NBA Changes PT 1 Artest to the Lakers

There has been A LOT of NBA talk lately. Fresh from the draft, the majority of teams are looking to revamp their lineups.  Struggling teams are looking to regroup for the future and the top tier teams are adding components to retain their status.

One of the most popular recent additions was the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring free agent Ron Artest.  Artest is as one of the NBA “bad boys” for his tough physical defense and hard nosed style of play (not to mention his long list of suspensions, fines, technical fouls, and involvement in a brawl between NBA players and fans back in 2004).

This trade is getting a lot of hype because of all of the reported bad blood between Artest and Lakers franchise player Kobe Bryant.  The two have been in years worth of reported battles, some of which involving questionably “dirty” and excessively physical behavior. The most recent being this past year’s Western conference semi finals in which Artest was ejected from a game after arguing with a ref following an elbow to the throat by Kobe.  The brutal series went all the way to Game 7 as the underdog Rockets took the favored Lakers down to the wire before losing on the road.

http://hiphopblips.dailyradar.com

For now though all of that seems to be in the past and Ron shows to be very optimistic in his talk about the new team.

“For years now, the Lakers have expressed interest in having me play for them, but we could never get the stars to align. I’m finally a Laker and I can’t wait to get on the court with Kobe, Pau (Gasol) and the rest of the team, and play for Phil (Jackson). The Lakers really made me feel wanted.”

“I look forward to helping the Lakers defend their championship, and it will be great to finally not get booed in the Staples Center.” – Ron Artest

An aging Artest was looking for a championship-caliber team when he became an unrestricted free agent.  Returning to the Houston Rockets, going to LA or to the Cleveland Cavaliers were his first options.  The uncertainty of health issues regarding Rockets stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady (in addition to a big 3 year contract) helped ease the decision to leave for LA.  Add that to the fact that Phil Jackson is reported to be 99.9% back to return as Lakers head coach, and the fact that the Lakers let starter Trevor Ariza go to play for the Rockets and Artest has ever reason to want to play with the champs.  We will see how he will mesh with Hollywood’s team.

Commentary from the author (100)

In my personal opinion I’m not sure if this will work..  It is obviously a great pick up to replace one defensive specialist (Ariza) with another who is more experienced.  A con in this whole ordeal however is the chemistry factor.  The Lakers are known around the league notoriously as the most egotistical team in the NBA.  Kobe has a lot issues with comardarie (or should I say lack thereof) when his team struggles and Artist hasn’t been on a team full of “celebrity” players in years. The Rockets were a more modest and easy going squad.  Not only that, how will Artest mesh with the strict methodology from coach Phil Jackson?  Remember Phil had a hard time working things out with Dennis Rodman the second time when trying to resurrect his career in LA.  Artest is pretty much the next generation Rodman with his physical style of play and enormous amount of emotion he brings to each game.  One thing that is certain admist all of the questions this upcoming season with have for the NBA, the Lakers are still the team to beat.  The are in the offseason showing that their preparation to attempt to defend their crown.

On another note if wonder if Kobe and Ron, the two “rappers” are going to make a “song” about being on a team together LMAO

What do you think?

Part 2 Shaq to the Cavs Ariza to the Rockets and Top Free Agents