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Artest to Lakers; Gortat to Mavs

by Myles A. Mills on July 2nd, 2009 at 7:50 pm

Via ESPN:

“Restricted free-agent center Marcin Gortat was scheduled to fly to Dallas on Thursday after giving the Mavericks a verbal commitment to sign an offer sheet with them next week, according to NBA front-office sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Mavericks are bringing Gortat to town to tour the area and the team’s facilities after extending him an offer believed to be worth Dallas’ full mid-level exception — which could translate to a five-year deal starting at roughly $5.6 million — in hopes of dissuading theOrlando Magic from matching the offer.”

Via Matt Watson:

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s the mindset that Ron Artest has apparently taken following today’s news that he’s agreed to joinKobe Bryant in Los Angeles. Artest was instrumental in helping the Rockets take the eventual champion Lakers to seven games during the Western Conference semifinals. Instead of serving as Kobe’s antagonist, he’ll become Kobe’s sidekick. 

According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Artest met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss and spoke with Phil Jackson on Thursday before instructing his agent to get a deal done. Details of the agreement — both the length and the amount — are still unknown, but from the sounds of it, Artest isn’t about to quibble over the details. 

“I don’t really care about the money,” Artest told Berger. “I’ll play there for nothing. … L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me.”

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About Myles A. Mills

Myles is a sophomore at The Browning School, an all-boys private school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He's been a Knick fan as long as he can remember, and 02-03 was the last season he could remember in entirety. He hopes to one day see the Knicks in the playoffs. Myles is also fond of the Mets, and follows them vehemently, but his the bulk of his time goes to the Knicks. Myles wants to be a radio hosts on WFAN or ESPN 1050 radio, and he hopes to write for theknicksblog.com for years to come. View all posts by Myles A. Mills →
  • KBT1615

    I wonder if Lamar will sign with the Knicks for a MLE hey he can home? Hopefully Donnie looks into this if J Kidd doesn’t love NY as much as Richard Jefferson said.
    He has a ring so now he can come home and get the hometown team where it needs to be.

  • Chris Alvino

    I think two out of those three years will be title years in LA.

    Artest is better than Ariza and Odom.

    Steal for LA.

  • Magik_Trick

    Artest & Kobe on the same team?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypPX_MfxfG0

    &Gortat is no replacement for Yao
    Rockets lose Ron, Yao, and T-Mac for half the season..
    Good luck with that early lottery pick Houston

  • Magik_Trick

    And now I think we definitely can snag Odom, Odom prides himself on being a business man, he has clothes lines, sneaker lines, and crap like that, one of the reasons he loved LA so much is that it was a larger market so better business for his products..i guess

    So if they opt not to re-sign Odom (which they still could,..dont think Ron-Ron makes it a no-no) then NY would be the front runners for Odom if we sent him an offer..hes originally from here and he loves big markets..MLE anyone?

  • Cheech

    Does gortat signing in dallas mean they dont have enough money for j kidd???

    or will they just have to lower thier deal?

  • KBT1615

    I dont know if they have enough money for Lamar and Artest they were scrapping up money for Lamar and Ariza.

  • HaS

    Lamar isn’t leaving L.A., he came into the league in Los Angeles and he loves it there and it’s mutual. They just signed Ron Artest and Ariza is probably as good as gone. Wish the Knicks would have never let that dude go.

    Guess Kobe will get one for the thumb next year.

  • NY_TJ

    I don’t see odom signing for just the MLE in all the interviews I’ve seen with him throughout this season it sounds like he’s looking in the 10-15 mill range

  • Chris Alvino

    I would love Odom, but he is not coming to NY.

    If the Knicks take back Lee, then Odom would join Lee, Curry, Hill, and Milicic.

  • Chris Alvino

    I will say this again and again…..

    I would have done anything to have Ron Artest on the Knicks. He was made for this team and made to play in this city. He bleeds for NY. he has openly said in the past that he wanted to be here.

    He is a warrior. There is no better way to describe it. He would run through walls to ensure a Knicks win. He would give 150%.

    For other players on this team, it is a business. To Ron, it would have been personal. it would have been his life.

    It is an absolute shame that this guy will never play in a Knicks uniform. it is an absolute shame that he will never call the Garden home.

    Great deal for the Lakers. Great deal.

  • EQ1217

    Frederic Weiss… now that’s a real shame

  • Magik_Trick

    LOL
    2nd biggest franchise mistake of the last 10 years
    1st was trading for Curry…

  • Cheech

    Im with u 100% Chris. I go to St. Johns and live 3 minutes away from where Ron Ron grew up. I love the guy. and even tho he may be crazy. The guy will do everything in his power for the team that is playing for. And he is the toughest player in the NBA.

    If we had traded wilson in a rubio deal i would have been clamoring to sign ron ron.

    The guy is crazy. But not in a basketball sense (even tho he chucked a little bit in the series against the lakers). He is pound for pound the toughest and maybe even the strongest player in the NBA there is no small forward, except for maybe LBJ that can stop him when he heads for the basket. he just bullies his way in. And his defensive intesity is truly unmatched.

    Wonder how much LA gave one of the top 5 two way swingman in the NBA?

  • KBT1615

    5 years 32 mill..and if you are feeling a little lazy its 6.4 annually.

  • Cheech

    That is an awesome deal for the lakers.

  • KBT1615

    lol Hold On isn’t Ron Ron supposed to be workin at Burger King?

  • mshmu

    This is now another of the many free agents that could have definitely helped the knicks in many areas that has signed with another team- I have full faith in Donnie and know that he has a whole master plan figured out- but with artest, gordon, gortat, and rubio gone for now (even though i still think he will end up wearing orange and blue) -im starting to wonder if everything is really working out according to that plan- any one else starting to get a little nervous in this wait for some action?

  • KBT1615

    We never had a chance at Rubio…
    Whats the point in Gortat now to create a log jam in the front court…
    Ben wanted too much
    and Ron Ron took a pay cut for a ring.

  • greatman42001

    I’m telling you I still believe that the Lakers come in and trade Bynum and Farmar for Rubio and Gomes

    Fisher/Rubio
    Kobe
    Artest
    Odom
    Gasol

    Bench: Gomes, Powell, Brown, Vujacic

    I would cry

  • NY_TJ

    Ariza has has made a verbal agreement with the Rockets link here:

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303862

  • JR

    Heres john hollingers report on Gallo last year.

    “Gallinari’s playing style is similar to that of Toni Kukoc. He’s a point forward who is tall for the position at 6-9 and can slash to the basket, but not an overwhelming athlete or a particularly good outside shooter.”

    needed a laugh, figured id share it

  • Cheech

    That is funny.

    Danilo ceiling is Hedo Turkoglu. but with a better outside touch.
    And hopefully he can get there before hedo did.

  • mikemac

    pisses me off and makes me want to say same old sh-t with this club. Would’ve been a perfect fit. And we didn’t even show a sniff of interest. Guess we have better plans. 1973

  • Magik_Trick

    Ariza just made one of the biggest mistakes of his career..
    Werent the Cavs after him also? Should of went there..

    Brooks
    Battier
    Ariza
    Scola
    Gortat

    very average, at best..and that wont cut it in the West

  • Magik_Trick

    How do these “experts” get there job?

    Hes not a good outside shooter? Thats like one of the best things he does..WTF

  • KBT1615

    That IS Funny.

  • KBT1615

    At least they won’t get scored on a lot. Battier and Ariza.

  • Jeff Cykiert

    It’s over…. Kobe gets 6.

    2012… CP3 to the knicks…

  • Jeff Cykiert

    It’s just unfiar. You could argue they have the 3 best possible players that you could mix on a team.

    Kobe…

    The best offensive big man in the game with PG smarts and IQ – gasol

    The roughest toughest defender who nearly beat the lakers himself – artest

    It’s just rediculous. They would sweep the cavs.

    But guys… you can’t look at all these acquisitions and complain that we didn’t get them. We are in a different phase right now. We aren’t contending for another few years at least. We won’t be pouncing on any random good players we can find. Patience is what we have lacked.

  • Cheech

    Well if ur gonna think like that…wat year does Dwight become a free agent? lol

  • JR

    same year i believe….y dont we start saving some cap space now!

  • Myles A. Mills

    guys, draftexpress scouting report on gallo listed 3 pt shooting as one of his weaknesses. every scouting report questioned his outside shooting. that’s insane. he’s going to be one of the best shooters in the league.

    also, i totally disagree about artest. attitude aside, he tends to hold the ball to long which would hinder the flow of our system. he stops the offense a lot of the time by over-dribbling and trying to go one on one. he also shot 40% from the field this year and his shot selection is also a problem. under a different coach, sure artest would be a great fit in ny, i actually thought he’d be a knick eventually when he was in sac town, but in this system i don’t think it’s a good fit.

  • BiggieSmalls

    Hahn just tweeted something interesting

    Gortat to DAL would seem to make Curry an option for HOU, but I’ve heard two things today: 1. You could get TMac for less than Curry; 2….With Yao possibly out and Artest possibly leaving for LA, HOU may hit the pause button on the exodus.

    We knew that Gortat was Houston’s first choice and they were recruiting hi pretty heavy.. I’d do Curry and Mobley for T Mac in a second or less.

    Am I dreaming when I read that Houston may let T Mac go for less? I heard they were looking for something useful back which is completely insane.

    Im reading around and most of the Houston people are setting themselves up for the lottery next year. they’ve only got 20 mil or so committed for 2010/11 so adding in Curry STILL gives them space. And if they can get a medical exemption on Yao thats a good piece of change.(assuming he is done)

  • CircleLimit4

    Actually if the Hornets financial woes continue and they sink further on the western totem pole, CP3 could be leaving sooner than 2012. Especially if they can’t find takers for Chandler or Peja. Supposedly CP3 is quite unhappy there.

  • DonSully

    Just throwing it out there, how about a double sign and trade with the Hawks, Marvin Williams for DLee straight up… maybe throw in some fillers so the contracts match up. I still believe williams can be a stud in the nba,while Lee may have reached his peak .
    then chandler gets shipped in a package for rubio and youre looking at a roster with a lot of talent in williams rubio hill gallo milicic curry harrington duhon etc.

  • EQ1217

    This was on RealGM

    http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60296/20090702/walsh_hints_at_unannounced_player_move/

    Donnie Walsh e-mailed the Associated Press and seemed to imply that the Knicks will have more salary cap flexibility in the summer of 2010 than currently projected.

    “I have a little leeway which will leave me in good position for next year,” Walsh wrote. “I know what it is but do not talk much about it.”

    It is not clear whether Walsh is referring to an unannounced player move that would reduce the Knicks’ salary cap burden. Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries have the two largest contracts that remain on the team’s books for the 2010-2011 season.

  • IDunnoMyName

    Wow, with this signing the Mavs have 16 million committed to two backup centers. Cuban loves throwing around his money, but they will never win a championship. Their window is closed.

  • Qaspec

    Ron is a talented player but a player with baggage. For a team like the Lakers, with leadership in place just stocking more talent for a championship run you can make this move.

    For the Knicks who are young and not vying for a title next year Ron is not a good fit. This Knicks team needs some leadership on the court for it’s young players, a leader RonRon is not.

    This is why over the hill Kidd is more valuable to the Knicks right now, the work ethic and experience Kidd would provide could leave an impression on the young players even after he retires….I still think we should save the cap room though.

    Ron is one of those players you get if you just need one more peice….the Knicks need several

  • Qaspec

    When they tried to trade Chandler for nothing I brought up the theory that watching other teams better and his team trying to slash payroll to survive that Paul will want out of the Hornets.

    I floated the idea that with this economy cap space is more valuable than ever, With the cap shrinking and teams forced to cut payroll to avoid a luxury tax that with 2010 cap space the Knicks could be big winners due to players being made avaialble in trades that wouldn;t be if not for the recession.

    So it isn’t quite Lebron or bust. Donnie getting cap space is going to pay off bigger than anyone thinks. Paul is a perfect example of a player that wants to win on a team that can’t afford to….trade for Paul in 09, create more cap space by moving Jeffries and Lebron will be in NYC guaranteed. Could the Knicks add Kidd as another assett to trade? Maybe…

  • Qaspec

    Jeff Agreed 100%…the Knicks didn’t miss out on Artest, this Knick team isn’t in the right situation for a player like him….we need patience, not quick fixes….I usually like Alvino’s posts but lately it seems he wants any decent free agent this year even if it costs cap space in 2010. Cap Spacein this recession is worth 2x what cap space was worth 3 years ago. Watch teams make panic trades of Superstar players just to avoid the luxury tax…the Knicks are in a great position…patience…

  • Qaspec

    Another selfish past his prime quick fix who wants to get paid….not what this team needs. I understand fans want this team to finally win some games but there’s a bigger opportunity here….

  • Qaspec

    I hope the Knicks can be patient and not sign any players if FA this year that would eat 2010 cap space. The cap is projected to fall back in 2010 since the cap is figured from revenue the a year prior. So because of last year the cap stayed the same, with attendance and revenue dropping this year the cap will be smaller.

    This will cause a number of teams to become saddled with luxury taxes. Their are going to be many sellers (teams over the luxury cap), many teams staying pat (right at the deadline) and only a few teams buying (way under the cap). The Knicks will be buyers and with more sellers than buyers there will potentially be dream trade scenarios that will suprise many fans. The Knicks could conceivably sign an FA like Lebron or Bosh and then trade for the likes of Chris Paul for nothing but expiring contracts.

    Keep Space Alive!!!!!

  • Qaspec

    Don’t underestimate the value of cap space in the worst recession since the great depression in a league in which many of the teams had to borrow money to operate last year…

    The Hornets are definitely sellers. Trading Chris Paul and Chandler for Eddy Curry and expiring contracts would still save New Orleans a big load of cash. We needs the space and expiring contracts to make it happen. Maybe not that specific trade but other players with the same impact could happen. I wouldn’t mind signing Kidd if he became part of a trade for a superstar that the rebuilding team could use to sell fans on the move.

  • Chris Alvino

    The Hornets would shut down the franchise before trading Chris Paul for Eddy Curry. That is not even a consideration down there.

    And you are right, we should try to preserve cap space for next year.

    What everyone has to realize is that next year’s class is not some magical formula that will land a title in NY. The only two players that can possibly do that on their own are Wade and LeBron. Outside of that, the other players need major help.

    A guy like Artest (and I am not saying that he should be a Knicks. We have a glut of SF types) is a star caliber player at 29 years old. Joe Johnson will get at least 14-15 million per season in his deal next season. Is he 8-9 mllion dollars better than Artest? Remember, using the MLE in this financial environment is smart because while players signed next off-season will get more money, the players we sign now will still only be getting MLE money.

  • bob go knicks

    it is the same ole sht for this club.i cant believe KNICKS fans arent more pissed off about offering JASON KIDD a 37 year old ,obviously over the hill PG a 3 year deal.that means if he lasts one more year,the knicks still have his salary on the books in 2012.jezziz christ.DONNIE WALSH doesnt know who to sign.he knows how to get rid of guys ,but so far he has signed CHRIS DUHON,ANTHONY ROBERSON,HE WANTS JASON KIDD,and now he wants to talk to GRANT HILL .does this guy actually know anybody under 35? it seems to me that KNICKS fans have been fed so much crap,and have been given so much hope and told that MR.walsh is such a genius,that they are actually afraid to say anything even slightly negative about him.MAN,WAHTS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS? ARE YOU NEW YORKERS OR WHAT?you are all being led around by the myth that DONNIE WALSH has actually accomplished something with the INDIANA PACERS(he went to the finals once)if he signs these old guys i wanna hear some friggn yelling

  • bob go knicks

    ron ron wouldve taken more of a paycut to play in his home town!

  • bob go knicks

    yeah,and it would probably happen while WALSH was trying to sign BOB COUSY

  • bob go knicks

    DANILO IS GONNA BE BETTER THAN TURK! hes just a kid and already has a better shot than hedo

  • bob go knicks

    patience?you call signing JASON KIDD patience?

  • Qaspec

    I’m not arguing for the team to sign Kidd…

  • Qaspec

    On a talent wise level no the Hornets never do it, but when a team has large operating losses, the suits will take over as GM and you have a fire sale….

    Also when you think cap space you can’t only think FA’s….cap space is also allows you to bring in players via trade…

    basically because of cap space any star caliber player is available i a team is wants to sell..

    Like I said watch how many of these small market owners ffreak out when the cap shrinks and they are all facing the luxury tax.

  • Qaspec

    I just disagree that at any price Artest would be a positive influence on this team. There’s no leadership and he would naturally assume that this is his role. Well…Ron Artest the leader..hmmmm….don’t forget this is the same guy who asked his team to let him have half the year off so he could promote his rap album, it’s also the same guy that started the ugliest brawl in league history…

  • Qaspec

    And I agree, nobody wants Eddy Curry, but let’s say the Hornets are struggling and incurring operating losses. They were in such bad shape last year they were giving away Chandler for NOTHING. and financially things get worse next year, with luxury tax implications from a lowered cap this will get magnified.

    If the Knicks traded Larry Hughes and Mobley for Chandler and Paul that would save the Hornets a little over 30 million in the first two years and 65 million over the life of Pauls contract. 65 million!

    It sounds crazy but we have to realize that trades rarely happen in the NBA for talent. Most trades are about nothing but money. It may not be this specific team or players but there will be a handful of teams in this economic situation this desperate for money and I was simply trying to provide an example of how lopsided a trade a desperate team may make to save 30-65 million dollars.