One of the knocks against the Lakers, following their loss in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, was that the Lakers were too soft.
Both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom received criticism for being physically mauled by the Celtics’ front line players.
So, where to do the salary-cap restricted Lakers go to get more muscle?
One intriguing possibility is Sacramento forward Ron Artest, who has until midnight tonight to decide whether or not he will opt out of the final year of his contract.
Artest is due to make $7,400,000 in 2008-2009 but has ideas of testing the free agent market.
The interest should be high for a player that was the NBA’s defensive player of the year in 2004 and is regarded as one of the league’s best lockdown defenders.
Just as importantly, Artest plays with the mentality of someone who refuses to be bullied. He would bring a rugged mentality to any team that he played for.
Artest is no liability offensively, either. Although limited to only 57 games, he averaged a career-high 20.5 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
His 2.33 steals per game would have tied Chris Paul of New Orleans for tops in the NBA had Artest played in enough games to qualify.
The problem is Artest would come with baggage. Lots of it.
Artest has been suspended severals times during his career for committing flagrant fouls. He was suspended in 2003 for destroying a camera at Madison Square Garden.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle suspended Artest for two games in 2004 after Artest requested a month off to promote an album made on his recording label.
Most recently, Artest was suspended for seven games to start the 2007-2008 season as a result of his being charged with domestic violence.
And no one ever will forget Artest’s role in the ugly melee, Nov. 19, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, when he was with the Indiana Pacers.
It began when Artest fouled Detroit’s Ben Wallace. The incident escalated from the court into the stands, where players and fans were shown grappling.
Artest was suspended for the remainder of the season for his role.
Phil Jackson is one NBA coach (the Clippers’ Mike Dunleavy being another) who feels that he can reach any player and get him to play in his system.
But all the Lakers would have to offer Artest would be the mid-level exception, which probably will be around $5.8 million, for the 2008-2009 season. Artest has stated that he would not accept a pay cut under any circumstances.
Besides, wouldn’t that create a log jam at the small forward position?
With Andrew Bynum returning to play center, the Lakers’ plan is for Gasol to shift over to his more natural position of power forward and for Odom to move over from power forward to small forward.
And what about Vlad Radmanovic and Luke Walton?
