The Layup Line

Rethinking Ron Artest’s Market Value

Sam Amick reports in the Sacramento Bee that Ron Artest and his agent, Mark Stevens, believe it would be a mistake for Artest to opt of his contract this month because he’d leave money on the table. In all likelihood Artest couldn’t get more than the MLE in this summer’s market; the MLE is around 6 million, Artest currently makes 7.4. Earlier this season, Stevens suggested that in terms of talent Artest deserves a contract in the neighborhood of 13 million. What are we to make of this?

By my scorecard, Stevens is right, right, and wrong. He is right that were Artest to opt out he would leave money on the table. He is right that on talent Artest deserves something closer to 13 than 7. But he is wrong that remaining with the Kings is Ron-Ron’s best option.

Artest needn’t convince anyone of his talent, everyone knows he is an elite two way player. What Artest needs is to convince GMs that he is no longer an agent of discord, an explosive keg, or the proverbial apple that spoils the bunch. If league GMs were settled on this issue, Artest would get his on talent contract.

Ron Artest is only 28. His best option is to sign a short term contract for the MLE with a contender. Let him be an important, positive and peacable cog in a championship machine.  Then, in two years, let him go back on the market. He’ll get his money.