July 1st, 2009 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
While the Cavs have free agent options, it’s been somewhat quiet so far on the free agency market for the team. That very well may be changing. Brian Windhorst of the Plain Dealer broke the story earlier tonight that one of the Cavaliers first calls in free agency was to none other than NBA bad boy Ron Artest.
Windhorst say that the Cavs have been been in contact with the free agent forward from the Houston Rockets, and the hookup even included a face-to-face talk from MVP LeBron James on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Artest’s deal last season paid him $7.4 million. The Cavs are not the only team that is talking to Artest, as reports say that a couple contenders want him, including the Celtics. Speaking of Cavs and free agents, the report even states that the Rockets have some interest in Cavs free agent forward Anderson Varejao.
Artest has a history with coach Mike Brown, as when he played for the Pacers from 2003-2005, Brown was the associate head coach of the Pacers. It’s been five years since Artest went into the crowd in Detroit to attack fans during a brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills. He’s not the typical type of player the Cavs go after, but he’s got the ability to be an impact player that can fill a void for the Cavs right now.
He averaged 15.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Rockets in 2008-09.
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