Lakers acquire Ron Artest and Jalen Rose

[Alex Confer]

CNN confirmed it.

Los Angeles Lakers Get:

- Ron Artest (from IND)
- Jalen Rose (from TOR)

Indiana Pacers Get:

- Devean George (from LAL)

Toronto Raptors Get:

- Austin Croshere (from IND)

Obviously a landslide victory for the Lakers.

***THIS JUST IN: STANISLAV MEDVEDENKO, LAMAR ODOM, AND/OR PICKS POSSIBLY INVOLVED***

[detroitbasketball]

Gasp!

As long as the Pacers don't get Lamar Odom.

[Alex Confer]

Well, it's looking like the Pacers are getting Lamar Odom. Anthony Johnson and Stanislav Medvedenko are going with Austin Croshere to Toronto.

[nosaints26]

Lamar Odom will not fit in Indiana; they need to give Danny Granger a chance to show himself

[Jami]

This just will make it funnier when the Lakers miss the playoffs.

[Bibby10]

Man, looks like the lakers have screwed themselves for years to come with those salaries.

[theretrunofasm]

Please god dont let Odom be in the trade...IMO Odom is the best all-around player on the team, has good D (unlike Kobe's) and has versitility, he can bring the ball up the floor, pass, shoot, and rebound....

[Bibby10]

Kobe's defense is better than Odom's. Odom isn't as quick. Odom does have the length though, but Kobe's hops even that out.

If I were to get Artest I'd give up Odom without hesistation. So what if he's a psycho? He's arguably the best defender in the league and can notch 20 a game. And that's not even mentioning Jalen Rose.

[theretrunofasm]

Kobe can't rebound like Odom though, or block shots like him, so Odom's defense is all-around better

[Bibby10]

In one on one defense (which Kobe plays, since he always guards the oppositions best scorer) rebounding isn't a factor. But anyway, I'll include the stats -

-----
Kobe
5.4 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 1.5 spg

Odom
9.4 rpg, .9 bpg, 1.1 spg

On defense, Odom plays help side which explains the higher blocking statistic. And he can just camp down low and play the big men while kobe is out guarding the scorers, which explains 9 rebounds. But he is a terrific brusier so I'll give him the credit where it is due.

But you'd have to be crazy to prefer Odom's defense over Kobe's.

Edit: More Stats brought to you by 82games...

Kobe's allowed FG %: 41.7
Odom's allowed FG %: 47.3

[theretrunofasm]

I must be crazy then...ill take a good low post defender against a good outside defender any day...ill take my chances that an outside shot will rim out rather than a 4 or 5 foot J-hook over a small guy who cant guard down low

[Jami]

Kobe doesn't let his man get down low...you must be crazy, since he's generally regarded as one of the best defensive guards in the league.

[Bibby10]

More Stats brought to you by 82games...

Kobe's allowed FG %: 41.7
Odom's allowed FG %: 47.3

Think of guys like D-Wade, AI, LeBron. Kobe guards em all. Odom would be 50 steps off trying to guard them. Kobe's the reason thos stars to go for 50 each contest against the Lakers.

More Stats ;D

Kobe's Defense per 100 possesions (NET): 17.6
Odom's Defense per 100 possesions (NET): 2.2

Point is: Odom can come up with a few good defensive plays a game but can't be as consistant Kobe is.

EDIT:::

I've got a link to the Artest to LA Rumors.

www.probasketballnews.com/pbnnews_1229.html

And really they still are rumors. Nothing is for sure yet, but it's looking like there will be a deal involving these three teams.

[Cerrano39]

This is all just speculation so far. And the Lakers will make the playoffs with the team they have now.

[nosaints26]

Lakers will make 6th seed at best if Kobe stops hogging the ball as much as he does now, and let Artest get something

[detroitbasketball]

Aren't we forgetting that Ronny is just as good if not a better low-post defender than Lamar Odom?

[Bibby10]

nosaints26 said:

Lakers will make 6th seed at best if Kobe stops hogging the ball as much as he does now, and let Artest get something

Artest isn't on the team yet. There's still a chance all of this could be some b.s. From what I've seen of the LAkers, Kobe has to hog the ball. Either the rest of the guys can or won't score. And Lamar Odom has had trouble with his shot lately.

[detroitbasketball]

Kobe does not HAVE to hog the ball. As a matter of fct, I saw a stat that when he doesn't take some ridiculous amount of shots, the Lakers have a better record.

[Bibby10]

It's true. I just did the stats now. When Kobe takes more than 25 shots, the Lakers are 14-15. When he takes less than 25, their 6-2. But keep in mind, those were against teams like the Raptors, where Kobe knew coming into the game that he only needed to take like 15 shots and the Lakers would be fine. In one game he was like 5-12, and they still won.

But the key for the Lakers is Kobe getting to the FT line.

[nosaints26]

It would be interesting to see Artest go to Denver or even the Clips like the rumors say. Artest would play the 2 in Denver and Maggette would probably be out if Ron goes to the Clips.