AHN Sports Staff
Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - The Los Angeles Lakers, in what essentially became a swap of free-agent forwards, came to terms with former Houston Rockets' Ron Artest Thursday, ending their pursuit of on-the-rise swingman Trevor Ariza.
Artest, who helped the Rockets make it to the Western Conference semifinals this past season, reached a verbal agreement with the Lakers and will play for the mid-level exception.
Artest agreed to a three-year deal worth an estimated $18 million with the Lakers after being offered only a one-year contract to remain a Rocket.
As a result, he will be taking a drastic pay cut after earning $7.4 million in his only season in Houston.
The versatile and famously unpredictable Artest is expected to provide the Lakers with additional firepower and toughness next season, joining Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in their title defense.
Artest, who will be 30 in November, averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 boards and 4.3 assists last season. He also was a second team All-Defensive selection.
Meanwhile, Ariza, a vital cog in the Lakers' championship run, made a verbal commitment with the Rockets a few hours after the Lakers-Artest deal.
The 24-year-old Ariza, best known for his clutch shooting and a reliable defending skills while with the Lakers, agreed to a five-year deal worth about $33 million.
Ariza, who played in all 82 regular-season games, brought his game a notch higher in the playoffs, averaging 11.3 points while shooting a terrific 47.6 percent from beyond the arc.
A frustrated Ariza decided to leave the Lakers after the club's reluctance to offer him a new contract with a value higher than next season's projected mid-level exception.
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