Ron Artest to Miami?

Talk about putting the "vice" in Miami, landing Ron Artest would certainly make this Heat team a whole lot more...complex.

The latest rumor now is that the Heat may be players in the Artest sweepstakes II. Last year, he was dealt to Sacramento for Peja Stoyakovic, who is now with the Hornets after making a pit stop in Indiana.

The deal is going to be made, according to numerous sources. That is, Artest is going to be dealt. The Kings have decided to stick with Bibby and vote Artest off the island, instead. The most likely scenario has been Artest to the Clippers for Corey Maggette. But, like the Allen Iverson deal, there is another player emerging on the block that may have a better offer - the Heat.

The Heat showed strong interest in AI and dangled several players in a possible scenario. Ultimately, the Sixers stood by the standard notion that trading within your conference is a bad idea and opted for a lesser deal with the Nuggets. Andre Miller for AI could have a positive effect on the value of Artest - at least where the Heat is concerned.

Artest is arguably one of the league's most talented players but with his off court antics (and even his on court antics) overshadowing his playing status, his value has dropped. Perhaps even more so than last season, since, again, AI netted only Andre Miller. Artest could garner less.

But could Riley really make a deal for a player like Artest, who is more Rodman than perhaps Dennis the Menace was in his post Detroit days. And Artest, lest we forget, did go after Pat Riley once.

Still, it is too tantalizing, too sexy to refuse. Ron Artest in a Heat uniform would make this team tougher, stronger, meaner and leaner. It would get hungrier and would be arguably the most dangerous team in the entire NBA.

Artest can guard any position and has actually shown a history of deferring to players in the right situation. In Miami, he would be behind Shaq and Wade in the pecking order and would have no foreseeable problem with it, since both players are champions and among the most respected players in the NBA fraternity. And Pat Riley would be there to guide them all the way to the end. Whatever end that may be.

The sexy factor would rise for Miami who would now have a player that can beat you inside, one that could beat you on the perimeter and outside, and one that could create a physical mismatch with any other player you put on the floor.

If Riley has a chance to land Ron Artest, it would prove more valuable than landing even Allen Iverson. I think the same rules apply here, too. Open up your roster and say anyone except Wade and Shaq is available. Let's see what happens.