Ron Artest to the Los Angeles Lakers?
July 2, 2009 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Basketball
According to multiple sources, Ron Artest is headed to Los Angeles to sign with the defending champion Lakers. Artest, whose Houston Rockets took the Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, will reportedly sign an offer using the mid-level exception.
Ron Artest to the Lakers (Image: Zuma Press)
The Lakers needed to look for a new small forward after Trevor Ariza decided to ask for more money than Los Angeles wanted to pay. Although Ariza played great in the NBA playoffs, the Lakers obviously think he is expendable. Enter Ron Artest.
Last season with the Rockets, Artest averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. He shot 40.1% from the floor, 39.9% on three-pointers and 74.8% at the line.
Prior to being traded to the Rockets last year, Artest had previously played with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings. He entered the NBA in the 1999-2000 season as a first round draft pick out of St. John’s.
With the Lakers, Artest will likely start at small forward and give the team a tenacious defender, who can create his own shot, bang in the inside and shoot from the outside.
