The King's off-season is starting to look like "Let's Make a Deal".
Essentially, Ron Artest will be playing elsewhere next season. Many League GM's are not shy in saying to Geoff Petrie, "Don't bother calling", but others are on the phone and Geoff is putting his offer down as clear - any deal for Ron Artest must include Kenny Thomas, or no deal will happen. Kenny has his bags packed and is working out like crazy so as to make himself worthy for his soon to be new home, wherever it might be.
So far, the Lakers are still the front runners. Denver, who made a huge push for Artest this past February, also has expressed interest still, and the third team is the Miami Heat.
What Jackson expects from the volatile Artest is a mystery. Can anyone see him learning the Triangle? Artest plays "Ronnie-ball" only, and while it is effective, it is not close to anything as structured as the Triangle and never will be. He also wants to have the ball on offense. Does Kobe really think he would share with him? I may be wrong, but there is something odd about the Lakers interest in a guy who would make the Shaquille O'Neal-Kobe Bryant feud look like a Mouseketeer spat once he and Kobe can't find common ground.
Denver needs to include Linas Kleiza, their third year SF, or Petrie will not make a deal with them. The rest of any deal would be for matching salaries and that would be about it.
The Miami deal is rumored to require the presence of Shawn Marion. Ummm.
The Knicks have also expressed an interest in acquiring home-towner Artest, but refuse to part with David Lee, so Petrie won't take their calls.
What is fairly clear about all of this is that Petrie will trade Artest only on his terms and is willing to wait out other teams "desparate" for a player of Ron's abilities, or let Ron leave via free agency next summer, which certainly would be a less attractive alternative, though possible.
As for the summer league play, Jason Thompson, who was called a "reach" by the basketball pundits when Petrie drafted him out of Rider University at #12 last month, is showing he belongs in the NBA. Whether he will be an "elite" power forward is unclear. But he is big, fast, strong, and athletic. That gives the Kings something to work with there. He also is coachable, and has the desire. He came to the NBA as a senior out of college, which for some reason has become something of a negative knock on rookies, like they must not be very good if they stayed in college for four years to get a stupid degree. All three of the Kings' picks this year are therefore stupid and questionable NBA talents.
Sean Singletary, the King's first of two second round picks, is a point guard who averaged 19 points and 5 assists as a senior at Virginia. He looks pretty good at the summer league play also and will back up Beno Udrih at the point this season. The third pick is Patrick Ewing Jr. A solid defender, he is the lone pick who is not showing much during the summer league and has yet to score in two games, or rebound much, though he gets about 30 minutes of play per game so far.
One last note. Sharif Abdur-Rahim, who has worked hard to rehabilitate his twice operated on right knee, looks to be done. The Kings are looking for him to retire. It would free up some money for the Kings, who need the cap space, plus his salary is insured, so he would get his money and the Kings would not be hurt by him retiring in their pocketbook. Everyone in the organization came to like Sharif quite a bit. He also is great in the community. While I never found him to be a 'winner' on the court, his professionalism has been remarkable.
My 'other' important news is that my wife has almost finished her chemo and will begin her radiation treatment in about three weeks, which goes on for 7 weeds, five times a week. While my nephew has come to calling her Sinead O'Conner, I have nicknamed her Uncle Festus. For some reason, she likes his nickname better then mine. I just can't figure out whemen.
Our trip to Greece and Turkey was terrific. We toured many of the best Greek ruins out on the Peloponnese Peninsula, including Olympia, Corinth, Mykinos, and Epidavros, then took a cruise to visit Istanbul, Pelos, Rhodes, Crete, and Kuradasa, which is near Epheusus. Great little tour.
