Any Update On Artest ?

If any of you heard about the internet rumor going around today that said Ric Bucher was reporting on ESPN radio that the Knicks were on the verge of getting Ron Artest, put it on iggy. At least for now.

Ken Berger made a quick call to a few of his contacts (you know Kenny got tight with the Tru Warier recently) and let me know there's no merit to it one bit. I'm not sure about the validity of Bucher's report, but I don't know exactly what he reported, if he even reported anything.

Regardless, I asked a Knicks executive and was told this, "Last I heard, we were quiet. Real quiet."

Again, for now.

We always have a reason to be skeptical. Firstly, I was in Vegas and spoke with someone who was close to Kevin McHale who told me Kevin has no plans to trade Garnett. But we were also hearing - like everyone else - that Ainge moved Wally Szczerbiak as a way to appeal to KG (and it didn't hurt he got Ray Allen back in the deal), who wasn't down with teaming up with Wally a second time.

So all is quiet and then - Bam. KG to Celts is done while we're floating in a pool at an Orlando resort.

That's why you check out every rumor, even if the organization insists nothing is doing.

But you also don't jump the gun and believe it, either. Let's see, by my count (and, I admit, some of my own reporting that never came to fruition), the Knicks were in on Chris Webber, Vince Carter, Jermaine O'Neal, Ron Artest, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Rasheed Wallace, Rashard Lewis, Steve Blake and Mo Williams.

Zach Randolph did happen and it was a done deal before it even made it to the rumor mill.

I'm of the belief that Artest will be a Knick by the time the season opens. It just makes sense. Isiah has told confidants that he feels Artest would make the Knicks a championship contender. But he also knows Artest would be a high risk-reward move, because of his mercurial personality. So you don't give up a blue chip young player like David Lee in that kind of deal.

Knicks Always n Forever wrote:i would never give up lee or robinson for him

KnicksAgent01 wrote:

Knicks Always n Forever wrote:i would never give up lee or robinson for him

From what I heard on RealGM there is a possible 8 man trade that might go down.