Artest, Brown sign with Lakers

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Ron Artest and Shannon Brown, both of whom agreed to play for the Lakers, each signed their contracts Tuesday night with the team after the moratorium had been lifted.

Artest signed a deal for three years, $18 million, but Artest has the option of extending two more years to the deal for a total of five years and about $33.8 million.

Brown signed the two-year ‘bi-annual exception’ for $4.2 million, with a player option for the second year. He’ll earn $1.9 million in the first year of the contract.

Free agents were allowed to sign contracts at 9:01 p.m. PDT Tuesday.

The Lakers took both Brown and Artest to dinner but to separate locations.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo credits for Artest (top) and Brown: Associated Press.