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http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...=ESPNHeadlines

Artest says he's leaving the Houston Rockets to join the Los Angeles Lakers.

In a text message to ESPN.com on Thursday night, Artest wrote: "I am happy to say I am goin' to L.A."

ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that Artest and the Lakers have reached a verbal agreement on what is believed to be a three-year contract worth an estimated $18 million. Wednesday is the first day free agents are permitted to sign new deals.

Artest's decision was first reported by CBSSports.com. The mercurial swingman was initially courted by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In his text message, Artest said that he met Thursday with Lakers owner Jerry Buss and had spoken to coach Phil Jackson about the move to Los Angeles, where Artest has been spending his offseasons.

Artest's forthcoming arrival strongly suggests that unrestricted free agent Trevor Ariza -- who played such a pivotal run in the Lakers' championship run -- is bound to leave the team. Broussard reported Wednesday that, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, Ariza was likely to leave the Lakers for a new team because L.A. was reluctant to sign him to a contract starting above the league's $5.6 million mid-level exception, even after Ariza's postseason success.

Ariza has been courted by numerous teams, including Cleveland, and met Thursday in Las Vegas with Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to possibly swap spots with Artest.

Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.

I'd love to see Artest go into the stands and kick Jack Nicholson's ass.   ;D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHZGfKYr3ik

I think this is a great stop for Artest. 

This is a great stop for Artest. Phil Jackson was able to get Dennis Rodman to play nice...Ron Artest will wind up fitting in here and adding a big edge of toughness so that certain Lakers (Pau Gasoft) can learn a thing or two.

Ouch...

Bynum-Gasol-Artest-Bryant-Fisher with Odom off the bench, or Gasol-Odom-Artest-Bryant-Fisher with Bynum off the bench.

That's a pretty solid group.

YEEEEHAAAAWWWW ;D
Sorry to see Ariza go, but this makes it all better.

Lakers fans should be fuckin' ecstatic right now...Artest is a perfect fit for this team, and will make LA even tougher to knock off next season.

The only team that I think looks better on paper right now are the Phoenix Suns, because everyone can see they have the ridiculous depth of talent ( ;) ) and unerring blueprint for success ( ;D ) necessary to dominate on the court for years to come. ( ::) )


Key

;) = insert sarcasm
;D = not sure I can say this with a straight face
::) = aw fuck it, who am I kidding...we seriously suck

Just as I was getting giddy over Richard Jefferson to the Spurs, along with a banger and a gunner in the draft, here comes RonRon to LaLa...

Guess he will not be going to the Celtics then, oh well  :-\

Who cares we didn't need him. Artest is vastly overrated. He takes alot of ill-advised shots and he wasn't even the best defender on the rockets team, that was Shane Battier. Artest is a good defender on above average offensive players, but against ELITE  offensive players  he get's abused. He's not a good FG percentage shooter, 3pt percentage shooter or free throw shooter. Artest is hype who gets by on grit and toughness, but by no means is he an elite player.

Do you even read what you are writing? The only coach who ever controlled Rodman was Chuck Daly. He acted up under Jackson. Hell the Spurs coach did a better job containing Rodman than the guru did.