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Rockets agree to send Jackson, pick, player to Kings for Artest
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 29, 2008, 10:04 PM ET

Ron Artest didn't opt out then doubted his decision. It looks like that might be a moot point.

Multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday that the Sacramento Kings had agreed to trade the forward to the Houston Rockets.


The Houston Chronicle reported that the Kings would receive Bobby Jackson, a No. 1 draft pick in 2009 and another player that the newspaper's source could not identify. The Associated Press, citing anonymous league sources, said that the other player would be rookie forward Donte Greene.

That means the deal can't be announced yet because Greene, acquired by the Rockets on draft night last month, signed a contract with Houston on July 14. A player can't be traded within 30 days of signing a contract, according to league rules.

KRIV television in Houston reported that the Kings will also receive cash.

"Yes, it has been tentatively agreed upon," said Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, according to KRIV. "Now it has to be confirmed by the league office and until that is done, it's not official."

Two weeks ago, Artest told ESPN.com that he was unhappy with himself for not opting out of his deal and becoming a free agent before the July 1 deadline. He hoped to be traded to "a team out there that can be more committed than Sacramento to me."

In Houston, Artest would team with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming to form one of the toughest trios in the NBA. With Yao injured much of the season, the Rockets finished 55-27 last season, good for third in the Southwest Division. They lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz in six games.

When told of the deal, McGrady was ecstatic.

"I couldn't be more happy," McGrady said, according to KRIV. "Pleased at how the organization is trying to improve this team, get the help that Yao and myself really need to really get to where we want to be and that's one of the elite teams in this league.

"If this is true, this is definitely what I have been waiting on for 11 years in my career, for a team to really improve and put the talent [on the floor] that I feel that we can compete with the best."

Injuries held Artest to only 57 games last season, but he averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game for the 38-44 Kings. Sacramento traded point guard Mike Bibby during the season last year and dealing Artest shows that the team is in full rebuilding mode under second-year coach Reggie Theus.

"He brings a mental and physical toughness" McGrady said, according to KRIV. "He brings a guy that competes at a high level on the basketball court. Defensively, he's tough. Offensively, he is a force to be reckoned with. He's probably one of the most difficult guys to guard on the perimeter because of his size, because of his strength."

The 28-year-old Artest is as well known for his volatile personality as his basketball skills. While playing for the Indiana Pacers, he was the central figure in the 2004-05 brawl with fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills during a road game against the Detroit Pistons.

He was suspended for 73 games, the NBA's harshest punishment for a fight. In December, two civil lawsuits against Artest that stemmed from the fight were dismissed.

Artest had surgery on his left thumb in April and was expected to take 8-to-10 weeks to recover. His summer has been just as turbulent as most of his NBA career.

After wavering for more than two months, Artest elected not to opt out of the final year of his contract for $7.4 million by July 1. But the forward immediately announced he regretted his decision, saying the Kings had misled him on their interest in a long-term contract extension. Artest also said he couldn't see himself playing in Sacramento beyond next season.

Artest apologized to the Kings a few days later but one week after that, Artest demanded a trade, claiming he had been blinded to his career well-being by his friendship with the Maloof family, which owns the Kings.

Joe Maloof responded sharply to Artest, warning the forward to muzzle himself. Two weeks later, the Kings apparently found a taker for Artest's defensive skills and high-maintenance personality.

The trade will reunite Artest with Rick Adelman, who coached Sacramento when Artest was acquired by the Kings in a trade with Indiana during the 2005-06 season.

Artest played 40 games for Adelman and averaged 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and a career-high 4.2 assists. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive first team.

The Kings, meanwhile, would be thrilled to get their hands on Greene, a 6-foot-11 forward from Syracuse who impressed the club in pre-draft workouts. Greene was drafted by Memphis with the 28th overall pick and traded to Houston in a three-team deal on draft night.

Although Greene played just one college season, he proved to be a versatile scorer who could fit well into Theus' uptempo game plans.

Jackson, who split his time between New Orleans and Houston last season, averaged 7.7 points per game. This would be his second stint with the Kings where he had his most productive years of his career from 2000 to 2005.

Ron Ron, T-Mac, and Yao is a pretty sick tandem, if Artest can keep his shit together.

Rockets agree to send Jackson, pick, player to Kings for Artest
ESPN.com news services
Updated: July 29, 2008, 10:04 PM ET

Ron Artest didn't opt out then doubted his decision. It looks like that might be a moot point.

Multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday that the Sacramento Kings had agreed to trade the forward to the Houston Rockets.

The Houston Chronicle reported that the Kings would receive Bobby Jackson, a No. 1 draft pick in 2009 and another player that the newspaper's source could not identify. The Associated Press, citing anonymous league sources, said that the other player would be rookie forward Donte Greene.

That means the deal can't be announced yet because Greene, acquired by the Rockets on draft night last month, signed a contract with Houston on July 14. A player can't be traded within 30 days of signing a contract, according to league rules.

KRIV television in Houston reported that the Kings will also receive cash.

"Yes, it has been tentatively agreed upon," said Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, according to KRIV. "Now it has to be confirmed by the league office and until that is done, it's not official."

Two weeks ago, Artest told ESPN.com that he was unhappy with himself for not opting out of his deal and becoming a free agent before the July 1 deadline. He hoped to be traded to "a team out there that can be more committed than Sacramento to me."

In Houston, Artest would team with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming to form one of the toughest trios in the NBA. With Yao injured much of the season, the Rockets finished 55-27 last season, good for third in the Southwest Division. They lost in the first round to the Utah Jazz in six games.

When told of the deal, McGrady was ecstatic.

"I couldn't be more happy," McGrady said, according to KRIV. "Pleased at how the organization is trying to improve this team, get the help that Yao and myself really need to really get to where we want to be and that's one of the elite teams in this league.

"If this is true, this is definitely what I have been waiting on for 11 years in my career, for a team to really improve and put the talent [on the floor] that I feel that we can compete with the best."

Injuries held Artest to only 57 games last season, but he averaged 20.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game for the 38-44 Kings. Sacramento traded point guard Mike Bibby during the season last year and dealing Artest shows that the team is in full rebuilding mode under second-year coach Reggie Theus.

"He brings a mental and physical toughness" McGrady said, according to KRIV. "He brings a guy that competes at a high level on the basketball court. Defensively, he's tough. Offensively, he is a force to be reckoned with. He's probably one of the most difficult guys to guard on the perimeter because of his size, because of his strength."

The 28-year-old Artest is as well known for his volatile personality as his basketball skills. While playing for the Indiana Pacers, he was the central figure in the 2004-05 brawl with fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills during a road game against the Detroit Pistons.

Thanks Wil.

pwnt

I heard the Rockets agreed to send Jackon, pick, and a player to the Kings for Artest. We'll have to see who is correct.

Hey guys, I heard Steven Jackson got traded from the Rockets for Ron Artest. Is this true?

delete all TMac to Detroit threads immediately. They are DONE.

Seconded.

Yea, I heard Miner was involved in this deal somehow.

delete all TMac to Detroit threads immediately. They are DONE.

Cogentness

yup. any hopes of getting t-mac (if you had them) are gone. they'll surely keep that trio together for the year to see how far they can go.

does that mean battiers available or will artest be playing the 4?

I was thinking the same thing, Cross.

Dice/pick for Battier, then Tay/Amir for Josh Smith.

DO IT JOE

Except McDyess said he'd retire if he was anywhere but Detroit. We seem to keep forgetting this.

Except McDyess said he'd retire if he was anywhere but Detroit. We seem to keep forgetting this.

I've been operating under the assumption for months that Houston is the exception, since that is where he lives.

If we could send him home to play with TMac, Yao and Artest do you really think he'd retire?

Not sure. I know he really wants that championship so he may give it a shot with them, but he also said he really loves detroit because of the atmosphere and all that jazz. I'm about 60-40 towards him retiring if we traded him, and I'd give it less than a 10% chance we actually trade him. Still a chance, but not much of one. I don't think he's going anywhere

The Kwame signing would make some sense in that scenario, too.

Kwame starts at C, Sheed back to PF? But then who's our backup C? Or is that assuming we swing the Smith trade as well?

I assume backup C will go to Samb or Theo.

Is Samb ready to be the every day backup C? I was thinking at most he'd play about as much as Amir did last year.

If he isn't, theo will be.

Theo is done. If we are smart he'll never wear a pistons uniform again.

Theo had moments last year. he's not the same player he was, but he's also not done.

I'd still rather not see him back. That would mean he's our best option, and I don't like that idea at all.

well, he's our best option, like it or not.

Everyone better hope Samb plays himself into the backup spot.

We should bring back Kelvin Cato

well, he's our best option, like it or not.
Not yet. There's more variables than that in play on his side and ours.

I'm okay with Theo at the minimum. We're going to give somebody (or somebodies) the minimum, and it would be hard to find someone better at that price.

Just as a body at the minimum I'm fine with, but having him as our primary backup C causes some concern.

if we can get the two deals glenn proposed, id be fine with theo. a possible line up of...:

billups/stuckey
rip/stuckey
battier/aaron
smith/max
sheed/brown

That's what I'm talking about.

Our defense could be stifling.

We can dream...

our defense would be improved from last year, considering mc is our coach now. i wonder what joes next move is

I bet that would be a fun team to watch.

4 good defensive players and Chauncey.

if we can get the two deals glenn proposed, id be fine with theo. a possible line up of...:

billups/stuckey
rip/stuckey
battier/aaron
smith/max
sheed/brown

I'd do that in a heartbeat. Bring back Herrmann to have SF depth as well.

I was thinking the same thing, Cross.

Dice/pick for Battier, then Tay/Amir for Josh Smith.

DO IT JOE

Just for reference: http://wtfdetroit.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9747

Report: Artest replies to Yao, seeks 'commitment' from Rockets

ESPN.com news services

The potential Ron Artest to the Houston Rockets trade may have gotten off on the wrong foot over comments made by Artest's potential teammate, Yao Ming, about Artest's stormy past.

A day after the Rockets and Sacramento Kings agreed in principle to a deal sending Artest to Houston for Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a first-round draft pick, Yao expressed concerns about team chemistry to the Houston Chronicle and referenced Artest's involvement in the 2004 brawl with Pistons fans.

"Hopefully, he's not fighting anymore and going after a guy in the stands," Yao said, according to the Chronicle.

When asked about those comments, Artest said Yao had bought into "all the propaganda" about him, according to The Sacramento Bee.

"I understand what Yao said, but I'm still ghetto," Artest said, according to the report. "That's not going to change. I'm never going to change my culture. Yao has played with a lot of black players, but I don't think he's ever played with a black player that really represents his culture as much as I represent my culture. Once Yao Ming gets to know me, he'll understand what I'm about.

"If you go back to the brawl, that's a culture issue right there," Artest added, according to the report. "Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from. People that know me know that Ron Artest never changed."

The agreed-to deal sending Artest to Houston cannot become official until Aug. 14. And Artest, who has one year remaining on his contract, also said he was looking for a long-term deal from the Rockets, according to the report.

"We've still got to make sure there's still a commitment [from the Rockets]," Artest said, according to the Bee. "That's the main thing, is to make sure there's still a commitment. When I speak to the powers-that-be of the Houston Rockets' organization, we're going to find out how much they really want me there. We'll find out. I'm still waiting to find out if this is just a trade or if this is like a long-term commitment-type thing. I haven't spoken to anybody yet. I'm still waiting."

That appeared to be a shift in Artest's outlook from earlier Wednesday, when he told ESPN.com of the trade, "I'll be a kid in a candy store ... I'm going to dance with the stars."

He also said he's waiting for a phone call from Yao, according to the Bee.

"I guess once Yao Ming approves [the deal], I'll be a Houston Rocket," Artest said, according to the report. "[Yao] probably should've called me first. But at the same time, it's Yao Ming's team."

"Whatever Yao Ming wants me to do, I'll be there. Whatever Tracy McGrady tells me to do, that's how it's going to go down. Ultimately, whatever [Rockets] coach Rick Adelman tells me to do is exactly what I'm going to do."



I'm not so sure this is gonna work.

Can I write check?

"Somebody was disrespecting me, so he's got to understand where I'm coming from."
lol....he needed to prove where he comes from to the guy with a cup but not Ben Wallace who shoved his ass

thank God Joe didn't make a move for this jackass

thank God Joe didn't make a move for this jackass
I dunno man. We could do with some ghetto.