Still want Artest?

echobats · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Apr 2001 Posts: 354

NO!!!!!!
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sodapoppenski · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject:

startrex · Starting Rotation Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 864

CabinCreek44 · Star Player Joined: 16 Apr 2001 Posts: 3856

I didn't want him before he ever even opened his mouth about Magic.

That said, if Karl Malone can don the purple and gold, then I suppose anybody can.

lakersflambe · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject:

No to Artest if Odom is the price. If Lamar must be shipped, I'd much prefer he be dealt to pry Bosh from Toronto this year.

If Walsh refuses, fine. Let him ship Ron to the Warriors and see if Mullin can rein this guy in. I seriously doubt it. There's only one coach who has a fighting shot to keep Artest focused on the game, and that's Phil. Anyone else, and my bet is Ron self-destructs and, worse still, drags his team down with him.

That's why I'm really perplexed by the teams, other than the Lakers, that are proposing trades for Artest. Are they that confident -- do they have the coach and front office -- in their ability to manage problematic players? Or do they look at the unfolding debacle in Indiana and merely see an opportunity to exploit, hopefully to lowball Walsh for a very short-term gain?

sodapoppenski · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject:

Startrex, I don't think for a second they'll ask for Magic's approval.

But that's for two reasons really. One is the "difference" between
personal and business ethics that I mentioned, and that it's a business
decision.

That said, even by NBA standards the Lakers run a class organization.
If they felt Magic was worried over it, I think they'd go out of their way
to make sure he was ok with it. But that brings me to my second point,
which is that if Magic is ANYTHING close to the guy we know, and I darned
well expect he is - he knows this is just Ron being immature and likely
didn't even take that much offense to it.

Clearly he won't be happy it was said, but Magic - as proven by his career,
is selfless in nature and wants good things for the Lakers. If we can get
Artest without sacrificing Kobe or LO (hopefully not Bynum either!), and
Magic thinks it's a good personel move, my guess is the Lakers
front office knows him well-enough to know he'll shrug the Artest comment
off without that much thought.

startrex · Starting Rotation Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 864

ShowtimeDynasty_24/7 · Star Player Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 8361

thing is dead even

I still want, he brings so much to the team, but only if we don't trade Kobe, Odom, or Bynum

as for what he said to Magic its harsh but kinda true, they will have lots of time to make up if we get him... I sorta compare it to Karl Malone's "I don't want to play with him" comment about Magic when he had returned with the HIV

KingKobe · Star Player Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 3550 Location: UCLA

Artest = Crazy Idiot

Artest also = a top 10 talent

So the guy isn't the brightest bulb in drawer, its not like he's a murderer. Magic WAS a womanizer, as good a person as he is in other parts of his life (this does not include broadcasting in which he is fairly awful). Odom clearly had some kind of drug problem. IMO, Shaq has said and done plenty of worse things to teams then Artest is doing to the Pacers. Even Kobe went and screwed up once.

All I'm saying is Artest is actually seen around the league (by people who actually know him) as a good if not balanced guy. He wouldn't be the first person to start a fight after getting hit with a beer, just unlucky enought to be in the worse place possible. (not to mention if you throw a couple ounces of alcohol at a 6'7 monster with emotional problems who deserve every damn thing your drunk ass gets)

Look there are worse people in the world than Artest. But they're arn't that many better basketball players.
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*Warning: The preceding post may have contained sarcasm and/or irony.

"We're all surrounded by idiots." - Kobe Bryant

shiznak · Star Player Joined: 09 Oct 2002 Posts: 1625

YES

STFU MAGIC!
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lakernet · Starting Rotation Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Posts: 124

I haven't really decided if I want Artest or not (I'm leaning towards no), but his comments on Magic have no effect on my opinion.

I see Magic associate more with the Heat nowadays than the Lakers. doesn't seem like he cares a whole lot about the Lakers right now.

WestCCa · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:41 pm Post subject:

Magic has very little to do with any personel decisions. His VP title is ceremonial at best, and his ownership stake is very small. The shot-callers are the Buss family, Mitch, and Phil. That's the inner circle, no Magic.