Artest to sign with champion Lakers, report
Agence France-Presse | 07/04/2009 8:43 AM
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LOS ANGELES - Volatile veteran forward Ron Artest is poised to join the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, agreeing to a three-year deal, the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday.
Artest helped the Houston Rockets make it to the playoffs last year before they were eliminated by the Lakers. The defensive specialist says he has been talking to the Lakers for a long time and is hoping he can be part of back-to-back titles in Los Angeles.
"I am very excited to finally be going to LA," Artest said. "For years now, the Lakers have expressed interest in having me play for them. But we could never get the stars to align.
"I look forward to helping the Lakers defend their championship and it will be great to finally not get booed in Staples Center."
Nothing is official and the Lakers can't comment on any deal until the league's moratorium on free agent signings ends on Wednesday.
Artest is infamously known for being suspended a record 73-games for fighting with fans in Detroit in 2004. It was the longest suspension ever handed out for a fight during an NBA game.
Artest spent last season with the Rockets, helping Houston get to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996-97.
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