So Artest says he is going to L.A, and THAT's official ?
i would of much rather have Lakers keep T. Ariza instead of R. Artest. This is a definite upgrade for the Lakers. Lakers are already one of the biggest and talented team to began with. that's a pretty scary lineup, and is going to be pretty hard to score on.
D. Fisher
K. Bryant
R. Artest
P. Gasol
A. Bynum (L. Odom off the bench)
Artest says he's leaving Rockets for LA
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
Free-agent forward Ron Artest says he's leaving the Houston Rockets to join the Los Angeles Lakers. In a text message to ESPN.com on Thursday night, Artest wrote: "I am happy to say I am goin' to L.A." ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that Artest and the Lakers have reached a verbal agreement on what is believed to be a three-year contract worth an estimated $18 million.
Wednesday is the first day free agents are permitted to sign new deals. Artest's decision was first reported by CBSSports.com. The mercurial swingman was initially courted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his text message, Artest said that he met Thursday with Lakers owner Jerry Buss and had spoken to coach Phil Jackson about the move to Los Angeles, where Artest has been spending his offseasons.
Artest's forthcoming arrival strongly suggests that unrestricted free agent Trevor Ariza -- who played such a pivotal run in the Lakers' championship run -- is bound to leave the team. Broussard reported Wednesday that, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, Ariza was likely to leave the Lakers for a new team because L.A. was reluctant to sign him to a contract starting above the league's $5.6 million mid-level exception, even after Ariza's postseason success.
Ariza has been courted by numerous teams, including Cleveland, and met Thursday in Las Vegas with Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to possibly swap spots with Artest.
No dork, they're all reporting that Artest is joining the lakers.
3 years 18 million.
He has said that he would love to play for the lakers in the past.
He got his wish.
Can't wait for the playoffs.
"Artest SAYS................."
They are all reporting that HE SAID.....No dork, they're all reporting that Artest is joining the lakers.
3 years 18 million.
He has said that he would love to play for the lakers in the past.
He got his wish.
Can't wait for the playoffs.
Any confirmation from the Lakers themselves ?
Are you in denial? So what? let him go with L.A, it'll be more fun. XD
lol @ new spurs fans ting the bed out of desperation
I really hope he messes up the chemistry
artest is slowing down, getting older, a low percentage shooter, and pretty much a non factor for the rockets in the playoffs.
ariza is a younger player that can actually keep up with parker, knows the triangle, understands that he is a role player, and is getting better.
Artest shoots some of the dumbest shots in the league. I also think his defense is on the decline.
That said, Artest playing team ball makes the Lakers even better. The rest of the league has to hope that this blows up in the Lakers' face.
I'd say it's 50/50 whether a signing of Artest is regretted.
He may feel rejuvenated in L.A
Plus, KFC has handled Dennis Rodman in Chicago.
Wait........ Jordan handled Rodman in Chicago
The only real team that wanted Artest that could pay him more than the MLE was Houston.
Houston offered him only a one year deal and it pissed him off.
Outside of that, most teams left are already over cap and the most they can offer is the MLE. So with Ron's good friendship with Kobe and being Odom's childhood friend, LA is the most logical choice for Ron at the MLE. Plus he knows his rap "career" will do much better in LA and that's one of the most important things in his life.
Fish
Kobe
Artest
Pau
Bynum
Odom - off the bench
I can't wait for the season now.
Last edited by Allanon; 07-02-2009 at 07:14 PM.
LA Times.
Lakers close to deal with Artest
The move would probably end the pursuit of forward Trevor Ariza.
By Mike Bresnahan
The Lakers are close to reaching an agreement with Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest, The Times has learned.
Artest has been meeting with Lakers executives throughout the day and is expected to agree to terms later this afternoon
Artest will likely want the full mid-level exception from the Lakers, which will work out to five years and about $32 million. (The NBA will soon announce the actual cost of a mid-level contract for next season.)
Artest, who will be 30 in November, enjoys the Los Angeles lifestyle and was a presence in the courtside seats for some of the Lakers' games in the NBA Finals.
He is still a formidable defender and averaged 17.1 points last season, though he would have to take a pay cut from the $7.4 million he made last season because the Lakers don't have as much money at their disposal when it comes to other team's free agents.
The addition of Artest would basically end the Lakers' pursuit of Trevor Ariza, who met today with the Rockets.
Artest was also connected with other championship-caliber teams, including Cleveland and Orlando. He would have had to take mid-level money with both of them as well because the Cavaliers and Magic are over the salary cap.
Suddenly, re-signing Udoka makes a little bit of sense. Udoka is pretty damn horrible at everything in the NBA ... except guarding Artest. Udoka can guard Artest as well as anyone in the league.
Do you sign him for one matchup?
Bruuuuccceeeee
Funny if his agents really negotiated a deal with the Clippers..
Artest has the bulk and muscle to post up and play inside. That is where he can be more effective. Yet he spent last season shooting 3-pointers for the Rockets. If he does go to the Lakers, I doubt they would permit him to go wild shooting fade away 3-pointers.
I don't think there really is a great defense for Artest, it all depends if he is gonna carry on with his horrible shot selection, if that carries on then he's gonna shoot the Lakers out of the game himself.
But no, I wouldn't sign Udoka for 4 games a year. At the most a Horry type trade in time for the Playoffs but that's stretching it.
Disaster waiting to happen, surely. Artest and Bryant on the same team....I just can't fathom how those egos will be kept in check. Losing a nuts and bolts guy like Ariza, and getting a nutcase in Artest is bound to be problematic.
nah, get the big you need and play good team D with the hopes that some of the young guys will keep him in line well enough. Artests biggest strength against the Spurs is in the post so try to keep him out of the post and if he does get there hopefully Gist or Jefferson will handle their business, I don't think Jefferson will though so he must abuse him on the other side to make Phil take him off the floor.
I wonder if Kobe is going to chew out Artest the way he does all the other players on his team. That should be fun to watch.
If true, this will either be really good news for the Spurs or really bad news. Guess we'll know at this time next year.
Personally, if I'm running the Lakers, I don't mess with what worked and bring back Ariza.
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