From the ArcaMax Publishing, Sports Update Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/sports/s-574824-854367
LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Ron Artest has decided to sign with the Los
Angeles Lakers, the free agent forward told CBSsports.com in a text
message.
Artest said in the message he was in Los Angeles to complete a deal
with the Lakers and he did not "care about the money."
The Los Angeles Times reported the Lakers could pay Artest as much as
$32 million over five seasons, which would actually be a pay cut. He
made $7.4 million last season with the Houston Rockets.
League rules prevent a free-agent deal from being officially announced
until July 8.
With Artest on the court, the Rockets reached the Western Conference
semifinals last season for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.
He previously played three seasons with Sacramento.
In a 12-year career with four teams, Artest has scored an average of
16.1 points per game.
Artest could replace Trevor Ariza on the Los Angeles roster. The Los
Angeles Times --which reported Thursday that Ariza was unhappy with
the Lakers offered -- said the free agent forward had been offered a
deal by the Rockets.