I disagree that the Kings will surrend their season next season if Artest is traded. The Kings will have a solid starting five if everyone's healthy. Odom will be motivated for a new contract. And Martin continues to get better. The real question for the Kings entering next season is their bench. If they can have a healthy Abdur-Rahim for most of the season and get consistent contributes from Moore, S. Williams, Hawes and anyone of their rookies. The Kings could have a modest season minus the distraction of Artest and whether or not he'll be traded before the deadline. But, the key to their success next season likely begins with Udrih.
4 - Odom
3 - Salmons
5 - Miller
1 - Udrih
2 - Martin
The catch for any team making a deal for Artest is that the Kings are going to use him as a means to unload one of their albatross contracts. Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim are more than likely to come up in any discussion, as the Kings owe them basically $20 million and $13 million respectively . . .and neither was really in the rotation late last season.
The Lakers are willing to move Lamar Odom to the Kings for Artest, but that's hardly doing the Kings a favor. Odom's $14 million will come off the books next summer, but it also means basically throwing away the 2008-09 season. Artest is a much better player than Odom, and has been someone who has pushed his teammates to be better at every level. Kevin Martin will be the first to tell you that Artest's constant pressure made him a better defender, worthy of the $53 million contract he signed last summer.
It's highly likely that Artest will get dealt this summer, but you can bet it will be a package deal where the receiving team eats a bad contract. That team won't be the Lakers unless they wind up losing Ronny Turiaf and feel Thomas or Abdur-Rahim can help fill that void.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9427