Now that Isiah Thomas has landed Zach Randolph, filling the hole at small forward has become the talk of the town.

Rashard Lewis is off the table (if he was ever even on it) and Thomas has said he won't used his midlevel exception, which is how some team is going to pay Morris Peterson. (Toronto isn't taking salary back.)

So of course Queensbridge's Ron Artest's name is back in the rags.

From the Daily News:

And from the Post's Marc Berman:

Commenter cwebb offered up Artest for Dan Dickau, Fred Jones, and David Lee. It works under the cap rules.Lee is a prize you can't pass up. One of the best rebounders in the league, an efficient scorer who doesn't take many non-layups. All that on a rookie contract. With Jones and Dickau being serviceable vets whose contracts are up this summer, it's a no-brainer… if Isiah complies.

And unless he is deeply in love with Lee, why wouldn't he? Zach Randolph is a great rebounder. Artest is the elite perimeter defender he thinks he needs. Combining those two with Eddy Curry — that's a vicious offensive post team. Do it, Zeke.

If this deal actually hits the rumor mill but doesn't happen, you'd have to think it's Isiah's call, right? Petrie couldn't pass up Lee considering all the slop he's been offered.