given their current state - 14th out of 15 teams in the Western Conference - that might be a nice card to play.
My first question when discussing this possibility was: But who do the Rockets have 'not named Tracy or Yao' that the Pacers would be interested in?
I'm afraid it starts with Luther Head. For all of his struggles in summer league, training camp, and preseason, Head's elevated role on the team has revealed him to be quite a pick-up for the Rockets. His lights-out shooting and his willingness to go all out on the defensive end make him the kind of player any team would want.
Next let's talk about the Pacers' front line. Playing in a conference that will certainly be decided by the center position, the Pacers have David Harrison, Scot Pollard, and Jeff Foster standing between themselves and Shaquille O'Neal and Ben Wallace. If I'm Indiana I wouldn't mind adding someone like Dikembe Mutombo - you know, a serious defender - to help contend with those dominant inside players.
From there the Pacers may want to look at the buffet of ending contracts the Rockets hold, of which David Wesley's may be the most attractive. On the other hand, Ryan Bowen would give them a defensive stopper- filling the defensive void left by Artest - in addition to an ending contract. Then there is the possibility that they might want to take Bob Sura's contract, which could be an ending contract if he retires.
A question I am often asked is whether or not this Rockets team would be a contender if everyone were healthy. It's a difficult question to answer. The injuries have created opportunities for other players to step up and a couple of guys have taken full advantage. Unfortunately it hasn't been the guys who really should have benefited the most from the additional playing time and bigger roles. Stromile Swift and Rafer Alston have been very disappointing, and these were the two who were supposed to get the Rockets to the next level. Maybe they still will. Maybe the Rockets will get Yao, Tracy, and Sura back and make a solid run come April. Then again, maybe we've seen enough of this offensively challenged unit.