LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Ron Artest has decided to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, the free agent forward told in a text message to CBS.

Artest said in the message he was in Los Angeles to complete a deal with the Lakers and he did not "care about the money."

The Los Angeles Times reported the Lakers could pay Artest as much as $32 million over five seasons, which would actually be a pay cut. He made $7.4 million last season with the Houston Rockets.

League rules prevent a free-agent deal from being officially announced until July 8.

With Artest on the court, the Rockets reached the Western Conference semifinals last season for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign. He previously played three seasons with Sacramento.

In a 12-year career with four teams, Artest has scored an average of 16.1 points per game.

Artest could replace Trevor Ariza on the Los Angeles roster. The Los Angeles Times --which reported Thursday that Ariza was unhappy with the Lakers offered -- said the free agent forward had been offered a deal by the Rockets.




Copyright 2009 by United Press International

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"Testing: CoolsatPro 4000, FLU-Pansat/Puff/LZMA, Pansat2700A & ViewsatExtreme 2000 for educational purposes only"

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The signing Ron Artest is a very big move by the Lakers but not as big as the Cavs trading for Shaq. So I think the Lakers will be playing the Cavs in the finals. I think the Lakers will win again because the city of Clevevand is cursed with sport teams. They could have went to the Super Bowl but that fumble screwed them.

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The San Diego Chargers is the best team in the NFL!!!!!!!!!!!



Unauthorized decoding of encrypted signals from either domestic or foreign providers is against the law. I personally do not, nor condone such activities.

i disagree it will be the celtics vs lakers again in the finals and it will be 7 game series with heated heads

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