Suns need to find toughness...a little nasty

[OldDirtMcGirt]

I wouldn't buy that if it were guaranteed in Artest's contract. But even if he were good for a year, he's got a two-year contract and the second is a player option.

Couldn't we just buy him out in the last year though? If anything, this moves gives us free reign to dump two crappy salaries in Diaw and Banks. Plus, I sincerely think that Artest will be kept in check playing in a locker room with good guys and for a championship contender.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

What do the Suns really have to lose? If we dont have to trade much for the guy its a no brainer. I dont know his current situation but I like the idea.

Right now the Suns have a chance at the championship. You add a complete loon, a distraction, and a locker room cancer to an already troublesome locker room and you just think that won't do more harm than good?

Fortunately you can book it he will never be here.

 

[pokerface]

Right now the Suns have a chance at the championship. You add a complete loon, a distraction, and a locker room cancer to an already troublesome locker room and you just think that won't do more harm than good?

Fortunately you can book it he will never be here.

Suns got knocked out in the second round and got humiliated by the Spurs yet again. Seems like we're "championship calibar" until its time to face the Spurs. So it seems like an illusion about the Suns true chances.

Its all about a championship now...anything less is a failure. Last season was a failure. I want the Suns to shake things up a little...or a lot.

 

[pokerface]

Back to the original poster...Thats exactly right the Suns need toughness and a "little" dirty. Thats what Artest would give us.

Frankly I'd rather have Artest over Hill.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Suns got knocked out in the second round and got humiliated by the Spurs yet again.

You know you don't have to exaggerate to make a point right?

 

[pokerface]

You know you don't have to exaggerate to make a point right?

If thats the only part of my previous post you have to pick on I'm ok with that.

 

[pokerface]

There is absolutely no way Artest is ever in a Phoenix uniform. All he does is fail everywhere he goes. His presence is the precursor to destruction of a team.

You dont see any exaggerations in this post Chris? I count three of them.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

You dont see any exaggerations in this post Chris? I count three of them.

No I don't. His troubles are well documented on and off the court. Every team he has can't wait to get rid of him. Why would you want that on your team? The talent poor Kings aren't having a fire sale on this guy because he can't play. They are doing it because he destroys the locker room.

It is no coincidence that teams like the Spurs and Pistons have won lately. They play as a team. Artest simply doesn't do that.

This isn't a simulation where you can just plug in the best talent and watch it win.

 

[pokerface]

If there is no chance of the Suns going after Artest then why the rumor about the Suns trading for Rasheed Wallace? It seems the only thing stopping that trade was the Suns wanted too much otherwise Sheed and his hot head would be in a Phoenix uniform right now. He's every bit as loony as Artest.

 

[dodie53]

artest! artest! artest!

 

[mr_sunshine]

Suns got knocked out in the second round and got humiliated by the Spurs yet again. Seems like we're "championship calibar" until its time to face the Spurs. So it seems like an illusion about the Suns true chances.

Its all about a championship now...anything less is a failure. Last season was a failure. I want the Suns to shake things up a little...or a lot.

I agree with you. After sitting down after the season ended, I finally realized that even without the suspensions the Suns chances are the Spurs were slim. Seriously, they are a much better team than us. There is no question about this. The main reason for this? They have a serviceable bench. Our bench was/is a joke.

 

[pokerface]

I agree with you. After sitting down after the season ended, I finally realized that even without the suspensions the Suns chances are the Spurs were slim. Seriously, they are a much better team than us. There is no question about this. The main reason for this? They have a serviceable bench. Our bench was/is a joke.

It was more than the bench though....The Spurs play mind games and get gritty. They're four time champions for a reason(s).

 

[Chris_Sanders]

If there is no chance of the Suns going after Artest then why the rumor about the Suns trading for Rasheed Wallace? It seems the only thing stopping that trade was the Suns wanted too much otherwise Sheed and his hot head would be in a Phoenix uniform right now. He's every bit as loony as Artest.

There was a rumor about the Suns trading for everyone. I would hardly call that an indicator of the Suns interest in a player. Oh wait there was a rumor for every player except Artest.

 

[pokerface]

There was a rumor about the Suns trading for everyone. I would hardly call that an indicator of the Suns interest in a player. Oh wait there was a rumor for every player except Artest.

I knew you would say that but one glaring fact you left out is Joe Dumars pretty much confirmed it. He said and I quote "The Suns wanted two starters (meaning Sheed and Prince) and two draft picks. They didn't even get that for Iverson"

Soooo if Sheed is on the Suns list Artest doesnt fall far from that branch. If they'd consider Sheed Artest doesnt seem like such a stretch.

 

[dodie53]

It was more than the bench though....The Spurs play mind games and get gritty. They're four time champions for a reason(s).

you pimping the spurs again?
=)

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Alright get back to me when you get that Artest rumor.

 

[Gaddabout]

Couldn't we just buy him out in the last year though? If anything, this moves gives us free reign to dump two crappy salaries in Diaw and Banks. Plus, I sincerely think that Artest will be kept in check playing in a locker room with good guys and for a championship contender.

You can't eliminate a contract from the cap with a buyout.

 

[pokerface]

Alright get back to me when you get that Artest rumor.

Gotcha.

In the meantime I'm hopeful we'll agree on something someday and have a little common ground...until then I'm done wasting your time.

 

[mr_sunshine]

you pimping the spurs again?
=)

I believe he's just stating what a lot of don't like to accept. As much as I loathe the Spurs, it's only recently that I've come to agree with what he says about the Spurs.

 

[SO91]

As someone already mentioned, Artest is a one year player. He'd behave enough for one year to make a contribution, anything longer would be a disaster I think. The main reason I brought up Stackhouse was because he has a reputation for being tough and nasty, someone that doesn't back down. His defense might be suspect, but if we're targeting Hill, why not Stack? It seems to me he's more durable than Hill at this point of their career.

 

[da_suns_fan]

Artest is headcase. No thanks.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

As someone already mentioned, Artest is a one year player. He'd behave enough for one year to make a contribution, anything longer would be a disaster I think. The main reason I brought up Stackhouse was because he has a reputation for being tough and nasty, someone that doesn't back down. His defense might be suspect, but if we're targeting Hill, why not Stack? It seems to me he's more durable than Hill at this point of their career.

Stack is more durable than Hill for sure but he doesn't fit the offense here, his ball domination makes Barbosa look like Nash. The Suns suffer badly when they start standing around isolating and launching jumpers, that's pretty Stackhouse's entire offensive game. After the Banks disaster I am sure the Suns are concerned about having a player with that type of game, or maybe he just would cost too much, they think they can get Hill for almost nothing.

 

[Joe Mama]

There is absolutely no way Artest is ever in a Phoenix uniform. All he does is fail everywhere he goes. His presence is the precursor to destruction of a team.

Amen. We can argue about whether the Phoenix Suns should go after Artest to waste some time, but there is 0% chance of it actually happening. And for the record, I agree with Chris. He's not worth the risk. There are already some chemistry issues with this Phoenix Suns team. The last thing you want to do is throw a complete nutcase in there with them.

If there is no chance of the Suns going after Artest then why the rumor about the Suns trading for Rasheed Wallace? It seems the only thing stopping that trade was the Suns wanted too much otherwise Sheed and his hot head would be in a Phoenix uniform right now. He's every bit as loony as Artest.

Apples and oranges. Wallace has problems dealing with referees, but he can't even compare to Artest when it comes to team chemistry problems. Besides, on the court he would be just a great fit for the Phoenix Suns.

Joe Mama

 

[azirish]

I think the Suns take the topic seriously, but not the imagined solution of getting Artest. If nothing else, on offense he's another post up SF which is useless in the Suns system.

But my read on why the Suns took Tucker and Strawberry in the draft was because these are a couple of tough guys. IMHO, Jones was far too passive for a guy who was playing because of his defesne (6.6 ppg is not exactly an offensive juggernaught).

I don't know if they will make a huge difference this season, but I like the fact that the team is looking to do something about their "soft" image.

 

[pokerface]

Amen. We can argue about whether the Phoenix Suns should go after Artest to waste some time, but there is 0% chance of it actually happening. And for the record, I agree with Chris. He's not worth the risk. There are already some chemistry issues with this Phoenix Suns team. The last thing you want to do is throw a complete nutcase in there with them.

Apples and oranges. Wallace has problems dealing with referees, but he can't even compare to Artest when it comes to team chemistry problems. Besides, on the court he would be just a great fit for the Phoenix Suns.

Joe Mama

I always get weary of anyone talking in absolutes...."like 0% chance"..."no chance" etc etc. How can there be a 0% chance interest in Artest when there was a solid (verified) rumor that the Suns were going for another headcase like Rasheed Wallace? I highly doubt Suns management view Wallace and Artest as polar opposites....they know both guys are hotheads that could be set off. Thats where your opinion seems to differ from Chris Sanders..he was under the distinct impression that the Suns would have no interest in Sheed because of the headcase factor while you're saying he would be a "great fit". One headcase is a great fit while another makes no sense to you....go figure. I think both guys would be a great fit. You "claim" Ron is such a lockerroom cancer but I havn't seen the evidence of that. Who did he have it out with? Enlighten me about the Artest chemistry details to where you think the Suns have a 0% of going for Artest. Other teams seem to have risked it with Ron....he's still in the NBA.


According to many of you before the KG rumors there was a 0% chance of the Suns landing KG. While its true the Suns havn't aquired him I noticed many of you backed off that stance and were entertaining ideas about landing him. Funny how a few rumors make the impossible seem possible huh? Hopefully we get an Artest rumor sometime to open a few minds around here.