CBSsports.com reports Artest will sign w/Lakers

[fairweatherfan06]

Houston is throwing the MLE at Ariza it looks like the Lakers and Rockets may essentially swap SF, only difference is Houston may save some money since I think Artest salary was greater than Ariza's last year?

[tb727]

This is awful.

Can someone please clarify if the Lakers can still sign Odom and/or Ariza still? 

Because if they lost both of them and only gain Artest it's not nearly as bad as if they say, get Artest and to keep Odom...

They could still sign both, but don't worry they won't. They don't want to be that over the luxury tax.

So they wouldn't sign both (Odom AND Ariza), likely just 1 of them and Artest, right?

This still sucks as a Celts fan.

[johnnyrondo]

Well yeah they could still sign one, especially if Artest takes less to sign there. He says he'd sign their for nothing. lol.

[cornbreadsmart]

i actually think it could be artest harnessing kobe. i'm sure kobe's teammates no how fake he is. there won't be any not passing to gasol when he's 8 for ten from the field because he,kobe, needs the spotlight. artest is a nut but part of that is his craziness is either feared or respected. because of fear, i think it's POSSIBLE kobe finally for the 1st time in his career,plays a team game.
  then again it could implode. hoping for the latter. god, i hate the lakers so much.

[winsomme]

you're probably right that it will get the biggest headlines...also because LA just won the Title, but the biggest signing will end up being the one that works the best....

Agreed.  And I can't help but notices there is still one glaring difference and advantage with the C's and all these other teams that have made big moves.  Our starting 5 is completely the same as last year.  All of these other teams will have to take a period of time to accommodate and  integrate these new players into their system.  With some solid bench acquisitions for the C's I still see there core as being the most cohesive unit out there, as they've played together the longest and know what to expect from one another.  Orlando has to figure out its thing sans Turkoglu, Cleveland has to integrate Shaq and his big personality, and the Lakers the same with Artest.  San Antonio with Jefferson as well.

All we have to do is integrate a hopefully more talented bench to work around what we've already got.  The other teams might have to reinvent themselves a little bit.

Good Points. TP. The other teams are going to have a much bigger adjustment period. CLE if for no other reason than SHAQ is such a unique player.

but I love it. I love great teams battling. Just like the 80s...let's hope everybody stays healthy.

[Champzilla]

DYNASTY BABY !!!

[Stu]

ESPN finally jumps on board:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4303679

[KungPoweChicken]

What are the chances the Lakers still sign Odom, because I'd love to see the Spurs get him.

[Tough Juice]

the biggest problem is that they'll probably resign Odom too and show the door to Ariza, well they'll lose Ariza, but they'll get Artest and Odom, so practically they'll be way better next season

[JSD]

the biggest problem is that they'll probably resign Odom too and show the door to Ariza, well they'll lose Ariza, but they'll get Artest and Odom, so practically they'll be way better next season

Sadly, even if they lose Odom they have improved.

[KungPoweChicken]

Assuming Artest is getting the full MLE and Odom is getting 8 million annually, the Lakers will have a payroll teetering on 100,000,000.

[celticmaestro]

Artest has to start, and if they lose Ariza then it's a slight upgrade. Ariza can only get better, Artest will only get worse. That's the silver lining here guys. And if they lose Odom and Ariza, they're worse than last year Artest or no Artest.

[Tough Juice]

Artest will get a big paycut, he'll play there for nothing... words from his mouth

[screwedupmaniac]

Assuming Artest is getting the full MLE and Odom is getting 8 million annually, the Lakers will have a payroll teetering on 100,000,000.

and that's before Kobe's 3 yr, 85-90 million dollar contract extension lol...lakers are gonna be screwed up financially for a bit.

[silvershamrocker]

 

We better get Sheed.