Ron-Ron Wants to Return

Artest likes playing in Houston: “If that still did not spell out how he hopes things will go, he was asked if his preference is to return if things work out in contract negotiations. ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,” Artest said. ‘That is yes. I just know this team was so good, I think we’ll grow together.’ The Rockets have been just as clear about their hopes. ‘He has a desire to come back,’ Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. ‘We have a desire to make it work. That’s step one with a lot of steps from here.’ The more difficult steps likely will be contract negotiations. Morey agreed with Artest’s agent, David Bauman, to table negotiations until the offseason, with the maximum extension they can offer, based on his current contract, less than Artest will demand as a free agent.”