Pride Be Damned, Keep Artest

If the Pacers go ahead with plans to trade Ron Artest, they'll give up one of the league's best players with no hope of getting anything comparable in return. In recent days Artest has been contrite and repentent and has begged to return to the team. Still, star Jermaine O'Neal and general manager Donnie Walsh stubbornly insist that the team will be better off without the its troubled but talented best player. (Yes, I think that Artest is a better all-around player than O'Neal.)

Here's the problem: Following the now infamous brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19 of last year (as with other altercations involving Ron Artest), Artest was disciplined but not helped—not rehabilitated. He was never required to undergo anger management counseling. Out of concern for Artest (let alone for the Pacers organization and chances of winning a championship), Walsh should have encouraged or required his star defender to seek therapy. Frankly, I think what Ron Artest needs more than anything right now is psych meds. He is obviously mentally ill; and I think (based on my own limited experience with mental illness) that he could exorcise his demons if the proper pharmaceutical were prescribed.

I favor the Pacers keeping Ron Artest for the same reason I oppose the death penalty: I don't believe in giving up on people (especially people with extraordinary defensive skills who also average 20 points and 5 boards per game).