Your Spot For What's Haute!

Lakers Expected To Sign Ron Artest

According to the Los Angeles Times:

By Mike Bresnahan And Broderick Turner 
5:49 PM PDT, July 2, 2009

In a possible free-agent swap of forwards, the Lakers are close to reaching an agreement with Houston Rockets forward Ron Artest and the Rockets have offered Trevor Ariza a contract, The Times has learned.

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.)

Artest, who will be 30 in November, enjoys the Los Angeles lifestyle and was a presence in the courtside seats for some of the Lakers’ games in the NBA Finals.

He is still a formidable defender and averaged 17.1 points last season, though he would have to take a pay cut from the $7.4 million he made last season because the Lakers don’t have as much money at their disposal when it comes to other team’s free agents.

Artest has been meeting with Lakers executives throughout the day and is expected to agree to terms later this afternoon.

Tweet Tags: ariza, final negotiations, Lakers, lakers artest, ron artest lakers, trevor ariza