December 11, 200520 yr Looks like Ron Artest is still the same mentally unstable dude. In other news, the sun is rising tomorrow. What team, besides the Knicks, Blazers, or Hawks is crazy enough to let this guy play for them? I predict he ends up eating someone by the end of his career. Ron Artest stunned the Indiana Pacers on Saturday by requesting to be traded, telling the Indianapolis Star that he believes the team would be better off without him. Artest, who has missed the Pacers' last two games because of a wrist injury, told the Star that he doesn't like playing for coach Rick Carlisle and would prefer to be dealt to the New York Knicks. "I think I cause a lot of problems here," Artest told the Star in a one-on-one interview Saturday; the story first appeared on the newspaper's Web site. "If the trade rumors, if there is any truth -- maybe it won't be a bad thing. They probably could win more games without me." Artest said he wants to play in an offense where he's allowed to shoot more, adding, "If it was a perfect world, I would be going to New York." Pacers chief executive Donnie Walsh was taken aback by Artest's request, saying the former All-Star and defensive player of the year had never raised such concerns with team officials. "I've never heard him say anything before," Walsh told the Star. "He hasn't talked to me, and I see him every day. "He can always come up and talk to me or [team president] Admin Bird," Walsh said. "From here on out, I expect Ronnie to be a professional. ... [This] isn't the best way to get a trade done." "You never want to lose someone like that," Carlisle told the newspaper, calling Artest "one of the elite talents in the league." One of the NBA's best defenders as well as one of the league's most combustible players, Artest set off last season's Pistons-Pacers brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills by charging into the stands after a fan who threw a drink. Artest was suspended for the balance of the season -- 73 games. "I still think my past haunts me here," Artest told the Star. "I think somewhere else I'm starting fresh. I'm coming in with baggage but people already know about it and how I'm going to be. Either they're going to be for me or they're not going to trade for me. Here I think my past haunts me. "I think [indiana] will be a better team without me." Artest said Carlisle is a good coach, but criticized the Pacers' structured offense as too restricted for him. "I'm so demanding of the ball. It's not my fault," Artest told the Star. "Every time somebody is on me it's a mismatch. It messes up the offense. I like Coach [Carlisle] as a person, but I don't like playing for Coach. I like my team, though." "Don't get it twisted. He's a very good coach. He knows what he's doing. I personally don't like playing for him. I would not want to see him get fired for me after all the immaturity I've been through with this organization." Artest, whose contract expires in 2008 and includes an $8.5 million player option for 2008-09, makes $6.5 million this season. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2255420
December 11, 200520 yr Yeah, 'mentally unstable'. Hes asking for a trade. Big deal. I dont think that makes him mentally unstable.
December 11, 200520 yr Author Yeah, 'mentally unstable'. Hes asking for a trade. Big deal. I dont think that makes him mentally unstable. He is asking for a trade when the team is doing well, when he is averaging 19 points on 46% shooting. In the process he says he doesnt like playing for Carlisle. How many other players do this? He doesnt even get that what he does might have negative effects. It's the non-chalant matter of fact way in which he says this stuff. Like after he "had to take a break" last year. Then when talking to reporters, he didnt think it was a big deal and brought up his album. I don't know, maybe its me. I just think there is a screw loose with him.
December 11, 200520 yr you gotta figure Riley's gonna make a run at it... he'd probably give up anything other than Wade or Shaq you'd think...
December 11, 200520 yr Artest is a nut though. His past history and then this absolutely random trade demand just adds more fuel to the fire.
December 11, 200520 yr something tells me indiana wouldn't be too interested in playing trade with us though.
December 11, 200520 yr Walker + Haslem for Artest. I'd do it up. That would be a dream. The Heat wouldn't be better with Artest. Bold statement, I know, but I just don't see him being a positive influence to that team. Maybe it's just because I LOVE Udonis Haslem.
December 11, 200520 yr Walker + Haslem for Artest. I'd do it up. That would be a dream. where do I sign? I hate the bas$$rd but he can play
December 11, 200520 yr C - Shaq PF - Mourning/Posey SF - Artest SG - Wade PG - Williams :drool There is also news that Peja wants to come to Miami. Imagine that... But anyway, with ARtest, the lineup would probably be altered to: C- Shaq PF- Simien (true PF) SF- Artest SG- Wade PG- Williams Posey is the kind of guy who does not care about minutes, so the switch would work perfectly. Simien is Udonis, but with my agility--dude is developing very nicely.
December 11, 200520 yr Author Did you guys even read why Artest is bitching in Indiana? He thinks he isnt getting enough shots and wants to be a more focal part of the offense. And this is with him being the second leading scorer/second option on the team. This is with him getting 15 shots a game, only two less than Jermaine Oneal. What makes you think he is going to be perfectly ok with now becoming the third option, when he wanted to be traded so he could be the focal part of the offense? Add in the fact that white chocolate is taking 12 shots a game. Oh, and I dont think Indiana would want to take on that albatross contract that is employee #8.
December 11, 200520 yr Did you guys even read why Artest is bitching in Indiana? He thinks he isnt getting enough shots and wants to be a more focal part of the offense. And this is with him being the second leading scorer/second option on the team. This is with him getting 15 shots a game, only two less than Jermaine Oneal. What makes you think he is going to be perfectly ok with now becoming the third option, when he wanted to be traded so he could be the focal part of the offense? Add in the fact that white chocolate is taking 12 shots a game. Oh, and I dont think Indiana would want to take on that albatross contract that is employee #8. Relax, bro. We're just making up hypothetical situations, here. Nobody actually thinks it will happen.
December 11, 200520 yr Author Did you guys even read why Artest is bitching in Indiana? He thinks he isnt getting enough shots and wants to be a more focal part of the offense. And this is with him being the second leading scorer/second option on the team. This is with him getting 15 shots a game, only two less than Jermaine Oneal. What makes you think he is going to be perfectly ok with now becoming the third option, when he wanted to be traded so he could be the focal part of the offense? Add in the fact that white chocolate is taking 12 shots a game. Oh, and I dont think Indiana would want to take on that albatross contract that is employee #8. Relax, bro. We're just making up hypothetical situations, here. Nobody actually thinks it will happen. Unacceptable. :shifty
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.