June 6th, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in ?????????????????????????????????????????? 
As anyone who is a fan of or follows the Sacramento Kings already knows, Ron Artest is a “unique” individual – especially when it involves where he thinks he will be playing or where he wants to play.? Well as of this morning, Artest, according to Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee, is leaning towards remaining with the Kings for the final year of his current contract – although he has the option of opting out of his contract by June 30.
Let’s say that Artest decided to leave Sacramento.? He would basically, by doing that, earn the “mid-level exception”; that designation currently is around $6 million per year – which is less than what Artest currently earns with the Kings ($7.4 million this coming season).? So just on the math alone, Artest – if he was smart – should stick around.? Artest’s take on the situation?? He told the Bee on Friday, “I’m not even thinking like I’m about to opt out or go somewhere else.? I’m still here as a King.? If I’m going to be here, I’d rather do what I’m doing now and stick with the game plan.? Nothing (in terms of negotiations for a future contract) can happen until July 1 anyway.? We’ll definitely consider if the Kings come talking to us.”
I think it’s pretty obvious – Artest will not ever again get a contract approaching $10 million+ a season; having said that, I think it is in the best of Artest and the Maloofs to sit down together and hammer out an agreement as soon as possible – being mindful of the upcoming NBA draft.? These negotiations will go a long way in deciding who the Kings will select with their first-round pick in this year’s draft.? Not to mention that the Kings were on a roll going into the end of last season – with Artest playing no small part in that Kings resurgence.? So in the words of Larry the Cable Guy, “Get’er done!!”
