Ramifications: Ron-Ron for Peja
The Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings just made a deal to swap volatile swingman Ron Artest for sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic. What does this trade mean? Let's find out...
Artest moves on after having played only 23 games in his last 1 1/2 seasons as a Pacer, due to his highly combustible personality (and desire to promote his record label?). So, the first question is: will Ron-Ron behave himself long enough to show his talents as one of the best all-around players in the league? Well, we've actually been down this road before with Artest, as he was a malcontent in Chicago before being traded in the middle of the 2001-02 season to Indiana. Once with the Pacers, he settled down for a while in an effort to make a good impression. So, it's likely that Kings fans will get a relatively calm honeymoon period before he starts to revert to his chaotic ways sometime next season. Of course, from a pure basketball sense, you have to want someone of his caliber on your team. There's simply nothing on the court that he doesn't do well, and his combination of height (6-7), size (260 pounds), and athleticism create matchup problems on both ends of the floor. After taking a few games to get back into top form (remember, he hasn't played in 7 weeks), he should put up comparable numbers to the 19 pts, 5 rebs, and 2.5 stl that he was posting before his trade demand. As a Lakers fan, I absolutely hate that this trade went through, because Artest is one of the better perimeter defenders in the league and now gets to give Kobe fits 4 times a year instead of 2.
On the flip side, though Stojakovic said recently he'd be willing to stay with the Kings for less money, Sacramento either didn't believe him or didn't want him. So he goes to Indiana. In trading for Peja now, GM Larry Bird's team ironically gets Peja's Larry Bird rights, which will enable the Pacers to spend over the salary cap to keep him. This obviously leaves them in a far better position to retain his services in 2006-07 and beyond than if they were bidding for him as another team's free agent. On the court, Stojakovic and Jermaine O'Neal become one of the most formidable inside-outside combos out there. The extra punch Peja brings to the lineup should really open things up for O'Neal, who didn't have much in the way of scoring help (Stephen Jackson's really more of a #3 scoring option on a good team). The rebounds might take a dip due to O'Neal's presence, but expect most of Stojakovic's numbers to remain fairly constant. The points might even go up a little bit, if that back gets healthy, since Stojakovic is having a decidedly sub-par year scoring.
On the whole, Sacramento got the far better end of the deal, with Indiana salvaging what they could out of a difficult situation. The ramifications for each player's fantasy owners probably are miniscule, as these players are good enough that they are who they are. Their teammates adjust to them, not the other way around. Of course, this means that Stephen Jackson owners can expect at least a minor hit to his point production. No one else of note is likely to be affected too much.
What does everyone else think?
Artest moves on after having played only 23 games in his last 1 1/2 seasons as a Pacer, due to his highly combustible personality (and desire to promote his record label?). So, the first question is: will Ron-Ron behave himself long enough to show his talents as one of the best all-around players in the league? Well, we've actually been down this road before with Artest, as he was a malcontent in Chicago before being traded in the middle of the 2001-02 season to Indiana. Once with the Pacers, he settled down for a while in an effort to make a good impression. So, it's likely that Kings fans will get a relatively calm honeymoon period before he starts to revert to his chaotic ways sometime next season. Of course, from a pure basketball sense, you have to want someone of his caliber on your team. There's simply nothing on the court that he doesn't do well, and his combination of height (6-7), size (260 pounds), and athleticism create matchup problems on both ends of the floor. After taking a few games to get back into top form (remember, he hasn't played in 7 weeks), he should put up comparable numbers to the 19 pts, 5 rebs, and 2.5 stl that he was posting before his trade demand. As a Lakers fan, I absolutely hate that this trade went through, because Artest is one of the better perimeter defenders in the league and now gets to give Kobe fits 4 times a year instead of 2.
On the flip side, though Stojakovic said recently he'd be willing to stay with the Kings for less money, Sacramento either didn't believe him or didn't want him. So he goes to Indiana. In trading for Peja now, GM Larry Bird's team ironically gets Peja's Larry Bird rights, which will enable the Pacers to spend over the salary cap to keep him. This obviously leaves them in a far better position to retain his services in 2006-07 and beyond than if they were bidding for him as another team's free agent. On the court, Stojakovic and Jermaine O'Neal become one of the most formidable inside-outside combos out there. The extra punch Peja brings to the lineup should really open things up for O'Neal, who didn't have much in the way of scoring help (Stephen Jackson's really more of a #3 scoring option on a good team). The rebounds might take a dip due to O'Neal's presence, but expect most of Stojakovic's numbers to remain fairly constant. The points might even go up a little bit, if that back gets healthy, since Stojakovic is having a decidedly sub-par year scoring.
On the whole, Sacramento got the far better end of the deal, with Indiana salvaging what they could out of a difficult situation. The ramifications for each player's fantasy owners probably are miniscule, as these players are good enough that they are who they are. Their teammates adjust to them, not the other way around. Of course, this means that Stephen Jackson owners can expect at least a minor hit to his point production. No one else of note is likely to be affected too much.
What does everyone else think?
posted by Lock Ness Monster at 12:51 PM
2 Comments:
In my opinion, Ron Artest and T.O. are in the same category here -- any team that would go out of their way to trade for them or pay them a fat contract is nuts.
That being said, I think that Indiana made the best of a bad situation. They got a good player in where they currently basically had nothing.
I can't say that I understand why the Kings would want to give up Peja for a volatile player. Sure, they might get a good half-season out of him, but in the long run I think he's more trouble than he's worth.
It's pretty clear to me that Indiana comes out ahead here in the long run.
Very valid points. I would say, however, that the reasoning behind giving up Peja here has to be that they didn't think they would re-sign him and figured that getting a volatile player back was better than getting nothing back at all. Normally, you'd still worry about the chemistry adjustment in trading for a guy like Artest, but being the Pacific's cellar dwellers, messing with the team chemistry might be a good thing at this point.
I can certainly see where you're coming from, Amanda. Though these are desperate times in Sacramento, this move made out of desperation could very well explode in their faces. The thing is, though, it can't get much worse there than it already is, which is why I think the deal makes sense.
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