CBS: Artest to LA

[DraftBoy10]

CBS's Berger has reported that Artest will go to LA via his twitter.

[MaxRider]

CBS's Berger has reported that Artest will go to LA via his twitter.

sign-and-trade with lakers for ariza?

[College Boy]

I now hate Artest.

[barnsleyman123]

Thanks for the "loyalty" Ron......

[cold5]

Don't trust Ken Berger.

[barnsleyman123]

Wow I hope this guy us not correct cos for one I don't want to see Ron leave and for two I especially do not want to see him sign for the Lakers.

[TMACFORMVP]

If this is true, the Lakers got worse. On a stacked team like theirs, Ariza is a much better fit.

[cold5]

If David Aldridge reports this, then I'll believe it.

[TheNewEra]

This has to be like a huge knife in the back. Ron going to the Cavs to win a title and stick it to Kobe is one thing, but going to the team that Yao may have ended his career against is harsh.

[MaxRider]

Thanks for the "loyalty" Ron......

lol
loyalty for what?
artest was an one year rent
you know it
too bad our bad karma can't keep yao and tmac healthy long enough to see this payoff

[TMU]

To what terms? If this is true, Artest is now an enemy.

[DraftBoy10]

Don't care for this move. It's not like he makes them better, it's all on paper, there's more downside for him joining any team than there's upside.

In Cleveland though, they should be praying that Artest didn't land there. With his assertivness against to the two top dogs, LeBron and Shaq, they wouldn't have gone far, and LeBron would've barked his way out.

[TMU]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/spo ... 09192.html

Ron Artest's time with the Rockets is over.

A person with knowledge of the decision making said Thursday, "There is no way in the world he's signing with the Rockets."

While the Rockets on Thursday moved their efforts to bolster their crumbling roster to a Las Vegas meeting with Lakers free agent forward Trevor Ariza, Artest moved closer to choosing between contenders.

...

Getting Gortat, 25, could also be difficult. The Mavericks were expected to be the prime competition for the second-year center, but there were some indications that the Spurs, Hornets and Pacers could also pursue Gortat. Magic general manager Otis Smith said he has been authorized to match any offer Gortat receives, with the Rockets unlikely to offer a full mid-level contract in the hopes of pricing out the Magic.

We gave up 2x **** 1st-round picks for Artest. At least try do a sign-n-trade and get something in return.

[Iggyemu]

Didn't expect Artest to re-sign. We are trying to shed money for 2010 free agent class. Whether or not we can convince two top guys to come to Houston is a different story. I would just rather have that opportunity than have us sign Artest and waste it.

If he goes to LA they don't get better. They are champions and they will remain the favorites to win it against next year. If we can swing a sign and trade and get us Ariza and Farmer for example I would probably be happy with that.

[TMU]

UPDATE:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lak ... 2019.story

The Lakers are close to reaching an agreement with Houston 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.)

Almost a done deal. I'm just upset that we wasted two 1st-round picks and we won't get anything in return. Looking back, that one-year rental should have never happened. **** this.

[Iggyemu]

Yep and looks like we get nothing b/c he is willing to sign for whatever they are offering. Oh well. Lakers are still the favorites to win the title again. But not to bad mouth or anything...I think the Lakers and their fans will find that Artest isn't the player they thought he was. In fact they played us in the playoffs....they should know that he isn't the defender or the post player he use to be. Now Phil Jackson may get him more space to operate in the post and if Odom re-signs Ron will be the 4th option so he may actually be better in LA than he was in Houston b/c he just isn't the second option we thought he would be.

But yea sucks...but I know our Rockets won't be contending next year anyway so this move IMO doesn't effect us. When the 2010 season starts I feel we'll have the best team in the West.

[langer]

It is not a surprise. I never thought Ron would join Cavs or resign Houston. It is fun to see that Phil is gonna be his coach.

[HTown_TMac]

Soo.. Artest couldnt play with T-Mac, but he can play with Kobe?

[TMU]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303679

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.

MLE, 3-year deal. Unbelievable.

[HTown_TMac]

WAIT... Nevermind, I just thought about it.. Artest is still a Rocket. Watch what he does to LA. hmm