Friday, July 3rd, 2009...8:35 am
The Artest Trade
I’m ambivalent.
On the on hand, Artest is a better player than Trevor Ariza. The Lakers are an embarrassment of riches, and they just traded a ruby for a diamond. But I’m with those who think Artest is a bad fit in Los Angeles. And more importantly, the Spurs could benefit from Trevor Ariza’s departure from L.A.
Defensively, the Lakers (and Magic) give the Spurs fits because of their length. The collective length of Ariza-Odom-Gasol-Bynum was especially difficult for two Spurs, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. In large part, this free agent period is about getting Tim Duncan the help he needs against teams like L.A. But until last night, the Spurs could do little to nothing to counter Trevor Ariza’s length against Tony Parker. Henry Abbott recently asked, “Who Can Guard Tony Parker?” TrueHoop Network colleague and Lakers blogger Kurt Henlin responded with an answer most Spurs fans would second:
The Lakers have had their best success not with small and quick but with bigger and longer. Look at it this way, under today’s rules Tony Parker could not defend Tony Parker, Jameer Nelson could not stop Jameer Nelson. Defending these guards with bigger, longer players allows some room for mistakes with good recovery. They Lakers had some of their best success this season when Trevor Ariza was switched to cover a point guard. Just something to think about.
I also wonder whether the signing of Artest won’t marginalize Lamar Odom to some extent. If that’s the case, the Spurs will only benefit.
Having said all that, this was the right move for Los Angeles. It’s a big gamble, but when your safety net consists of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Phil Jackson, you can deal with a potential misfire.
There is a message in this trade, and one worth noting. The Lakers did not make this move with the Spurs in view. No, they were thinking about Cleveland. Ron Artest is one of the few defenders in the league that can do a fair job against LeBron James. This was a response, however odd it might seem, to the Shaquille O’Neal trade.
Remember when Shaq was traded to Phoenix and Gasol to Los Angeles. Kevin Garnett opined that the moves were just two teams trying to get over the San Antonio hump. Phoenix had made one drastic move because they knew the threat to their championship hopes resided in Alamo City. Both teams identified San Antonio as their biggest obstacle, and adjusted accordingly. Well, the Lakers are sitting atop their lofty championship perch and they see a threat on the horizon. That threat is Cleveland.
The Spurs still have work to do this offseason.
14 Comments
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:29 am
Well, a lot of people believe Ron Artest is the better player in the Laker system than Trevor Ariza is, but until I actually see it for myself, I can’t say I’m too intrigued by this Ron Artest signing.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
I remember when the lakers were in the middle of their 3-peat they we’re so great because they had a couple of stars (Bryant and Shaq) and then the great role players (Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, etc). The same can sort of be said for last years Lakers with Bryant and Gasol as the stars and then a slew of really good role players (ignoring Odom as a star). This trade gives up a really good role player for a guy who can be an all-star but I don’t think fits that well. Maybe this team will be a new version of the 03-04 lakers with Malone and Payton that just couldn’t finish the deal.
They are going to be really good, I think they just traded some chemistry and cohesiveness for a big name.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
I think Artest will make them much improved on defense and save Bryant’s legs a bit. So at first glance Artest makes them seem like a better team but I think this hurts them on offense; Artest will slow down the ball movement and try to go one on one too much. Assuming the Spurs get a mobile big man to guard Gasol I like our chances. I’m also hoping this convinces Odom to leave. I’d love to see him in a Spurs uniform.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:45 am
I think you are right about Artest being brought in to defend Lebron, but not only Lebron. The Lakers at this point have to believe that they will face either the Cavs or Boston in the finals next year if they make it that far. I think Boston is the greater threat next year, and Artest is meant to guard Paul Pierce who the Lakers did not have an answer for. I believe the Lakers think Boston is the immediate threat with the Cavs being the threat 2 - 3 years from now. Artest is their answer to both, not just the Cavs and Lebron.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
At first, I thought this trade was instantly another Laker championship. But now that I think more about it, and especially after I read this post, I’m starting to think otherwise.
I really, really think they had something going with Trevor Ariza. He really improved his 3 point shot, and could defend players at the 1, 2, 0r 3 spot. He could also drive to the basket.
Ariza seems like a better fit for the Lakers than Artest. We’ll see how this works out though.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
This pretty much seals Lamar as a Laker because he and Ron are friends + there’s more money to spend on LO now.
With Ron Ron, we can’t really predict anything seeing as he’s insane, so it’s best just to wait.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
Always felt that the Laker’s biggest need was at point. If they’d resigned Ariza and then used the MLE on Miller or Sessions I would have been alot more worried.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:56 am
The Lakers had a team consisting of Kobe, Shaq, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton only a few years ago. In the end, selfishness got in the way of team basketball and the Pistons took home the trophy. Artest may have become more of a team player, but can all of the Laker personalities really co-exist? Before opening day, the Spurs will have the best line-up two-deep (and healthy) at every position that will fit within the Spurs team model. If any team wishes to challenge the Spurs, they had better be playing at the highest level and hope for a miracle. The Spurs have the best plans and back-up strategies to making this year another championship.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
@idahospur
i’m excited too, but “the best laid plans of mice and men…”
July 4th, 2009 at 1:54 am
The initial post is hilarious. Do you seriously think the Lakers worry about guarding Tony Parker? I think you only need to ask, “Does Artest make the Lakers better?,” which the answer is an emphatic, yes, of course. It gives them a dimension of toughness that was an area of weakness for them against the Celtics. Lamar Odom MAY play more consistently now that another friend is there. Now, the next season still needs to be played, but upgrading from Ariza is not a bad start to a repeat season. If they can find a way to get rid of Fisher, they are golden.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:29 am
ChillFAN are you serious about getting rid of Fisher? That seems insane to me. That guy is a competitor who certainly has declined some, but remains a locker room leader. Kobe counts him a close friend and someone he even listens to because Kobe respects him. The Lakers still need the glue that Fisher offers the Lakers. His teammates love him. His coach loves him and he keeps the young guys settled when they need it most. He will continue to offer great veteran savy as he transitions more and more to coming off the bench this year.
As far as Ariza, I still wish he was with the team, but believe Artest will fit in well at least for a couple of years. Now the Lakers must lock up Odom.
July 4th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Fisher hit some key threes toward a championship, but overall, yes, I’m serious that fisher is a detriment to the lakers. I don’t see him as a player comfortable coming off the bench, and that’s where they need him. He’s a defensive liability and forces his shots, they will be better if he plays less, which like I said is not what he’s willing to do. But don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
the reason why the lakers didn’t win with payton and malone was because malone got injured and payton was a shell of himself, not because of some “too-many-stars” selfishness curse.
artest will guard not only lebron, but carmelo, pierce, roy- all of whom trevor had problems containing.
July 5th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I’m not sure Artest has ever made a team that much better. His shot selection against the Lakers in the Houston series was completely ridiculous and made a very difficult scenario become impossible.
I can’t see this guy playing in a team setting. He’ll probably use the triangle as a way to go one-on-one way more than he should. He thinks he’s a superstar and he’s not.
I agree that Ariza is a better fit. He knows his role. I can’t see Artest focusing on his strengths like Ariza did. And to be honest, Ariza was shaping up to be the dominant perimeter defender in the league. I’m not convinced Artest is committed to basketball as much as he should be. For all we know he could be hoping LA improves his rap career.
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