Ron Artest, the Next Sacramento King?

There's been a longstanding rumor that the Kings might be willing to trade Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest -- both players play the same position (small forward), and their stats match up remarkably well. While Ron Artest is regarded as a good defender, Peja can be when he wants to be but is often not. Peja doesn't produce near as many steals, but he's better from outside the 3pt circle and from the free throw line.

In short, it's a trade that could make sense, if all the variables fell into place.

Let's consider some of those variables.

Peja:

1) Peja is in his last contract year. He's previously expressed some interest in changing teams, but apparently has changed his mind and wants to stay with Sacramento now.

2) However, it's become increasingly obvious that Peja is never going to be a top-tier player -- he's only a top tier shooter. Peja is never going to be the hustle guy, the muscle guy, the guy who steps it up at the last second, when the game is tight. Peja is regarded as a "soft" player, and a lot of the toughness comments that came from Chris Webber were indirectly directed at him. Will Sac want to pay him what he thinks he's worth in order to get him for another 5 years? Perhaps. There's no doubt Geoff Petrie is a Peja fan.

3) Peja has slumped recently, until the last few games. In part, this is due to his recent hand injury (it was more than his pinky). Even so, Peja isn't producing the stats or the leadership he did last year after Chris was traded. Indications are that Peja may have peaked in his abilities.

4) The Kings roster right now doesn't have what it takes to get the job done. And by "the job", I mean get at least to the Western Finals.

Artest:

1) Artest was suspended all of last year for conduct, and he's generally regarded as a hothead. How many other hotheads have the Kings given the "nab and rehab?" Jason Williams, Chris Webber, Bonzi Wells, to name a few. This is old hat for the Kings, and many other teams wouldn't want to deal with the baggage.

2) Artest wants to leave Indiana, as he's made clear in recent statements. And the management of the Pacers is willing to let him go. However, he does NOT really want to play for Sacramento. He's said that if he gets traded to someone other than New York, he'll probably leave after his contract is up and go to New York.

3) Ron Artest can bring the toughness the Kings lack, the defense they lack, the speed they lack, and indications are that he could get better. In short, he'd probably be an excellent fit for the team.

Now, I'm a Peja fan, but I think the trade makes a LOT of sense IF (and only if) the Kings don't get stuck with him walking out to go to another team like they did with Mobley. I don't know if that's a likely possibility in this situation, and I think a lot of the feasibility of the idea hinges upon it.

Adelman and Petrie have denied they're shopping Peja, but they'd be stupid at this point not to at least consider it. Because, even though the Kings won their last two games and Peja has played much, much better, they need to shake things up a bit. They need to become tougher, and right now Bonzi is the only guy out there playing with heart and soul. And Artest can offer that.