Artest To Sign With Lakers

[MillerTime]

Ron Artest has told Ken Berger of CBSSports.com that he will sign with the Los Angeles 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.

The parameters of the deal still need to be agreed upon, however.

"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."

CBC Sports

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/15861966

By Ken Berger

[MillerTime]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

Theres going to be a scary team.

Fisher
Kobe
Artest
Gasol
Bynum

[vnzla81]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

Damn. can I say repeat....

[Hicks]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

[ilive4sports]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

And the trend of the rich getting richer continues. Spurs get Jefferson, Cavs get Shaq, Magic get Carter and now the Lakers get Artest. The NBA is getting a whole lot tougher it seems like.

[Granger-Rush09]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

I Knew it. I knew it. I knew it.

[Hicks]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

Seriously, that will be fascinating to watch, one way or the other.

Either a hilarious self-destruction, or intense games where Kobe/Ron just bowl people over with their intensity.

I'm thinking a little of column A, a little of column B.

But then Phil Jackson is the coach, so...... hmm.

[d_c]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

Seriously, that will be fascinating to watch, one way or the other.

Either a hilarious self-destruction, or intense games where Kobe/Ron just bowl people over with their intensity.

I'm thinking a little of column A, a little of column B.

But then Phil Jackson is the coach, so...... hmm.

Phil Jackson won 3 straight titles with Dennis Rodman on the team. Don't forget Pippen had a pretty good size ego himself.

This is what Phil Jackson gets paid to handle. He gets paid to coach star players and manage their egos.

[billbradley]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

i come from the "ron has changed group" but la la land might be too much for ron to keep it together. something epic will happen, i feel it

that said, assuming ariza is the odd man out. isn't odom,gasol,artest a big three alone before bynum and kobe?!?!?

[Hicks]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

Phil Jackson won 3 straight titles with Dennis Rodman on the team. Don't forget Pippen had a pretty good size ego himself.

This is what Phil Jackson gets paid to handle. He gets paid to coach star players and manage their egos.

I thought that's what I implied?

[Kid Minneapolis]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

If there's one team that can handle Artest, it's LA. Of course, when they win the title next year, all the Artest lovers are gonna credit Artest for everything. Gonna be funny. LA is already the best team in the league, don't think that's a question atm.

[Granger-Rush09]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

If Ron signs with LA they are Undeniably the best in the NBA. Adding Arguably the best Defender in the league, who im certain will put whatever issues he may have aside to win a ring, to the current NBA Champs is a huge Power Move. Nice to know you Trevor.

[Slick Pinkham]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

that said, assuming ariza is the odd man out. isn't odom,gasol,artest a big three alone before bynum and kobe a?!?!?

Odom is probably gone, and Ariza for sure.

They have good therapists in LA but I think that Ron is too crazy to accept the fact that he needs to see one of them.

Interesting to follow... my money is on "subtraction by addition" unless it's a one or two year deal so that the he never leaves the 'honeymoon' and 'playing for a contract' stages of his deal.

[CableKC]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

"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."

Wow....this really goes against everything that I have heard from Artest. Ever since his days with Indy....the one thing that he's always said is that he wants to be paid what he thinks he's worth.

I'm guessing that this is still true....except with the caveat that he has a chance to win a Ring while playing with a Player like Kobe.

In all honesty.....I have ALWAYS believed that if there was one Coach and Player that Artest could play for and not actually do something crazy...it's Phil and Kobe. Both are Players/Coach that I felt that he has always respected.

[rexnom]

Re: Artest To Sign With Lakers

Phil Jackson won 3 straight titles with Dennis Rodman on the team. Don't forget Pippen had a pretty good size ego himself.

This is what Phil Jackson gets paid to handle. He gets paid to coach star players and manage their egos.

Phil Jackson is coaching half of their games this year and probably less next year. Not a good time to quit drinking.

I don't think Artest is an improvement over Ariza. I think Ariza got too rich for their tastes, actually, and Artest was plan B.

I think it's fascinating that Houston, one of the best-run teams in the league, just let Ron walk and focused all their energies on Ariza.