Artest to L.A., Ariza to Houston
According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers and Ron Artest have agreed to a three-year deal worth $18 million. However, the first day that free agents can sign contracts is Wednesday (July 8th).
"I've made money over my time in the NBA, I lost money when David Stern suspended me [in 2006 for his role in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl]," Artest told ESPN. "I'm not playing for the money anymore."
"He wants to win a ring," David Bauman, Artest's agent, told The Associated Press. "He's a winner and a hard worker and he went looking for a team with whom he could find some justification for what he does. He plays his best when he's in that kind of an environment."
The Cleveland Cavaliers were pursuing Artest as well. In fact, LeBron James met with Artest Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Artest averaged 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game last year.
Although they added Artest, the Lakers lost Trevor Ariza to the Houston Rockets. Ariza agreed to a five-year deal with the Rockets that could be worth $33.5 million per Marc Stein of ESPN.
In the post-season, Ariza averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assist per game while converting 40 of 84 three-pointers.
Signing Artest makes the Lakers the team to beat (repeat) in 2009-10.
"I've made money over my time in the NBA, I lost money when David Stern suspended me [in 2006 for his role in the infamous Pacers-Pistons brawl]," Artest told ESPN. "I'm not playing for the money anymore."
"He wants to win a ring," David Bauman, Artest's agent, told The Associated Press. "He's a winner and a hard worker and he went looking for a team with whom he could find some justification for what he does. He plays his best when he's in that kind of an environment."
The Cleveland Cavaliers were pursuing Artest as well. In fact, LeBron James met with Artest Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Artest averaged 17.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game last year.
Although they added Artest, the Lakers lost Trevor Ariza to the Houston Rockets. Ariza agreed to a five-year deal with the Rockets that could be worth $33.5 million per Marc Stein of ESPN.
In the post-season, Ariza averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assist per game while converting 40 of 84 three-pointers.
Signing Artest makes the Lakers the team to beat (repeat) in 2009-10.
