Been away for a week, and have been dying to post in regard to this Artest stab in the back! Yes, it is a stab in the back - can't call it anything less harsh than that Clutchies. He copped an elbow from that prick, and now he wants to jump on his back for a title...he coulda made comparable money elsewhere...so it is what it is...he has signed out and sold out for the fame and the championship - because if you can't beat em, join em....I guess.
He's not getting any younger,so for one reason as he wants to win a title before retirement,join 'em as a Laker,it's a good move for him anyways. Business is just business.
Because MOrey only offer a one year MLE? Yeah, okay. Sorry man I loved Artest on the team but damn if you respect the guy or at least want him back give him a better longer offer.
I'm not attacking you, but I really hate the "it's just business" attitude, especially from players. I mean, I completely understand the reason for it and I'm not naive, but it makes me think I might as well be cheering for Walmart or Citibank. /rant.
the thing is: MOREY DIDN'T. signing artest wasn't even our first priority this offseason. morey knew what kind of player artest was and what he contributed to the team. and he knew offering artest a one year MLE would piss artest off so he wouldn't resign. smart guy.
well i guess that's just a slap in the face for artest. Talk bout disrespect and unappreciated. Morey told the media publicly the rockets want artest back, but he fail to say only for a chump change.
morey has said they're only "listening" to trades for mcgrady. he's a public figure so he has to appear "professional." but if you saw the playoffs as we all did, artest had 3-4 good games out of 13 my friend. morey needed another star who was capable of getting at least 15-20 points CONSISTENTLY to help yao out. artest couldn't provide that. the last 4 games was an eye-opener for morey. without yao, artest wilted offensively and sucked even more. and you want to give that guy a long term contract? we would be killing morey right now if he gave artest ariza's contract.
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/090708lakerssignronartest.html contracting signing video is up... presser at 2:30
So apparently its also a 5 year deal but there is a player option after 3 years? yeah chances are at 33 and diminishing skills Ron is going to stay the entire 5 years unless the lakers trade him first
Signed with the Lakers mate, the arch enemy, hated rival Lakers. Could of signed with another good team for similar coin. Didn't.
I think it's a combination of three things: 1. Houston's offer was not long enough and consequently the Lakers made Artest feel wanted as he stated. 2. Artest signed with Houston with the hopes of playing with a legit big man and another superstar and now he hears Yao's career is in danger and McGrady was injured all year. Artest, as we all did thought that with Yao, McGrady and himself the team could compete for a championship. We all thought that with the big 3 healthy. Artest stated he wanted to compete for a championship that he thought he'd be competing for in Houston....peeps Mac's and Yao's injury history and seriously doubts it. Can you blame him for not wanting to play with a team who's biggest stars get injured often? Death of a vision... 3. Artest loves LA: the entertainment capital of the world (he's got musical projects), Hollywood, beaches, mountains, so many hotties it's ridiculous (I live in LA and there are SO many fine women here it's SICK...Latinas, Armenians, black, white , Asian, Middle eastern) *Note: As of yesteday the Lakers and Odom are far apart on a new contract with Odom making $14 million last year and wanting $10 million per on the new deal. LA talkradio hosts are worried the team won't be able to sign Odom. The Lakers without Ariza, (possibly) Odom and a slower Fisher who can't guard fast penetrating PG's, and throw in Artest and his streaky shooting and declining defense and all the drugs and possible DUI's and craziness that come with parties in Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Belaire, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Venice Beach etc. and I see a much weaker Laker team than the one we came one game from beating without T-Mac and Yao. Artest could very easliy IMPLODE off of the court all by himself in LA. He's been seen at clubs all over LA reportedly and it's easy to get caught up in LA than any other NBA city other than NY IMO. I hate to say it but Phil Jackson and Kobe will be much less tolerant of Artest's poor shot selection and playing outside of the team concept than Adelman was and we could see a much better disciplined Artest in LA than many I've read are predicting. We could very likely see the Artest we all wanted in Houston (posting up and using his size more, less dribbling, smarter passing to cutters, better decision making, and an overall better shot selection taking higher percentage shots). I see the Lakers as weaker than last season and the Rockets with several unanswered questions but with a lot of options and potential (Yao's foot injury healing time, T-Mac, Yao's replacement until he heals and another big to back up Yao's replacement) are the major questions but with the core of players now on the roster, and the attitude and great work ethic there's still a tremendous upside to just out hustle teams with youth and a strong bench.
