Nobody questions Artest's talents. The guy is one of the best players in the NBA when he wants to be and he wants to be about 60-75% of the time. He can take over a game if he needs to. He can absolutely stop a scorer when he wants to and he can make the big shot if it's needed. What would you give to have a player like that?

Morey is taking a calculated gamble with this move. He sent Bobby Jackson, Donte Green, a number one pick in 2009 and cash to get him. Anytime you can add an all-star caliber player and not give the same type of athlete away, you do it. It's all about getting the horses to run the race and Artest is a legitimate thorough bred. Buuuuuuut, with Ron, you've got major baggage. He's been a troubled player on many occasions. Nobdy knows when he will go off and according to one NBA insider, Artest was described as a very strange person in the way he looks at things.

So what do you do? First and foremost you understand the person who will be coaching him and Artest is absolutely in love with Rick Adleman. Rick is a players coach and he understands Ron Artest at least according to Artest. The big forward wanted to donate his salary to the Kings if they would keep Adleman as their coach. They didn't but Adleman must have known how to handle Artest to get that kind of respect. By the way, that's not totally uncommon to see a potential disruptive force become a choir boy depending on the coach. Since Wade Phillips took over the Cowboys, how has Terrell Owens acted? Haven't heard a lot of off the field garbage from him have you? Randy Moss went to the New England Patriots with the reputation of being a psycho. All he did last year was keep his mouth shut and catch touchdown passes. He was a saint in the Patriot system. That is just a few examples of how a coach can handle a player. It's all about how you are treated.

There are a few other things the Rockets have going for them to keep Artest focused on just basketball. He is in the final year of his contract and wants a new deal plus he is playing with the best center in the league in Yao Ming, he will run the court with a legitimate all-star in Tracy McGrady and he will play defense with one of the best defenders in the game in Shane Battier. The Rockets have all of a sudden become even more of a major force in the NBA's tough Western Conference.

We don't know today how it will all work out but it certainly is the talk of the league and anyone coming through Houston better be ready to rumble. I know Daryl Morey is!