Truth & Rumors > NBA

Kings' Artest to the Lakers?

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Kobe Bryant loves the idea of teaming with Ron Artest and the Lakers have already privately considered taking a turn in the Ron-Ron funhouse. It only gets interesting if the Lakers are anxious enough that they'll also take back a bad contract: Artest and Kenny Thomas for Lamar Odom, with minor cap-related tweaking of additional bodies. There's nothing that says they're anxious enough to inherit Thomas and $17.3 million the next two seasons, although L.A. will have to make a major financial decision on Odom at some point. He becomes a free agent after next season and will want big bucks to stay.

Sacramento Bee

Lamar Odom, AP Lamar Odom, AP
June 20, 2008  08:40 AM ET

this would be a good deal, though it would be interesting to see how two competetive characters are going to get along in the same team , shaw and kobe imploded what would happen between artest and kobe?

June 20, 2008  08:46 AM ET

cant wait to hear all the laker fans say how this is going to guarantee them a championship just like the gasol deal did!

June 20, 2008  08:49 AM ET

This would be a good deal. Take back Thomas' contract and lets rock and roll. I won't guarantee them a championship, j-mo but I will guarantee some good seasons.

June 20, 2008  08:56 AM ET

This would be a good deal. Take back Thomas' contract and lets rock and roll. I won't guarantee them a championship, j-mo but I will guarantee some good seasons.

J. HOVA: CATCH A FIRE |

im by no means a laker fan but i agree that i think artest is just what the lakers need. he'll bring some nastiness/toughness to a team that desperately needs that type of play.

June 20, 2008  08:58 AM ET

yeah but winning a bunch of regular season games and not winning the championship isnt having a good season, especially if you expect to win a championship EVER year like laker fans do.

all im saying is you now have some people are going to just start throwing guarantees around. not that i think the move wont help them.

June 20, 2008  08:59 AM ET

now = know

June 20, 2008  09:14 AM ET

Why would Sacramento do this? How would this improve their team? Artest is a free agent. Sactown needs young studs not duds. Unless, they are that pressed to get rid of Kenny Thomas. I can relate to wanting to get rid of Kenny Thomas but for Lamar Odom?

June 20, 2008  09:24 AM ET

Also I doubt the kings would help the Lakers..........

June 20, 2008  09:34 AM ET

Great move, and it does guarantee a championship if everyone is healthy.

June 20, 2008  09:42 AM ET

There are questions has to how Lamar Odom will fit in the lineup once Bynum returns. The triangle offense has always had shooters in the small foward position, Scottie Pippen, Kukoc for the Bulls. Lakers had Glen Rice, Rick Fox, Deveon George was the weakest guy at the 3 spot and that was in 2004. This year Radmanovic was in there because he could shoot the basketball. The triangle works best if there is space on the floor to operate and you need shooters for that. Lamar's game is more of penetration and handling the ball. He could work well as the slasher in the triangle or coming off the bench leading the second unit.
Artest can hit shots and plays good defense. He's a big guy and would take some pressure off Kobe in terms of having to guard big small fowards like Lebron, Pierce and Anthony. They can also set up Artest at the block and run the triangle through him from time to time because he can also post people.

June 20, 2008  09:42 AM ET

Great move, and it does guarantee a championship if everyone is healthy.

virtualinsanity | 06/20/08, 09:34 AM

Nothing guarrantees a championship...

June 20, 2008  09:43 AM ET

"The triangle works best if there is space on the floor to operate "

the triangle ACTUALLY works best when you have 2 of the top 5 players in the league

June 20, 2008  09:48 AM ET

THANK YOU jandssports for seeing in reality and not fantasy!!!

June 20, 2008  09:53 AM ET

Artest would make a positive difference.

June 20, 2008  10:02 AM ET

jgb....i dont think that has anything to do with the triangle

June 20, 2008  10:04 AM ET

Farmar, Walton & Radomanovic for Artest? I'll take that in a NY minute. You think the cow-bell ringers hate us now?

June 20, 2008  10:06 AM ET

"....i dont think that has anything to do with the triangle "

huh?
jordan + pippen = 6 rings
Kobe + shaq = 3 rings

Kobe + odom/gasol = nice season, ut no ring

June 20, 2008  10:08 AM ET

The only reason Sacramento would do this is that Odom's contract expires after next season and it gets rid of a bad contract in Kenny Thomas. For cap flexibility it might be worth biting the bullet and helping out the Lakers.

Artest seems intent on leaving Sacramento so if I'm the Kings, I would get the best deal for their cap possible.

June 20, 2008  10:09 AM ET

jgb does have a point about the triangle. It does help when you have two great players. Not good, GREAT.

 
June 20, 2008  10:11 AM ET

why would Sacramento want Odom, and for that matter Artest is a bit on the old side of hos career. I think we are all remembering the Indiana Pacers years.

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