Ron Artest has signed a mid-level exception to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Artest will receive $18 million over three years.

Artest is a skilled enforcer that mixed it up with Lakers star Kobe Bryant on multiple occassions during the 2009 NBA Playoffs. He will add an extra toughness as the Lakers try to defend their championship.

This comes on the day we learned that the Lakers weren’t interesting in giving forward Trevor Ariza more than the same mid-level exception.  Ariza has signed a new deal to play with the Houston Rockets.

So basically the Rockets traded Artest to the Lakers for Ariza.  Perhaps it will be a win-win for both, but for now I am going to chalk this one up as an advantage to the Lakers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were also interested in signing Artest.

[image: wenn.com]