BambinoBear
12-14-2005, 05:00 PM
Escape Artest: Pierce wouldn’t mind if Celts traded for troubled Pacer
By Steve Bulpett
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - Updated: 08:14 AM EST
The Celtics have placed the obligatory call to the Pacers to inquire about Ron Artest, but, according to sources, there are no bargains to be had as Indiana tries to move the talented but troubled wing man.
There are no firm reports on what the Celtics may have brought up, but logic would say that Mark Blount and his contract were in the mix.
While teams this week tried to decide whether the entire package that is Ron Artest is right for their situation, Paul Pierce cast a yea ballot.
“Without question, I definitely wouldn’t mind going to war with Ron Artest,” the Celtics captain said yesterday.
Asked if Artest’s emotional issues are offset by his talent, Pierce said, “I think so. I mean, it depends on the coach who can bring that all together. I think the coach has a lot to do with it. People will put him in a class with Dennis Rodman, but what Phil (Jackson) and Michael Jordan were able to do with him — just bring out his talents and leave all that other stuff on the side — it made it work.”
Pierce, however, didn’t bother to walk up the stairs at the Celtics practice facility to express his feelings to Danny Ainge.
“I don’t think they (the Pacers) will trade him to the Eastern Conference,” he said. “It’d be nice though.”
Meanwhile, Pierce’s coach at first tried to avoid the Artest question.
“I’m not touching that one at all,” Doc Rivers said. “That’s a Danny Ainge question. I think you should ask him. I want to read that answer.”
On the matter of players who are equally troubled and talented, Rivers said, “I think every case is individual. I would love to give you the Artest answer, but I really have not given it a lot of thought yet. But I do think from the (Terrell Owens of the world) to the Ron Artests, sometimes they fit and it works, and sometimes it’s a bad gamble.
“Dennis Rodman, in my opinion, was a good gamble for every team he played on because at the end of the day -- even with all his distractions -- when he got on the floor he did his job, and he did it extremely well. And it wasn’t a distraction personally team-wise, it was more of a circus around him. I actually thought he helped us with the Spurs because while everyone was chasing his circus we could go home after the game. I thought he was a good distraction. There’s other guys when they’re attacking their teammates and all that stuff, those are bad distractions.
“With Artest, I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I know he’s a hell of a player. I’ll say that. And it’s rare that you have a guy that every night you can say, ‘You stop him,’ and you don’t have to worry about him. That’s a heck of a value.”
The Pacers are putting Artest on the inactive list as they try to deal him. That means Pierce won’t have him in his way when Indiana visits the Garden tonight.
“I’m a little disappointed at that, man,” Pierce said. “I think we’ve really had some great battles over the years. Unfortunately, I guess the next time we do battle it won’t be with him in an Indiana uniform.
“I think he’s pretty much the best defensive player in the NBA. You’re talking about a guy who can defend pretty much four positions. He’s strong. He’s got good quickness, got great hands. And then the way his offense has been coming around, it’s unfortunate that it’s come down to this situation with him.”
By Steve Bulpett
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - Updated: 08:14 AM EST
The Celtics have placed the obligatory call to the Pacers to inquire about Ron Artest, but, according to sources, there are no bargains to be had as Indiana tries to move the talented but troubled wing man.
There are no firm reports on what the Celtics may have brought up, but logic would say that Mark Blount and his contract were in the mix.
While teams this week tried to decide whether the entire package that is Ron Artest is right for their situation, Paul Pierce cast a yea ballot.
“Without question, I definitely wouldn’t mind going to war with Ron Artest,” the Celtics captain said yesterday.
Asked if Artest’s emotional issues are offset by his talent, Pierce said, “I think so. I mean, it depends on the coach who can bring that all together. I think the coach has a lot to do with it. People will put him in a class with Dennis Rodman, but what Phil (Jackson) and Michael Jordan were able to do with him — just bring out his talents and leave all that other stuff on the side — it made it work.”
Pierce, however, didn’t bother to walk up the stairs at the Celtics practice facility to express his feelings to Danny Ainge.
“I don’t think they (the Pacers) will trade him to the Eastern Conference,” he said. “It’d be nice though.”
Meanwhile, Pierce’s coach at first tried to avoid the Artest question.
“I’m not touching that one at all,” Doc Rivers said. “That’s a Danny Ainge question. I think you should ask him. I want to read that answer.”
On the matter of players who are equally troubled and talented, Rivers said, “I think every case is individual. I would love to give you the Artest answer, but I really have not given it a lot of thought yet. But I do think from the (Terrell Owens of the world) to the Ron Artests, sometimes they fit and it works, and sometimes it’s a bad gamble.
“Dennis Rodman, in my opinion, was a good gamble for every team he played on because at the end of the day -- even with all his distractions -- when he got on the floor he did his job, and he did it extremely well. And it wasn’t a distraction personally team-wise, it was more of a circus around him. I actually thought he helped us with the Spurs because while everyone was chasing his circus we could go home after the game. I thought he was a good distraction. There’s other guys when they’re attacking their teammates and all that stuff, those are bad distractions.
“With Artest, I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I know he’s a hell of a player. I’ll say that. And it’s rare that you have a guy that every night you can say, ‘You stop him,’ and you don’t have to worry about him. That’s a heck of a value.”
The Pacers are putting Artest on the inactive list as they try to deal him. That means Pierce won’t have him in his way when Indiana visits the Garden tonight.
“I’m a little disappointed at that, man,” Pierce said. “I think we’ve really had some great battles over the years. Unfortunately, I guess the next time we do battle it won’t be with him in an Indiana uniform.
“I think he’s pretty much the best defensive player in the NBA. You’re talking about a guy who can defend pretty much four positions. He’s strong. He’s got good quickness, got great hands. And then the way his offense has been coming around, it’s unfortunate that it’s come down to this situation with him.”