Ron Artest is a Los Angeles Laker! This is nuts — pun intended!
CBS Sports: Shaq can have LeBron. Ron Artest says he’ll take Kobe.
Artest, whose versatility and toughness have made him one of the most coveted and combustible players in the NBA, told CBSSports.com Thursday that he’s signing with the Lakers.
“I’m definitely going to L.A. — to sign, yeah,” Artest said in a phone interview. “Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I’m in L.A. right now.”
Artest said he met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss Thursday and previously had spoken with Lakers coach Phil Jackson. He was en route to his financial manager’s office, where he planned to huddle on the phone with his agent, David Bauman, to finalize details.
Artest’s exuberance — he spent the whole summer in L.A., including several appearances at Lakers home games during the NBA Finals — got ahead of the process a bit. Other teams that made overtures for Artest – including the Cavaliers — have not yet been notified that Artest is signing with the Lakers. (Consider them notified.) Bauman has spoken with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, but parameters have not yet been agreed to. Still, it’s pretty clear where Artest is going.
“I don’t really care about the money,” Artest said. “I’ll play there for nothing. … L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me.”
Continue reading ‘BREAKING NEWS: Ron Artest is signing with the Lakers!’
We’ll miss you, Trev. No matter where you go, you’ll always be a Laker for life.
ESPN: The Houston Rockets have answered the defection of Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Lakers by quickly reaching an agreement to sign Trevor Ariza away from L.A.
NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com that Ariza made a verbal commitment Tuesday night to sign a five-year deal with the Rockets on Wednesday — the first day free agents are permitted to sign new contracts — not long after the Lakers and Artest reached terms on a three-year deal worth an estimated $18 million.
ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan reports that Ariza, according to sources, will receive the Rockets’ full mid-level exception, which is being projected to come in at $5.8 million for next season. If the exception for the 2009-10 season is indeed set at $5.8 million Wednesday when the league announces next season’s salary cap and luxury tax, Ariza’s deal would be worth $33.5 million.
The Rockets shifted their focus away from Orlando Magic restricted free agent Marcin Gortat on Thursday when it became clear that Gortat was on the verge of reaching terms with the Dallas Mavericks and when it became known leaguewide that Ariza was determined to leave his hometown Lakers — in spite of his vital contributions to L.A.’s championship run — because they were unwilling to start his new contract higher than the mid-level exception.
Continue reading ‘Ariza verbally commits to Houston’
Ron Artest is a Laker! Here is the deal we signed him to…
ESPN: 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.
Ariza and his agent will meet with the Rockets. His agent hints at a possible 5-year deal…
My Fox Houston: Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey and Head Coach Rick Adelman are in Las Vegas Thursday meeting with free agent forward Trevor Ariza according to his agent David Lee in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.
“Your general manager and coach are meeting with Trevor (Thursday),” Lee said. “Trevor and Rick spoke by phone (Wednesday).
“This is a five-year commitment. It’s important for Trevor to go to a place where he his wanted and can contribute.”
According to Lee, Houston would be a perfect fit.
“The Rockets have liked Trevor for a long time,” Lee said. “They covet what he can do.”
Lee said he has already received a number of offers, most of them are the mid-level exception.
“But two of three of those offers are more than that,” Lee said.
Lee said Ariza is getting more and more interest every day because, until recently, most teams believed the Los Angeles Lakers were not going to let him go.
If true, Ariza will be gone. Ron Artest anyone?
Yahoo! Sports: According to a Twitter post by Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Trevor Ariza will become a very rich man at the hands of the team that loses out on Hedo Turkoglu.
League executives believe Portland or Toronto, whichever team does not sign Turkoglu, will offer Ariza between $32 million and $40 million deal.
The update on Ariza is it looks like the Lakers are willing to match the offers Ariza has been receiving but not go over.
Press Enterprise: A Lakers source speaking on the condition of anonymity said the offers Ariza has received from other teams are for the $5.6 million mid-level exception.
The Lakers are willing to match the other offers on the table for Ariza, according to the source, but they’re not going to overpay simply because it’s their own player.
UPDATE: It looks like Ron has signed a deal. Check out his latest tweet from moments ago…
- i just signed my deal. we ballin tonight. champagne on me (via twitter)
It looks like Ron posted his farewell “tweet” to the city of Houston…
- THANKS ALOT HOUSTON.:) I HAD ALOT OF FUN:) (via twitter)
Some interesting tweets from Ron’s brother. And with Ariza possibly leaving, Ron Artest would be more than welcome by us here at The Lakers Nation…
- LA is in the lead for Ron. (via twitter)
- Selling Ron to Cle is tough. Lol. LA bright lights. Arrgh. But understandable. (via twitter)
- I want Ron to sign with Cleveland but Lebron unloyalty to his city is probably the reason y he won’t. But lebron needs to stop bullshittn. (via twitter)
Also, sources say Ron is unlikely to return to Houston…
RealGM: “NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday it is unlikely free agent forward Ron Artest will return to the Houston Rockets. League sources told FOX 26 the Rockets would be willing to offer Artest a one-year contract at best. The sources said because of that the chances of Artest resigning with Houston are remote.”
Not good, not good at all…
ESPN: Trevor Ariza’s short but sweet stay in Los Angeles might be coming to an end.
The 24-year-old swingman, who played a key role in the Lakers’ run to their 15th NBA championship, is on the verge of leaving the club, sources close to the situation said on Wednesday.
With at least five teams pursuing Ariza, the Lakers are currently unwilling to pay him more than the $5.6 million mid-level exception.
“They’re letting him go,” one of the sources said.
Cleveland is making a hard push for Ariza, and the Cavaliers’ coaching staff was speaking with him on Wednesday. While Cleveland can only offer the mid-level as well, Ariza’s disappointment with the Lakers’ stance has moved other suitors ahead of his current team.
The Rockets, Clippers, Raptors and Blazers are also showing interest in Ariza. Portland and Toronto could each offer more than the mid-level exception.
Continue reading ‘Sources: Ariza may leave Lakers’
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