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Hill for Artest?!; It's not as crazy as you'd think
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Topic Started: Dec 19 2005, 01:17 PM (316 Views)
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MAGICMANEVAN
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Dec 19 2005, 01:17 PM
Post #1
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#1 Magic Fan
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/bask...olumn?track=rss
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Want to hear something crazy? The Magic are considering trading Grant Hill for Ron Artest.
OK, they actually only considered it for about 2.8 seconds on Sunday.
That was how long it took Assistant General Manager Otis Smith to stop chuckling at the thought of trading the Comeback Player of the Year for the Go-Away Player of the Year.
"We're both problem children," Hill joked.
The difference is Hill's problems have required crutches. Artest's have required a straitjacket. That said, guess who called Indiana to see if they could work out some kind of deal?
"You have to inquire about a player of that caliber," Smith said.
You certainly do, no matter how insane it seems.
The mere mention of the phrase "Artest" is enough to make most people break out a crucifix. He is the NBA's Sling Blade. One minute, he's sweetly and innocently eating french-fried potatoes. The next, he's chopping off his team's head with a lawn mower blade.
It wasn't enough that he made the entire NBA look like a 50 Cent video last year. The Pacers stood by him, and he has repaid them by sabotaging another season. He said he can't function under Coach Rick Carlisle and demanded a trade. Now he says he wants to stay. The Pacers just want to get rid of Artest before Jermaine O'Neal throws a beer at him.
If the sports world were sane, prospective employers would look at Artest and see a tsunami of trouble. Instead, they envision long, happy walks on the beach.
"We all think a change of address is good," Smith said. "We all think getting around our guys and putting our staff around him will make the difference."
We all think anyone is nuts for thinking that, but it's a bottom-line business. And the bottom line is Artest is one of the league's best players.
As nice as it might be to get sanctimonious and say, "We'd never take that bum," the fact is a general manager isn't doing his job unless he at least inquires.
About 20 teams have done so with Artest. They know fans initially will act as if the team just imported a 6-foot-7 Vietnamese chicken infected with the avian flu. But as soon as Artest shuts down LeBron James, fans will love him.
Sometimes a change of scenery helps (see: Rasheed Wallace, Corey Dillon). But some head cases carry their issues wherever they go (Larry Brown, a certain Philadelphia Eagles receiver, Sling Blade).
Artest's fate is predictable. He'll get a new team, he'll work hard and everybody will sing redemptive praises. But sooner or later, the time bomb will explode. Even with that, Artest is worth acquiring if your franchise is out of alignment.
Teams such as Detroit and San Antonio don't need the disruption. Teams such as the Knicks and Lakers have no chemistry to lose. Teams such as the Magic have to be pragmatic.
If you can get Artest for 50 cents on the dollar and he behaves for a couple of seasons, it's worth the gamble. Wouldn't you trade Hedo Turkoglu for Artest and a psychiatrist to be named later?
And though the contracts make it almost impossible, what about a 26-year-old small forward entering his prime for a 33-year-old small forward who sadly limped through much of his?
Put away the pitchforks, it'll never happen. But as much as Artest deserves to be banished for another season, teams would be nuts not to try to pick him up.
Then they'd really be crazy to think it's going to last.
you got a little scared there for a second didnt ya?!
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MagicMadness
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Dec 19 2005, 01:26 PM
Post #2
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Yeah...I was like what the f**k is whoever wrote that smoking?
While I wouldn't mind the Magic testing the waters with Hill, trading him for Artest would be mind-boggling bad.
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Tony
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Dec 19 2005, 07:53 PM
Post #3
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Dwight Howard = MVP
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I knew that junk wasnt gonna happen.
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gomagic33
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Dec 19 2005, 08:09 PM
Post #4
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Mr. Anderson
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Duncan for Outlaw+Kasun+Cato is more realistic.
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Black and Blue
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Dec 20 2005, 07:39 PM
Post #5
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Have You Hugged Your Van Gundy Today?
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This article is pointless. The writer is indeed on crack.
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efenell
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Dec 21 2005, 09:15 AM
Post #6
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DA - Magic Legend
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- Black and Blue
- Dec. 20 2005 06:39 PM
This article is pointless. The writer is indeed on crack.
my thoughts exactly
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doct3r dr3
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Dec 21 2005, 10:31 AM
Post #7
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Starter
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The salaries don't work anyway.
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