July 17th, 2008 – Dr. Anklesnap
Rumor has it that the Sacramento Kings are in negotiations with the Dallas Mavericks for a possible trade of the Mavs Brandon Bass and Jerry Stackhouse for the Kings Ron Artest. C’mon Joe and Gavin Maloof, say it ain’t so!
Someone put a stop to the madness. Last season I almost lost my mind when I heard about the Memphis Grizzlies trading Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for a $10 bucks and a slurpee. Then this week I was just as shocked in hearing the Denver Nuggets had shipped Marcus Camby off to the Los Angeles Clippers for a second round draft pick and a box of smarties. I was really starting to feel like there was some sort of LA conspiracy going on. Were the Mayor of LA and NBA Commissioner David Stern in cahoots? Then Elton Brand left LA, so I guess that must mean he couldn’t be paid off…
Back to reality where the silly trade rumors are often just that, rumors. But this one might have legs, as there have been numerous sources confirming that negotiations between the Mavs and Kings have been heating up as of late concerning Artest. What I don’t understand is why would the Kings reject the Lakers offer of the versatile Lamar Odom, and the Nuggets offer of the up and coming Linas Kleiza, then turn around and even have the Bass/Stackhouse discussion with the Mavs?
I realize that the more noise Ron Artest makes publicly about wanting to be traded, the harder it will be to move him for any player of substance. The more desperate the Kings look to move the disgruntled star, the more low-ball offers the Kings will receive. So a word of advice to the Maloofs, ‘come out publicly and adamantly deny the rumors that you are considering the Bass/Stackhouse trade’. Do it for my own sanity, and for the good of your organization. There is nothing that looks more desperate than the possible trading of one of the leagues brightest young defensive standouts (Artest) for an unpolished bench player (Bass) and an aging veteran with two bad knees and myriad of other health issues (Stackhouse).
David Stern you better give LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa a call and strike while the iron is hot. The way things are going with NBA trades these days maybe the Lakers can give up the rights to retired star Vlade Divac and center DJ Mbenga to land Artest?
