Michael Curry was player/coach during Ron-Ron's days in Indiana?????

As a result, he recognizes Artest's strengths and weaknesses.

Is Curry in Joe's ear pushing for a trade with Sactown????????

With a solid foundation, can Artest be an effective player for the pistons? A stand up guy, mesh with the community and fans????

Has he been a solid citizen since being in Sactown??????

My updated trade...

Prince for Artest

CBill for Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton

If we are going back to the suffering defense. Ron Artest and Gerald Wallace with the squad we have will be an opposing team nightmare.

You will be getting two of the best defenders in the league.

Pick up Diop with the midlevel

PG: Stuckey/Felton/Dixon (combo)
SG: Rip/Afflalo/Hermann
SF: Artest/Afflalo/Sharpe/Hermann
PF: G Wallace/Amir/JMax/McDyess
C: R Wallace/Samb/Diop/Ratliff

I like the idea...
First of all though, I think Tay is more valuable than Artest personally... No need to make that move.
The Billups for Wallace/Felton seems to make some sense, if Charlotte's willing to part with Wallace. Does he play the 4 though? Either him or Tay could be our super sub...
I like Felton coming off the bench behind Stuckey but I'm not sure he'd be comfortable with that... Joe doesn't usually have people of the same age and stage of their career at the same position on the team - Felton's not a bad PG and only a few yrs in the league himself...
Part of all of this is that we need to trade Maxiell still... Instead of Artest, I'd package Maxiell and Tay in this case and try to get a starting big man... Then we can either play Sharpe or try to sign someone like Bonzi wells or Artest/Maggete if we can get them with the midlevel... Move McDyess to the bench with Amir.

I like the idea.



Obviously neither of these guys would want to come off the bench. Plus playing one of them at the 4 takes away from Amir and JMax time.

I think in order to make this work you have to also package Rip somewhere, so Ron can play the 2.

On the other hand, Rip would be the perfect Microwave type guy off the bench.
We all know his ego is too big for that though.

Just say no.

There are too many egos involved. Not going to be a solid clubhouse.

Sure wish somebody would have told Danny Ainge this.

I love how unknown draft picks can be defended under "Trust in Joe" and "Nobody knows for sure" while simultaneously trades can be shot down as sure fire misses because of something as arbitrary and unpredictable (not to mention subjective) as "chemistry" and "ego".

Sometimes lone wolves are only lone wolves because they have had to be.

I don't think Mr. D would approve. I think Artest would fit in his not a good person profile.

Like Rasheed did.

His diatribe of years ago was pretty much aimed at guys like Bill Davidson.

If Bill D. were to take anything personal you'd think it would be that.

Fact is Artest is a very good person. He's just made some errors in judgment. Those close to him dont question where his heart is at though. He is alot like Rasheed in that aspect.

You don't think Mr. D holds Ron Artest responsible for bringing a black eye to the Palace and Pistons Organization? How about the money the league fined the Pistons because of the brawl?