Rockets Pull a Stunner, Acquire Ron Artest in a Trade

As I write this piece, my mouth hangs open and shock has gripped me.

I'm not sure how to respond to the Houston Rockets landing Ron Artest in a deal today. The Sacramento Kings get Bobby Jackson and his expiring contract, an unknown player (presumed to be Donte Greene) and a first round pick.

I read the breaking news on the Houston Chronicle after 8 p.m. Of all the moves I anticipated, this was not one of them. The Rockets have needed a third scorer and a third complete player, ala the San Antonio Spurs, to complement Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady.

The Rockets have frequently inquired about Artest but I figured his crappy attitude and rough reputation would scare them off. If Artest can keep himself composed and embrace a team-first attitude, he will make this a lopsided trade in favor of the Rockets.

If he crumbles, whines and throws a tantrum he could destroy a locker room made fragile by a string of first round ousters.

Artests' numbers speak for themselves, highlighted by 20 points per game, almost six rebounds and 3.5 assists. He sports the build of an NFL linebacker and uses his frame to bruise and wear out his opponents.

This deal will go one of two ways and that depends on Artest. It can make the Rockets a championship contender or it can crash and burn and turn them from a respectable joke to just a joke.

If you want my full spiel on Artest, read my analysis of Mark Cuban rejecting a Josh Howard-Ron Artest swap.

The Kings get a serviceable back up point guard with a streaky shot in Jackson. They also land a promising young scorer in Greene who needs to learn what defense is. As with all first round picks, you never know what that giveaway will become.

Artest will earn about $7.4 million next season and will not thrust the Rockets into the luxury tax level. He affords the Rockets roster flexibility they have not had in years.

At the end of games, coach Rick Adelman can play three different lineups, assuming McGrady and Yao can stay healthy. That will always be the big if.

• Rafer Alston, Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest, Luis Scola, Yao Ming
• Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Yao Ming
• Brent Barry, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Ron Artest/Luis Scola, Yao Ming

The Rockets stole sharpshooter Brent Barry from the cross-state rival Spurs and now they have Artest. Neither team can announce the deal until Aug. 14, one month after the Rockets signed Greene, assuming he is the unknown player involved in the deal.

Grabbing Artest makes the sticky Carl Landry situation less so and it also prevents the Los Angeles Lakers from making the trade that might inject them with the right toughness. Who doesn't (besides Lakers fans) love the idea of robbing the Lakers of a player they wanted?

Daryl Morey said he would wait for the right time to trade for an impact player. That was less than two months ago. Here arrives Artest, the most controversial, two-sided player of this basketball era.

Artest has mercilessly tortured the Rockets in recent years, including two 30-something point games, and now he will try to help them win the franchise's third championship.

Will this work? Who knows?

Mr. Morey, you have stunned me. I don't know whether to say congratulations or grit my teeth.

Artest will let me know what to say this fall. I hope it's the former.