Artest Believes Losing Bird Rights Cost Him $20 Million

[Tommy Trojan]

Per wiretap: Artest Believes Losing Bird Rights Cost Him $20 Million

Can anyone explain to me how it costed him the $20 mil?

That is a lot of money to lose out on

[DEEP3CL]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

[Magicontinues]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

He's not a smart man, should have kept Ariza. Just zip it Ron, and play ball for the team you said you have always wanted to play for.

[TruSkool]

ron will be fine in LA...although ariza was just a better fit for our team.

[That Nicka]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

No, when he was traded to Houston, Houston obtained his bird rights. Since Houston didnt want to re-sign him, the only way for him to keep his bird rights was through a sign and trade.

Obviously the Lakers/Rockets could have done a sign and trade with Artest/Ariza but it would have cost both teams more money...

I doubt Artest could have made 20 mil more though... maybe 7 mil more (40 mil/5 years) is the most I could have seen a team pay for him

[TonyMontana]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

No, when he was traded to Houston, Houston obtained his bird rights. Since Houston didnt want to re-sign him, the only way for him to keep his bird rights was through a sign and trade.

Obviously the Lakers/Rockets could have done a sign and trade with Artest/Ariza but it would have cost both teams more money...

I doubt Artest could have made 20 mil more though... maybe 7 mil more (40 mil/5 years) is the most I could have seen a team pay for him

I agree

[Magicontinues]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

No, when he was traded to Houston, Houston obtained his bird rights. Since Houston didnt want to re-sign him, the only way for him to keep his bird rights was through a sign and trade.

Obviously the Lakers/Rockets could have done a sign and trade with Artest/Ariza but it would have cost both teams more money...

I doubt Artest could have made 20 mil more though... maybe 7 mil more (40 mil/5 years) is the most I could have seen a team pay for him

I doubt he would have even gotten 30 mill from another team, I think he was a guy that had a bad reputation, and teams (including Houston) were not going to spend that money on a guy that could hurt them, not help them. Especially in this economy, we overpaid for Artest, he just doesn't know it, I do.

[tkb]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

That's incorrect. He lost his Bird rights when Houston decided not to re-sign him or sign and trade him.

[Blackfyre]

He lost his "Bird Rights" when he was traded to Houston.

No, when he was traded to Houston, Houston obtained his bird rights. Since Houston didnt want to re-sign him, the only way for him to keep his bird rights was through a sign and trade.

Obviously the Lakers/Rockets could have done a sign and trade with Artest/Ariza but it would have cost both teams more money...

I doubt Artest could have made 20 mil more though... maybe 7 mil more (40 mil/5 years) is the most I could have seen a team pay for him

I doubt he would have even gotten 30 mill from another team, I think he was a guy that had a bad reputation, and teams (including Houston) were not going to spend that money on a guy that could hurt them, not help them. Especially in this economy, we overpaid for Artest, he just doesn't know it, I do.

I don't like his comments at all but gosh what's wrong with you ? He has gotten better every game and he's been exactly what I wanted from him today and yesterday. You guys really think we would be better with Ariza right now ? No way.

[Magicontinues]

[

I doubt he would have even gotten 30 mill from another team, I think he was a guy that had a bad reputation, and teams (including Houston) were not going to spend that money on a guy that could hurt them, not help them. Especially in this economy, we overpaid for Artest, he just doesn't know it, I do.[/
I don't like his comments at all but gosh what's wrong with you ? He has gotten better every game and he's been exactly what I wanted from him today and yesterday. You guys really think we would be better with Ariza right now ? No way.

I've never liked the guy, this is not something new for me to rip him. And when he says stupid things like he said in this article IE "the Lakers werent' my first choice", and "I lost 20 million" I just cringe, because he said just a couple months ago he's always wanted to be a Laker, and my thoughts about him being delusional and not good for any team resurface. We need/needed smart players to win rings, I hope he proves me wrong in that he can help us win more, but the dude is just not a smart guy, and that scares me having a dumb guy on my team.

Prove me wrong Artest, but in the meantime, just STFU and play ball would ya!!!

[dockingsched]

ron is wrong. why would anyone (rockets or in a sign n trade) sign ron to 5 yr 54 mil deal? certainly not the rockets even if they were going to keep him with his bird rights. he simply wasn't worth 10 mil a yr with someone like ariza available for much less.

[lakersfanatic]

that's ron being ron... always trying to add his own words into everything lol. I'm glad they played it out on court yesterday, it was fun to watch them battle it out eventhough they said it wasn't.

This comments basically shows he didn't mean to leave rockets in the cold like that. Just that they weren't going to give him what he wants.. actually no team would... so the next best is to take less and have a good run at a championship.

[fareweatherfan]

ron is wrong. why would anyone (rockets or in a sign n trade) sign ron to 5 yr 54 mil deal? certainly not the rockets even if they were going to keep him with his bird rights. he simply wasn't worth 10 mil a yr with someone like ariza available for much less.

Bingo. He got the most any team was willing to pay.

[TonyMontana]

I don't like his comments at all but gosh what's wrong with you ? He has gotten better every game and he's been exactly what I wanted from him today and yesterday. You guys really think we would be better with Ariza right now ? No way.

Not at all. Im more than satisfied with Artest. Dont be shocked though Artest is going to basically be the ecape goat for everything that goes wrong with this team. You can already see that happening.

[DEEP3CL]

It won't matter anyway, the next CBA won't favor the players in any shape form or fashion.......book it.
They're going to do away with a lot of the loopholes exposed over this decade.

Be happy Ron with what you got.......cause it'll be more than what these guys get from here on out.

[SApuro_]

That's good that only 1% of him wishes to be somewhere else. Has to be reassuring as a Laker fan that 99% of him is focused to win a championship and not about numbers or money.

[snaquille oatmeal]

ron will be fine in LA...although ariza was just a better fit for our team.

why do people keep saying that. it has not been proven that Ariza is a better fit because Ron has only played 4 games with the Lakers. after the playoffs we will know if Ariza was a better fit.

[TonyMontana]

.

Snaq I couldnt reply to you, but Im straight but for the life in me Im trying and its really hard specially when it keeps on coming. But Im cool. Thanks for the headsup. MY BAD.