Ron Artest's bizarre, controversial and vaguely inspirational journey to the top of the basketball world culminated last June with an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Thereafter, he spent the summer celebrating his achievement and working as an advocate for mental-health awareness — neither an act for which you could fault Ron Ron. He even had his championship ring auctioned off for that cause.
When he finally got back to basketball, though, he wasn't nearly the same player who had sealed Game 7 with a bold, perhaps ill-advised three pointer. In fact, Artest's numbers for points, rebounds, steals, blocks and assists are all at career lows in 2010-11. For the record, that's every stat. At 31, he also isn't the lock-down defender he once was.
Perhaps, Artest winning a championship and exploring his off-court interests has taken some of his on-court motivation away, but there's no denying that he's been the most sluggish cog on a Lakers team that has managed to be a laggard with a 34-15 record. Accordingly, general manager Mitch Kupchak, Phil Jackson and Magic Johnson have suggested that the team may need to make a move to invigorate the squad, and Artest may be the man to go, as sources close to him say he wants to leave Los Angeles.
According to Marc Stein, Artest doesn't want to be scapegoated for the Lakers' uninspiring performance, which seems far more likely than any of his teammates being singled out. Ron Ron also doesn't like being marginalized in the offense, which has certainly been the case.
Still Artest is just in his second year of a five-year deal, and has $22 million left on the contract after this season, which makes him a tough piece to move prior to the Feb. 24 deadline. Matt Barnes, Artest's backup, is also out until March.
It should be noted, however, that Artest has not publicly asked to be traded, and that his relationship with Jackson is said to have improved of late.
The Lakers have just three weeks to tinker with their team, if that is their intention. With Ron Ron in the conversation, who knows how things will pan out?
