Artest, Brown sign with Lakers
July 7, 2009 | 10:43
pm
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.
Hope they will formally introuduce Ron as new member of Lakers with Kobe as one of the members of the team to welcome him...
Posted by: Lil_jef_pinoy | July 07, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Barring any catastrophic injuries or Artest meltdowns next season,.....................Back-To-Back Champions!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Bobot Symbol | July 08, 2009 at 01:13 AM
No doubt the're stronger and better than last year, provided they sign Lamar. If Bynum becomes the force we expect him to be before the injury, the Lakers will be so SCARY.
Posted by: RUDY D. ALISCAD | July 08, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Odom?
Posted by: Paul | July 08, 2009 at 09:09 AM
So we get to keep Luke with his ridiculous contract and we lose Ariza. Wouln't you rather have Ariza back up RonRon than Luke????
every team has bad contracts...so why not let each team once a year drop one bad contract...hey if you cant play up to the level they are paying you for, why not?
Posted by: gary bart | July 08, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I'd still rather have Trevor Ariza
Posted by: Bob | July 08, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Artest is an upgrade...but I like the idea that's floating around that we should've kept Ariza for money that someone like Walton is making.
Posted by: Island_Gamer | July 08, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Gasol 15 ppg 9 rpg
Bynum 15 ppg 9 rpg
Odum 15 ppg 9 rpg
Artest 15 ppg 7 rpg
Bryant 30 ppg 6 rpg
Posted by: David | July 12, 2009 at 10:45 PM