Rockets see Artest as worthy risk

Tracy McGrady says he couldn’t be happier to have Ron Artest lining up to next him, and that’s no surprise. Happiness can be fleeting when your career address is the corner of One and Done. Now when T-Mac limps to the sideline with back spasms, he’ll at least have someone with whom to commiserate.

Yao Ming, too, should be excited, as well as Houston’s rap community. H-Town hasn’t seen an athlete act this big since Tony “T Pizzle” Parker took the stage during the 2006 All-Star Weekend.

Artest figures to entertain on the court and off, and for that the Houston Rockets have one person to thank: their coach. Rick Adelman made this trade happen and he can also make it work.

Said one rival GM: “He might have been the only coach willing to take Artest on.”

The Rockets’ GM also deserves plenty of credit, as does the man who hired him. When Daryl Morey arrived in Houston, more than a few of his peers saw him as little more than an MIT stat geek. He didn’t win many supporters by bringing in Steve Francis and Mike James, both busts, but he also plucked Luis Scola from the San Antonio Spurs, drafted Carl Landry in the second round and turned James and Bonzi Wells into Bobby Jackson. Now, he’s cashing in Jackson, rookie forward Donte Greene, a future first-round pick and $1 million for Artest.

Rockets owner Les Alexander put up the $1 million just like he put up the money to get Scola last summer. While many an NBA owner has shut his wallet in fear of the league’s luxury tax, Alexander hasn’t been afraid to pay what’s needed to get a deal done.

There’s a perception that the Rockets had to make this trade, that they needed Artest to vault them into the contender ranks, but Morey and Alexander could have easily convinced themselves they were close enough after winning 55 games with Yao missing a third of the season. They didn’t. Instead, they’ll gamble on Artest and they’ll do so because of Adelman.

Adelman inherited Artest midway through his final season in Sacramento, and the Kings closed their schedule 26-14 before losing to the Spurs in a rugged six-game, first-round series. Adelman was fired shortly afterward, leaving Artest to chafe under the more rigid rule of his successors, first Eric Musselman then Reggie Theus. As recently as two weeks ago, Artest continued to lament Adelman’s departure, telling ESPN.com that his former coach brought out the “winner” in him.

Artest’s other former coaches likely found that amusing. Adelman spent only half a season with Artest. Stick around long enough and he, too, will learn. Nearly everyone who’s ever coached or played alongside Ron-Ron has eventually wanted him gone-gone. Inevitably, Artest’s charm gets overshadowed by his eccentricities and what once seemed “quirky” soon becomes “tiresome.” Artest wasn’t lacking for suitors among the league’s GMs, but at least a few of those GMs couldn’t – or wouldn’t – convince their coaches to ignore his well-worn history. Though Phil Jackson seems equipped to manage Artest’s moods, surrendering the longer and more versatile Lamar Odom in a trade would have been a dangerous move for the Los Angeles Lakers, at least until they’re assured Andrew Bynum’s knee problems have passed.

Said one West executive of Artest: “He’s too risky.”

To Adelman, though, Artest is a known risk. This won’t be the first time Adelman has had to blend a mix of personalities. His successful Sacramento teams featured a motley crew. More important: Adelman has first-hand knowledge of how positively Artest, when focused, can impact a team.

No perimeter player is capable of dominating both ends of the floor like Artest, who can score inside and out, a valued resource for a team that often labored for points last season. Even if the Rockets want to keep Shane Battier as their starting small forward, they could try moving Artest, strong and athletic enough to guard at least three positions, to power forward and bring Scola off the bench. Whatever role they find for Artest, he will make the Rockets that much more flexible and tougher, allowing them to play big or small.

Artest can just as easily slow his own offense as that of the opposing team, and opponents will undoubtedly prefer to see the ball in his hands rather than in McGrady’s. It also remains to be seen just how much Artest and Yao will limit each other’s post-up opportunities. Still, McGrady has shown a willingness to adapt to his personnel. Battier and the recently signed Brent Barry also are unselfish and able to space the floor.

The Rockets have this, too, going for them: Artest is in the final season of his contract. If he wants big money next summer, he’ll need to both behave and win. So what’s the bigger gamble: Houston trading a backup role player and two first-round picks for Artest? Or the Golden State Warriors shelling out close to $180 million for three players with 34 games of playoff experience among them? If Artest becomes that much of a problem, the Rockets can trade or waive him.

With or without Artest, the Rockets are built on a shaky foundation. If Yao again goes down with a leg injury, Houston’s championship hopes go with him. But, for now, McGrady couldn’t be happier.

And if T-Mac’s still smiling in May?

He’ll know who to thank.