Breaking Down Both Sides of the Artest Trade

With the Rockets getting Ron Artest, along with Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing, Houston looks like they're ready to launch a deep playoff run. With the Kings getting Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene, next year's 1st round pick and $1 million cash, they're speeding up the youth movement. Either way, it's a win-win for both teams.

ROCKETS

There is no reason whatsoever that the Rockets cannot get out of the first round this year, unless Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming are both hurt at the same time, and yes H-Town you got a steal. Looking at a team of Yao, T-Mac, Artest, Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Dikembe Mutombo if they come back, a developing Luther Head, and sharp shooer Brent Barry, there is no reason that they can't get past the first round of the playoffs. Houston has the potential to be a top 3 team in the West and a potential 60-win team.

There's no reason they can't give the Lakers, Jazz, Spurs, Suns or Hornets a run for their money in the West. On that roster, you have every position filled, including 2 of the best defenders in the NBA, the 2nd best center in the league who is a 20-10 2 BPG player, 3 of the best scorers in the league, two great 3-point shooters.

A starting line-up of Alston, AKA Skip to my Lou, T-Mac, Artest, Scola and Yao is dangerous to play for any team in the league. Add the supporting cast of Battier, another great defender, Landry who's shown his potential, Head, a young combo guard, and reliable veterans in Deke and Barry and you have a deep bench.

The Rockets deserve to be seen as contenders with their All-Star line-up and at the end of the year, I want to see coach Rick Aldelman's team with an NBA Championship.

KINGS

Trading Artest means kissing a 40-win season goodbye. Now rebuilding and the youth movement is really underway. Going into next season they have 4 of the top players from summer league in #12 pick Jason Thompson, recently signed Bobby Brown, #3 scorer in the SL Quincy Douby and #2 scorer Donte Greene. Not only that, the Kings are working to trade veteran Brad Miller back to the Bulls for Andres Nocioni and Cedric Simmons/Joakim Noah. If the Bulls trade did happen and the Kings landed Noah, Nocioni will be seen as a valuable trade piece to other teams. There's no way they keep him for 5 years with 2010 coming up.

Jackson, who's 35 years old, will probably retire after this year, and what other way could he go out than finish with the team that embraced him the most. The fans would love to see the former 6th Man of the Year play here again, he was my 2nd favorite player on the team next to Chris Webber. He has a special place in Sactown and if he plays, it will bring more fans into the stands.

For the future, their line-up would be C- Spencer Hawes, PF- Jason Thompson, SF- John Salmons, SG- Kevin Martin and PG- Beno Udrih and their bench, C- Joakim Noah, PF- Shelden Williams (if he proves himself) SF- Donte Greene SG- Francisco Garcia and PG- Bobby Brown. Looks like a pretty good core of young players. All they need to do is give the rookies playing time throughout the season and these players could develop into some good roles.

For both teams, this is a good move. The Rockets have a solid team for a championship run, while the Kings get some cap space and more young talent. All we have to do is wait for tip-off this fall.