Kings Trade Rumors

"Theus, in all seriousness, has no such worries. This season. But if he wants to enhance his job security? If he hopes to persuade Geoff Petrie and the Maloofs that his rookie transgressions were exactly that – rookie transgressions – and convince them to guarantee the third and final year (2009-10) of his contract, then he needs to hire a mentor. He needs to admit that he needs help. Bernie Bickerstaff. Del Harris. Tex Winter. Hank Egan. Kelvin Sampson would have been a terrific choice had Scott Skiles not already hired him in Milwaukee. But he needs to add someone of similar pedigree to his staff."

"The wish list that Donnie Walsh is compiling will include Chuck Person, a Walsh protégé who is currently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings. An NBA executive told Newsday yesterday that Walsh is expected to contact Kings president Geoff Petrie for permission to interview Person, who spent six of his 13 seasons as a player with the Indiana Pacers. Mark Jackson is believed to be Walsh's top choice, but unlike in 1997, when Walsh said he knew he only needed to interview Larry Bird, Walsh plans to meet with a handful of candidates"

"If Walsh waits long enough, the field of qualified candidates could grow in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the playoffs. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson could be in jeopardy if the Mavericks lose their first-round series to the New Orleans Hornets. The same goes for Flip Saunders in Detroit and Sam Mitchell in Toronto... Walsh could reach out to three other assistant coaches who interviewed in Indiana last year: Brian Shaw of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person of the Sacramento Kings and Johnny Davis, a former Pacers assistant now with the Memphis Grizzlies."

"Kings coach Reggie Theus deemed the future of Artest and how he fits into the organization's long-term plans the most pressing offseason issue. In a lengthy post-mortem media session Wednesday, Theus repeatedly stressed the importance of the Kings picking a direction regarding their core players. And that core, if it were up to Theus, should be anchored by the two-way talent he repeatedly called the team's "best player." "When you look at the good teams in the league, every good team has somebody they can throw the ball to," Theus said."

"Artest says he won't opt out of the final year of his contract (at $7.4 million), and if he returns, Petrie and the Maloofs have to plot accordingly. His trade value (and expiring contract) will be tempting, though there is zero likelihood of reuniting Artest with former Indiana Pacers president Donnie Walsh, now with the New York Knicks."

"Salmons - who is about to conclude the second season on the five-year deal he signed with the Kings - said he "can't worry" about Artest's future, even though it affects him so directly. Artest has said he is "not likely" to opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer, meaning Salmons is likely to remain a reserve unless he or Artest is traded this summer."

"Nothing has changed about Ron Artest's stance toward this summer, as the Kings small forward said again Tuesday that he isn't likely to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. But in the never-ending evaluation process that's going on in his mind, he said the way in which Kings fans perceive him certainly matters if he's going to consider staying in Sacramento."

"The what-if game arrives today, with the Kings and Denver Nuggets finally facing off. Remaining is the question that's impossible to answer in every sense. What if Ron Artest were a member of the Denver Nuggets? It could have been brilliant. It could have been boneheaded. That's what the what-ifs are for."

"Sacramento forward Ron Artest, who faces the Nuggets on Saturday for the first time since they considered acquiring him in February, said the Nuggets would be higher in the standings if he were with them. “(If) God put me in Denver, it’s no question they would be a better team,’’ Artest wrote in an e-mail Friday."

"And when Artest sat alone at his locker long after the end, he said these are the sort of fun times he wants to keep happening next season. With a summer fast approaching in which Artest can become a free agent if he so chooses and opt out of the final season of his contract, he said the likelihood remains high that he will remain in Sacramento."

"When Ron Artest talks about the future, he speaks as if there is no doubt that he will be wearing a Kings jersey next season. He talks about his acceptance of the team's youth movement in this season's final stretch, how vital it will be as a building block for the future."

"When it comes to soon-to-be free agents who are in position to secure their future, there is nothing comical about limping toward the finish line. For as much as Udrih has showed this season with the Kings, the reality is that his audition for the rest of the league continues as well."

"As the Kings crawl toward the draft lottery and another offseason of changes, Beno Udrih, despite having unusually small hands and fingers for an NBA point guard, retains a vise-like grip on the starting position. He wants them. They need him. Assuming the free agent-to-be and his bosses reach agreement this summer on a long-term contract – and according to all the parties, this is a reasonable assumption – the job will be Udrih's for the foreseeable future. "

"The timing was crucial for Lue, as Friday was the deadline by which players had to be waived to still be eligible for addition to a playoff roster. According to numerous sources close to the Kings, he might sign with Denver and back up starter Anthony Carter. Whether Lue lands there or elsewhere, he should be in a position to offer scoring and quickness off the bench."

"In that case, the Heat could make an all-or-nothing run at Toronto's Jose Calderon, with the Raptors expected to match any outside offer for the restricted free agent. The unrestricted choices at the position include the less tempting likes of former FIU star Carlos Arroyo, former Dillard star Keyon Dooling, Tyronn Lue and Beno Udrih."

"Artest, 28, is the tremendously gifted, often-maligned, always-interesting character who might be the most intriguing player to watch this summer if he opts out of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent."

"Ron Artest put a Kings uniform back on Friday, perhaps happy about it and perhaps not, perhaps planning to leave the team in another few months and perhaps not."

"Ron Artest still is not a Knick and Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph still are. Artest, a Queensbridge product, will likely opt out and become a free agent and the Knicks can offer him the five-year, $30 million mid-level exception as a free agent. "

"EIther James Dolan revoked Isiah Thomas' cell phone privileges or there just isn't much of a market for underachievers with bloated contracts. The NBA's trading deadline came and went Thursday without Thomas making a single move. There is still a possibility of the Knicks adding a point guard, especially if Sacramento releases Tyronn Lue, but Thomas' days of questionable trades and suspect free agent signings appear to be over. "

"The Suns failed to make a trade before Thursday’s 1 p.m. deadline. Efforts to acquire Los Angeles Clippers guard Quenton Ross did not pan out... The Suns would prefer keep an eye out for players who might get bought out of their contracts. Potential buyout candidates could be Brent Barry, who was dealt from San Antonio to Seattle in the Kurt Thomas trade; Gordan Giricek of Philadelphia; and Tyronn Lue, was traded to Sacramento in the Mike Bibby deal."

"Smith did admit he's had preliminary trade talks with the Seattle SuperSonics about power forwards Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox, but said nothing is imminent on that front. He also said there was no truth to a rumor the Magic were interested in Sacramento's Brad Miller, adding the Kings "only want one thing off my roster and that's (Hedo Turkoglu)... Barring somewhat of a miracle, the Magic won't be dealing with a Miami franchise that is trying to unload long-term contracts. "

"Any trade conversation involving the Pacers begins with Jermaine O'Neal... The Pacers are making and listening to calls about him -- again -- but they have yet to find a deal they like. They've recently spoken with Golden State, New Jersey and Sacramento."

"The Nuggets and Knicks have discussed a multi-player deal with Randolph, but it's not expected to happen. Nuggets GM Mark Warkentien drafted Randolph in 2001 (19th overall) when he ran Portland's scouting department. Linas Kleiza is an up-and-coming young big man the Knicks have interest in, but Randolph's stock is not high enough to land him... Thomas wants a solid player and Ron Artest and Vince Carter have been on their radar for months."

"Seattle power forwards Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox are available, but at what cost? Sacramento's Ron Artest could give the Magic the toughness they lack, but how would he affect the locker room dynamics? And the free-falling Miami Heat are willing to move Udonis Haslem (a Van Gundy favorite), but they are certainly in no hurry to assist the Magic after their summer spat over Van Gundy."

"Shooter Mike Miller, as opposed to the excess of point guards, will be an especially difficult get... Sacramento is weighing offers for Ron Artest, but unlike the deal that sent Mike Bibby to Atlanta largely for expiring contracts, the Kings have sought an impact player for Artest, who has said he would opt out of his contract after this season."

"Contrary to a report, the Nuggets don't have the slightest interest in obtaining Zach Randolph. Never did. Dismiss the Ron Artest talk to Denver, too, despite Carmelo Anthony publicly campaigning for him. Between the lines he's attractive. "

"The rumors that the Sixers are interested in Sacramento's Ron Artest won't amount to anything, according to a person familiar with both teams. . . . One basketball source suggested that Denver is showing interest in Seattle guard Delonte West, the former St. Joseph's star."

"LeBron James needs help, and he's unhappy about not getting it... The clock is ticking toward the trade deadline. Anderson Varejao and Drew Gooden are the names that come up most often, though the Cavs would most like to deal Larry Hughes. Acquiring Ron Artest from the Kings remains possible if the Cavs would take some of Sacramento's bad contracts."

"Yet Lue might not be long for Sacramento, as he has been pursued by Phoenix and Boston and could be used in any subsequent deals before Thursday's trade deadline. On that front, sources close to Denver said talks between the Kings and Nuggets about Ron Artest have recently restarted."

"A source close to Artest said his gut feeling is Artest will still be on the Kings' roster come Feb. 22, the day after the trading deadline. Sacramento, for now at least, wants good value for Artest, which would likely mean Denver's Linas Kleiza — who is playing well for a low salary. A newspaper report out of New York stated the Nuggets are interested in the Knicks' Zach Randolph, but a source close to Denver said that likely won't happen, because Randolph is a maximum-contract player and Denver would have to give up a lot to get him. "

"The trade of Bibby paves the way for the Kings to continue to clean house by trading Ron Artest. Denver is considered the favorite, but Thomas has always been enamored with the idea of bringing the former St. John's star home."

"Forward Carmelo Anthony wouldn't mind if it's the Nuggets, saying for the second time in three seasons he'd love to have Ron Artest as a teammate... In addition to Artest, Anthony said he has heard rumors about Denver getting Memphis' Mike Miller."

"Sure, they'll consider Artest. It's hard to disregard the availability of one of the NBA's better defenders. But Artest is looking to sign for, likely, a $13 million-per-year contract this summer. Denver doesn't have the cap room for that (keep your eye on Philadelphia). So if the Nuggets deal for Artest, they will have to deal Linas Kleiza, who is playing well and still on his first contract, and maybe the 2008 draft pick, who if Denver kept, would, obviously, also be on his first contract."

"But in pursuit of that chance, will he succumb to the temptation to do something by the Feb. 21 deadline, such as snatching Ron Artest for a reported offer of Eddy Curry and Jerome James (which also would require the Knicks to take Kenny Thomas, who has two years and $16.5 million left on his contract)? Would he make another run at Jermaine O'Neal or try to snatch Ben Wallace from the Bulls -- who already fleeced two lottery picks from him in the 2005 deal for Curry?"

"Sacramento's Ron Artest is among the players Thomas could pursue, but the former St. John's star will be a free agent after the season, and the Knicks might be better served waiting to make a play for him."

"The original rumor had the Nuggets swapping Nene for Artest, which would make them smaller while everyone else is getting bigger. But Nene is out indefinitely with testicular cancer, and more recent speculation has focused on a package including Eduardo Najera and possibly Linas Kleiza."

"For all the things he said that couldn't happen (last season's emotional wanderings of quitting the NBA to play in Europe) or wouldn't happen (reflexive declarations that the Kings will make the playoffs), this is the one that can and possibly will. Ron Artest recently said he sees his time in Sacramento ending, and for the first time, his comments are grounded in reality. This being Artest, the situation, naturally, is complicated."

"For all the recent attention given to Artest and his uncertain future, actual trade talks are relatively quiet. The same can be said concerning Bibby. It's especially quiet on the Cleveland front. Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry remains intrigued by Bibby but is even more limited in what he can offer than he was at this time last season, when he made his well-known push to acquire the point guard."

"Does he swap Ron Artest for expiring contracts and lesser talents – motivated by his small forward's pending free agency and/or high-maintenance persona – or keep his roster largely intact and deal with Artest's future in the future? Maybe Artest re-signs this summer."

" So, since the Warriors are filling the Rodney Dangerfield role, why not go all out and trade for Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest?"

"Asked after Monday's practice about first-year coach Reggie Theus and the job he's done this season, Artest – who said last week that he didn't see himself in the Kings' long-term plans – said Theus and his team would be better off without him. "He's doing good; he's doing good," Artest said of Theus. "I just think they (the Kings) would be better if I wasn't on the team. I think (Theus) would be doing much better.""

"The Bulls have had some interest in Gooden for several years, and you are right that the Cavs are seeking a point guard. The problem is playing with LeBron you need to shoot and Duhon isn't a good shooter. More than that, I think the Cavs are holding out Gooden, probably their best trade piece, to make a deal for a bigger target like Mike Bibby, Jason Kidd or Sam Cassell."

"The Kings' first four-game winning streak this season came with yet another sensational outing from their resurgent center Saturday night at Arco Arena, where the 105-101 finish over Chicago might have left Miller's old team wishing he were wearing its red and black jersey again before the trade deadline."

" Teams like Denver and Golden State, who both like Artest, might be more willing to take a risk on the dramatic star now that the Lakers have raised the stakes, especially since either team could very well find itself left out out of the super-tight race for the Western Conference playoffs."

"Thomas' remarks indicate the Knicks will seek a point guard at the Feb. 21 trading deadline as their No. 1 priority. Mike Bibby, Jason Williams and Seattle's Luke Ridnour reportedly are available. The Knicks have inquired about Bibby."

"Two years ago, Anthony called for the Nuggets to acquire Ron Artest. This time, he's making no such statements. 'That's just rumors right now, and I don't feed into rumors,' Anthony said of the possibility the Nuggets could trade with Sacramento for Artest."

"He wants to be traded. He doesn't want to be traded. He loves Sacramento. He loves New York and Indianapolis. He says he can be content and productive anywhere. He envisions a future in a larger market. That was Thursday. This is Friday. Ron Artest? Are you still with us?"