On Thusday night Ron Artest announced that he had agreed to join the Lakers for a mid-level exception contract of approx. $6.2 million per for either 3 or 5 years. In what amounts to a virtual trade with the Houston Rockets, after Trevor Ariza agreed to sign with Artest's former team for the same mid-level exception for 5 years.
What does this mean for LA? It means that they have in effect set themselves a championship window of 3 years. For the next three years they'll keep the core of Kobe-Gasol-Bynum-Artest locked up. Having done virtually nothing the last two years in the draft and focusing on veteran players, Phil Jackson and Mitch Kupchak have decided to play for right now. After the 2011 season it looks like it'll be time to blow it up or reload in a new version with (hopefully) Kobe and Bynum.
Next priority is locking up Lamar Odom to join that core of talent. Odom is reportedly seeking a $10 mil.+ deal. LA is offering in the neighborhood of $8 mil. and is likely to be Odom's best offer. Worst-case scenario is that San Antonio overpays Odom to keep him out of LA and deepen the Spurs bench.
The Artest signing was a good defensive signing in a matter of speaking. It kept Artest away from a contender like Cleveland who was reportedly pursuing him to add alongside LeBron James and Shaquille O' Neal. It also opened up the postion in Houston for Ariza and kept him off a likely championship contender. Cleveland and Boston were rumored to be after him. For all the improving that Cleveland, Orlando, and San Antonio have done this offseason it is good to see LA being proactive and not standing pat with the same vulnerable squad that won the 2009 title.
The two biggest questions for LA going into 09-10 will be likely be defending opposing point guards (Derek Fisher despite his Game 4 heroics is still old, slow, and a terrible defender) and Andrew Bynum's continuing development as a force underneath. There is no question they have the talent both on the court and on the coaching staff to repeat as champs. Like every team going into a new season they'll have to find a new chemistry with new faces, get lucky and stay injury free (that means you, Bynum!), and stay hungry and motivated.
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