July 2, 2009

Artest tells CBS Sports he’s signing with the Lakers

Ron Artest tells CBS Sports that he’s signing with the Lakers.

Artest’s exuberance — he spent the whole summer in L.A., including several appearances at Lakers home games during the¨ÜNBA Finals — got ahead of the process a bit. Other teams that made overtures for Artest –¨Üincluding the Cavaliers — have not yet been notified that Artest is¨Üsigning with the Lakers.¨Ü(Consider them notified.) Bauman has spoken with¨ÜLakers GM Mitch Kupchak, but¨Üparameters have not yet been agreed to. Still, it’s pretty clear where Artest is going.

“I don’t really care about the money,”¨ÜArtest said. “I’ll play there for nothing. … L.A. was very interested in me, and they got¨Üme.”

Obviously next year’s off-season will be more exciting, but this year’s hasn’t been too shabby.