The real reason Lakers want Artest and are letting go of Ariza?

What up Don't need Baron,

Ron Artest is a great one-on-one defender-- but the Lakers did not get him just to guard LeBron James. Artest gives the Lakers something that they were missing even during their championship run last year- which is: toughness.

It is an added luxury to have a one-on-one defender and if the Lakers can also re-sign Shannon Brown along with Kobe- they have three very ahletic solid one-on-one defenders.

It doesn't hurt that Artest is good friends with Kobe and Lamar (but honestly neither of them were out recruiting him like LeBron was). i think Artest had two choices: get paid, or take the mid-level and go to a championship contender. i think Ron regrets not signing with the Lakers two years ago when he had the chance and ended up getting traded from Sacramento to Houston. The situation just kind of worked itself out (almost like the D. Fish situation) because of the injury to Yao and to be able to get a player of Ron's caliber for the mid-level exception is great!

i think it counteracts some of the other moves that teams have made in the off-season:

San Antonio getting Richard Jefferson.

The Celtics possibly getting Rasheed Wallace.

The Cavs getting Shaq and possibly another small forward.

And Orlando got Vince Carter (although are also losing Hedu) which is actually a step backwards.

Nickster

You may have a point there.

Artest signed for 6 million a year, 18 total for 3 years. The mid-level exception is around 5.3 - 5.6 million but the Lakers weren't going to pay any more than that.

So if money was the reason, they would have kept Ariza. But they didn't.

Good point, but I thought that Kobe was the last person Artest wanted to play with, but if it gets him a ring who cares

I don't understand why the Lakers would let Ariza go.

ariza is overrated his good but no one heard of this guy until he made some plays in a few games in the nba finals and western conference finals

Thats a really good point.

Kobe can guard him to.

You know I begining to think you are right.

Wow, I think you're right.