Artest makes sense for Knicks

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly trying to trade enigmatic forward Ron Artest, and the New York Knicks are said to be one of the teams interested.

Why wouldn't they be? By acquiring Zach Randolph, who has had several run-ins with the law, from Portland Thomas showed that he is willing to put character concerns aside in an effort to get the Knicks back to the playoffs.

So, if Thomas is willing to roll the dice on Artest, effectively turning the Knicks into a halfway-house for troubled NBA players, The View has a few more suggestions for players Thomas should pursue.

• Ruben Patterson. The veteran forward has had several problems with the law, including being a convicted sex offender. He's currently a free agent. Patterson played with Randolph in Portland, so he would give the Knicks forward a running mate he was comfortable with.

• Sebastian Telfair. The Boston Celtics point guard was arrested with a loaded handgun in April, and the Celtics have said he won't play for them again. I'm not sure how good of a player Telfair is, but he can obviously offer the Knicks protection in other ways.

• Stephen Jackson. The Golden State guard/forward is not actually being shopped, but Thomas should ask anyway. Jackson has a penchant for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Besides, Jackson has already shown that he'll back up Artest in a fight, which he did in the melee in Detroit when they were teammates with Indiana a few years back.

Seriously, though, bringing in Artest is a move the Knicks need to entertain seriously. If Thomas can pull it off without giving up rebounding machine David Lee, it's a no-brainer.

Ever since the Knicks passed on drafting Artest when he came out of St. John's it has seemed inevitable that Artest would someday find his way into a Knicks uniform. Now would be a good time for Thomas to make that happen.

Artest, still only 27, would fill the one position where the Knicks don't seem to have a solid answer -- small forward. Artest is one of the game's best defenders, and has also developed into an offensive force. He averaged 18.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game for Sacramento last season.

Of course, the combustible Artest is an explosion waiting to happen. If Thomas and the Knicks want to think short-term, however, and make a run at winning the weak Eastern Conference he would be a great addition.

Artest would team with Randolph and Eddy Curry on an imposing front line, along with Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford in the backcourt. Can you name a better starting five on an Eastern Conference team? I didn't think so.

With Lee, or Renaldo Balkman if Thomas trades Lee to get Artest, Quentin Richardson, Nate Robinson and Jared Jeffries coming off the bench that would provide the Knicks depth I'm not sure anyone in the East could match.

Go for it, Isiah! And, on the Fourth of July I suppose it would be appropriate to say, let the fireworks begin!

• Knicks need Artest

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