#37, Ron Artest
UPDATE (3:00 pm PT)- Just got back from the Artest press conference. He was, as you'd suspect, candid and entertaining. We'll have some copy up ASAP, with video to follow as it can be processed. BK
Those of you wondering what number Ron Artest will be wearing can stop. Elliott Teaford of the Daily News reports a decision has been made:
A nice tribute, for sure. In other news, Luke Walton will go from 4 to 64, honoring the highest point on the Billboard charts for the Grateful Dead's "Truckin'".
UPDATE (9:40 am): Artest on the number choice, from an interview Sunday with Sean Farnham and Jerry Ferrara on AM 570 KLAC, Fox Sports Radio:
"I was trying to figure out a number, I was talking to my wife and kids. I was on my twitter, MySpace, and Facebook and asking everybody to help me pick a number. On my MySpace, somebody named Trish T he Dish came up with the #37 and said that Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was 37 weeks at number one of all time. 23 I was going to choose, it was available, it’s a great number but, I thought (with) that 37 and “Thriller”, I can make that a new great number. I think more kids should start getting the #37 for a great human being, since Michael loved all people. I think I’m representing greatness in wearing #37."
And there you have it.
BK
I guess it's official then ... Artest's nickname is Thriller in Manilla ...
Posted by: Taliq | July 08, 2009 at 08:34 AM
I hope he wears a red leather jacket to signing day.
Posted by: never | July 08, 2009 at 08:47 AM
KBerg_CBS (twitter) is reporting Artest's deal is for five years, $34.3 million -- full mid-level for five years, early termination option after year four.
Posted by: Daniel | July 08, 2009 at 08:55 AM
...yeah, but at $34.3 million (for 5 years)? That's more than I thought we were getting him for. All I can say is that I hope Artest charts for the Lakers at the #3 spot for as many consecutive weeks!
Posted by: jefe101 | July 08, 2009 at 09:02 AM
WOW!!!! A proven entity versus TA's potential, end of discussion:
Artest, a 6’7” 260-pound forward out of St. John’s University, has averaged 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.06 steals in 604 career games (562 starts) during his 10 NBA seasons with Chicago, Indiana, Sacramento and Houston. Originally selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft, Artest is one of only three players in NBA history to post career averages of 16+ points, 5+ rebounds, 3+ assists and 2+ steals (Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler).
The 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Artest has been named NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (2004, 2006) and Second Team twice (2003, 2009). A member of the 2004 Eastern Conference All-Star team, Artest also earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2004 and has finished among the top three league leaders in steals five of the last eight seasons while leading his team in steals in nine of his 10 NBA seasons overall.
In 2008-09, Artest averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.52 steals in 69 games (55 starts) with Houston while setting single-season career-highs in 3-point field goals made and attempted (.399, 153-383 3FG) and leading the Rockets in steals (105).
Posted by: Artest the Artist | July 08, 2009 at 09:04 AM
Never,
>>> I hope he wears a red leather jacket to signing day.
LOL. I was in the leather jacket business when both Thriller and Indy Jones came out. While we sold several hundred red Thriller jackets covered with zippers and studs, we sold thousands of Indy bomber jackets. MJ and HF were the heroes of the industry.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 08, 2009 at 09:14 AM
Never:
Check out http://www.nba.com/lakers/ and you can view the signing and no red leather jacket for you kinky laker fan LOL
Posted by: Kinky | July 08, 2009 at 09:15 AM
BK,
Wow, and to think you guys were trying to curb the MJ references. Looks like Pandora's box is open wide!
Posted by: Laker Kev | July 08, 2009 at 09:17 AM
I've gotta say, Lakers' defense is gonna be NASTY next year.
Kobe and Artest are perennial all-NBA defensive players, Shannon
Brown is a step up from Fish against most guards. And Pau is
an underrated defender as well (ask Dwight Howard how Pau's
defensive skills are).
If Bynum stays healthy and adds that intimidation and shot
blocking dimension, they will be scary good.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 08, 2009 at 09:24 AM
Update:
Broderick Turner has the figures: Artest gets three/18 mil, but can extend the deal for two more years. Full value could be just under 34 mil. Brown (as noted by Long Time Laker Fan/Capologist) get the bi-annual exception. Two years, $4.2 mil, with the second year being a player option for Brown.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 08, 2009 at 09:31 AM
LTLF-
You were right, I was wrong. Brown did sign for the bi-annual. I forgot that he was signed as an FA by Charlotte, not traded there, screwing with the Bird rights. Good pickup!
The salary cap, it's a team effort. (haha)
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 08, 2009 at 09:33 AM
Well the BAE made sense... we had no bird rights on him, so had to use MLE or BAE on him.
The good news is that this time using our BAE on Shannon is much better than a guy named Shammond
There's no comparison
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | July 08, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Now we need LO to step up. Kobe and Magic must talk to him quickly. Don't screw it up, guys!
And why not get a huge deal with Mars and/or Snickers for LO in order to compensate his loss of salary. LA is a big market. So it's worth it. Just an idea.
Guy Owanlele
Posted by: Guy Owanlele | July 08, 2009 at 09:39 AM
...nickname for Ron...."THRILLER"....since he chose 37, the number of weeks the Michael Jackson song was no. 1. I think that when people shout it it will sound like "KILLER"!!!!!!!!!
howaboutit??????
Posted by: humanomaly (aka "The Anti-Crust") | July 08, 2009 at 09:44 AM
LTLF,
You're spot on. I was saying the same thing over the weekend...
If we go big, if we go small - we can put up a defensive line-up that's purely sick.
I'm happy that Shannon is in LA - meaning right now, in LA. I hope he continues to stay in LA for the summer. If he works on his handling, passing, gets a little more consistent with his shot, then he can become our best PG. We don't need a drive and dish PG in the triangle, we need a guy that can do some basic but fundamental things, and UPS is fully capable.
LOVE IT
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | July 08, 2009 at 09:45 AM
I posted b4 reading 1st post, so I'm not the only one.....let's do it!!!!!!
Posted by: humanomaly (aka "The Anti-Crust") | July 08, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Good morning Mamba24 & Laker morning CRUE!!
Welcome #37 - I hope you kick ass as a Laker. I really really do. I am no longer a nay-sayer - I'm an optimistic Lakerholic.
LAMAR WATCH 2009 - still in full effect.
I'm the one going looney-tunes over here.
Still - basking in the championship glow does wonders for my spirit!
Posted by: justanothermambafan | July 08, 2009 at 09:49 AM
So Shannon Brown got the BAE, but how much will he get in the first and only guaranteed year?
Posted by: Ian | July 08, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Ian-
About 1.9 mil.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | July 08, 2009 at 09:52 AM
BK,
I think Dahngay may have been right in his post the other day that we used our NON-BIRD exception to sign Shannon. The Bi-Annual is only worth $1.99M and we paid Shannon $2.3M so I don’t know how that could be the Bi-Annual.
The NON-BIRD exception allows a team to sign its own free agent, if not Bird or Early Bird, for up to 120% of his previous salary. Anybody remember what Shannon’s salary was last year?
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 08, 2009 at 09:53 AM
When they announce Artest in Staples, he should have the "Thriller" as his BGM.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Happy Gilmore | July 08, 2009 at 09:55 AM
I like "Thriller" for a nickname for Ronnie. Actually, I like "The Test". Every SF in the NBA will be put to "The Test" next season.
Posted by: Rick | July 08, 2009 at 09:56 AM
I guess it's official then ... Artest's nickname is Thriller in Manilla ...
Posted by: Taliq | July 08, 2009 at 08:34 AM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
We need something catchy, something you can put on a
t-shirt and still strikes fear into the hearts of the oppenent.
Sadly i havent much to offer, TV and Video games have melted by brain and gutted my imagination the only thing I can remotly think if is Sci-Fi, comic book and movie related type names such as
Ron "Darth Bill" Artest - cold calculating and crazy like a fox. Besides if he findes your lack of faith disturbing you are done for.
Ron "Darksied" Artest - Darksied has only one goal, to conquer the NBA and win a ring. His thirst for for a ring is only matched by his super abilities. He has incredible strength and speed, and also possess a powerful 3 point shot along with many untold powers.
and my personal favorite
Ron "D-FENS" Artest - Think less big cardboard D and fake picket fence and more Michael Douglas in the movie
Falling Down
Posted by: The Infamous El Guapo | July 08, 2009 at 10:03 AM
CHARLEY ROSEN’S TAKE ON ARTEST/ARIZA…
“By the way, there's no doubt that the Lakers deliberately set up this changeover by low-balling Ariza in their brief contract negotiations.”
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | July 08, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Come on Lamar. Fight the good fight, my man. Like these early 80's boys did; live from US, 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/67h9q6
Fight the good fight, sign on the line which is dotted, stay a laker, be smart, not greedy. LA is waiting Lamar.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | July 08, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Taliq,
I think you may have just hit a stroke of genius there.
"Thriller"
Not bad, son. Not bad.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 08, 2009 at 10:13 AM
BK,
Jerry Ferrera from Entourage?
Posted by: Charles | July 08, 2009 at 10:14 AM
In addition, 37 is the number of plays William Shakespeare is thought to have written (counting Henry IV as three parts).
Numerologically 37 is a strong number.
3 and 7 are both prime numbers. Prime numbers have a lot of power, and 37 is also prime, much like 23.
3 + 7 = 10
1 + 0 = 1
1 is the ultimate prime number and a representation of God.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 08, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Another good thing about Ron "Thriller" Artest is that he is PASSIONATE about defense. Passionate about it. It's one thing to be good at defense. It's another thing to be passionate about it.
For a lot of players, defense is something of a necessary evil. It's seen as just not as fun as offense and/or scoring. Thriller Artest thinks a little differently (to say the least). That passion could inspire players like Shannon Brown and Sasha Vujacic to take their defensive game to another level.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 08, 2009 at 10:25 AM
PG position promise to be very interesting, I mean competition between Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar. Shannon needs to prove he deserves more than BAE and if his numbers indeed support this by the end of the season, he can opt out in order to sign better deal. Jordan in the contract year will try to earn new contract, not to mention a subplot, who'll get more playing time left from Fish. I think PJ will try to limit Fish's time to no more than 22-25 min per game and somehow use different skills while playing Shannon or Jordan, or both. I think Farmar will benefit from having someone breathing down his neck, remember when Lakers drafted Javaris, Farmar played probably best bbal. So something good should emerge from those 2 competing for minutes and possibly for unofficial “Lakers PG of the future”.
Posted by: LAL_Fan | July 08, 2009 at 10:27 AM
BK,
So does that mean that both contracts are not taxed?
Posted by: zen | July 08, 2009 at 10:29 AM
In what world does full MLE with full annual increases constitute a "low ball" offer?
Frankly, even LO is realistically looking at that sort of offer, so if the Lakers are anywhere north of this, they're being generous.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | July 08, 2009 at 10:34 AM
So far, here are my four favorite nicknames for Ron Artest, in order of favoritism:
1. Thriller
2. The Test
3. True Warrior (non-hoodalized spelling)
4. The Ruler
We've gotten a lot of good suggestions for Ron's new nickname. I think it's time as a blogmunity that we begin working towards concensus in determining Ron's official (and perhaps secondary) nickname(s).
So, if you are a blog elder or just a committed Lakerholic, I invite you to list your favorite Artest nicknames (non-hoodalized) and let's start to develop concensus.
Now is the time.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 08, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Jon K,
1 is not a prime number.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | July 08, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Interesting note on Ron's choice: Rodman was "73" when he was a Laker.
Jon K, he (Rodman) chose it because it added up to 10, like some of his other numbers.
Posted by: #4 | July 08, 2009 at 10:42 AM
HHAHAHA: ANOTHER DIARRHEA OF MIND & MOUTH FROM JON K
JUST DON'T SEE CORRELATION BETWEEN RON ARTEST AND Shakespeare..MY POINT IS THAT YOU ARE FULL OF BS SIR!!
In addition, 37 is the number of plays William Shakespeare is thought to have written (counting Henry IV as three parts).
FURTHERMORE, RON AND YET ANOTHER NONSENSICAL COMPARISON … 1 is the ultimate prime number and a representation of God.
Posted by: BS Supreme | July 08, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Wes,
I can't believe you dared to play the Triumph card. You're all in, aren't you?
Wow. The fashion sense from the 80's was deeply awful. Just hideous. But somewhere in that awfulness was an innocence that has clearly been lost in the more sophisticated (and shallower) sense of fashion in modern music.
I counter your Triumph card with a commentary:
http://tinyurl.com/63fofb
http://tinyurl.com/lj2pyu
I miss the innocence I've known.
What do we play for? RINGS!!!!!
Lakers Today... Lakers Tomorrow... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!!!!
Posted by: Jon K. | July 08, 2009 at 10:52 AM
At the Lakers OC register section, RA did a track for MJ.
Posted by: Charles | July 08, 2009 at 10:54 AM
LakerTom
>>>we sold thousands of Indy bomber jackets.
I have an Indy leather jacket made by the company that made
the actual jackets for the movies. It's niiiiice.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 08, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Guy Owanlele,
>>>And why not get a huge deal with Mars and/or Snickers
>>>for LO in order to compensate his loss of salary. LA is a
>>>big market. So it's worth it. Just an idea.
DING DING DING DING DING!!!!
Officially, the Lakers can't tie the candy company deal into
their offer to Lamar, but...
Mitch could certainly call up a candy company off the record
and recommend they offer an endorsement contract to Lamar.
In fact, I think they could put both Artest and Lamar in the ads.
Some times you feel like a nut.
Some times you don't.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 08, 2009 at 11:04 AM
LakerTom, are you David Lee? Seriously...
David Lee DROVE Ariza out of town by going to the Riverside Press on the first day of negotiations and saying that Ariza could sign with another team and not even give the Lakers an opportunity to match.
You can spin, spin, spin all you want, David Lee DROVE Ariza out of town.
Spin, spin, spin...
Uh, no, Trevor Ariza is in Houston now making LESS than the Lakers would have offered because his agent got caught up in an ill fated power play and threatened the Lakers that Ariza would sign elsewhere without giving the Lakers a shot at re-signing him.
Spin, spin, spin...
How many ways does everybody have to tell you? David Lee is the one who ran Ariza out of town. End of story.
Posted by: Dallas Raines' Hair | July 08, 2009 at 11:08 AM
LT
>>>The Bi-Annual is only worth $1.99M and we paid
>>>Shannon $2.3M so I don’t know how that could be the
>>>Bi-Annual.
Huh? Where did 2.3 come from?
Year 1 = 1.99 million
Year 2 = 8% raise = 2.15 million
total = 4.139 million
Shannon was on a minimum contract from Charlotte last
year and earned $797,581. If it was a Non-Bird, the max
he could earn the first year would be $957,097, and he
could only get an 8% raise, so his total for two years would
be about 2 million.
It had to be the Bi-Annual.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 08, 2009 at 11:12 AM
>>>So Shannon Brown got the BAE, but how much will he
>>>get in the first and only guaranteed year?
Both years are guaranteed. The second year is a player
option, not a team option.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 08, 2009 at 11:13 AM
LakerTom let it go, there is no going back!!!
Please answer my question, is TA a 50mil player!!
How would you have felt if Mitch signed TA for 50mil and turned down Artest 3yrs 18mil.
You would be the first to say Mitch has lost his touch and was forced into signing TA by hard ball tactics of the agent!!!!
Aaaaaarrrrhhhh!!!
Angry_Laker
Posted by: Angry_Laker | July 08, 2009 at 11:14 AM
LakerTom wrote: (Rosen) “By the way, there's no doubt that the Lakers deliberately set up this changeover by low-balling Ariza in their brief contract negotiations.”
Hm... don't buy it. If Trevor would have gotten more money with the Rockets then that would be fair to say. Yet because he got the same just with another team, and the Lakers did not have Artest in their back pocket, why is Charlie's statement any more accurate than saying the Lakers judged his market value correctly and his agent threw a hissy fit so they parted ways? Is Charlie citing any source other than his own analysis of the situation after it went down?
Posted by: Mike | July 08, 2009 at 11:18 AM
just caught up with some blog reading. heres some takes:
** ARIZA ISSUE.. ladies and gentleman we officially have another dead horse on our hands! WILL SOMEONE PLEASE REMOVE THIS STINKING CARCASS?? BK? but please enough of this he said she said talk... until a witness comes out and says what was said between kupcakes and dlee its all hearsay... but i will chime in and add that i do believe lakers were ready and DID MAKE AN OFFER to ariza.. if he hadnt i think that scumbag dlee wouldve probably made a much bigger deal out of this to the press (esp after he lost face) and ariza probably wouldve come out and said so if they hadnt (sorry more hearsay) so in conclusion signing ron ron was probably most likely just a complete fortunate turn of events (yao injury and dlee dirty tactics)... regardless whether ariza knew or didnt know what was going on in that negotiating room i seriously doubt dlee was calling ALL THE SHOTS.
** SHANWOW... i cant believe this guys took less money to resign. DO YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?? THIS GUY GOT MAJOR HEART AND WE LOCK IN OUR PG OF THE FUTURE (for at least 2 years)... we may now have the most IMPOSING DEFENSIVE LINEUP IN THE HISTORY OF THE NBA (apologies to bill walton) and farmar you big rat-ears having ass mofo you better work your little ass off this summer or you're riding the end of the bench. you're now expendable and now watching dfish may be a lot less painful
** RON RON... i still cant believe we signed this guy (somebody pinch me) i remember how everyone called me just crazy and a complete lunatic when i wanted this guy on the lakers for the last 2 years.. i was part of a huge minority. just an outcast in a leper colony... then kupcakes signs him and then a few bspn reporters endorse the move and ALL OF A SUDDEN ITS A BRILLIANT MOVE!! wow talk about the power of the media.
**ODOM.. what exactly is going on here?? why is everyone so mum on this issue? common K bros please give us something to work with here... this wait is killing us.
Posted by: yellofever | July 08, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Jon K
Some of Shakespeare's plays were tragedies so let's try and keep the Artest signing on a positive note. 37 is also a prime number so Artest can only be divided by hiimself and 1.
To the rest of the blog, I'm not "thrilled" with the nicknames but I don't have any great suggestions either. Maybe we should call him "Lamar's buddy" in the hopes that keeps LO a Laker?
Posted by: NoLongerWaitingforRings | July 08, 2009 at 11:20 AM
LT,
>>>“By the way, there's no doubt that the Lakers
>>>deliberately set up this changeover by low-balling Ariza
>>>in their brief contract negotiations.”
Charley Rosen is someone who has stated that he thinks Ariza
will be an all-star, so he probably thinks the Lakers should
have offered him 10 million a year.
But consider this. If MLE level money was a low-ball offer,
then why did no other team in the league offer more? And
why did Ariza accept that amount from another team? If he's
really worth 8 million a year, then why did he not GET 8 million
a year?
The truth is that in the current economic state of the league,
the team, and the country, MLE level money is the correct
pay level for someone who has performed as Ariza has performed.
If they had offered MLE in 2006, it would be a low-ball. In 2009
with the Lakers' salaries already over the luxury tax line and with
a very limited number of teams with salary cap space, it was
not a low-ball offer. It was offering fair market value.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | July 08, 2009 at 11:21 AM
According to Wiki:
37--The number of as-of-yet unidentified radio signals that have been received from outer space.
The signing doesn't count. The number remains 37. For now.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | July 08, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Apparently- Phoenix got Sasha....according to Chad Ford
27. Phoenix Suns
Key additions: Ben Wallace, Sasha Vujacic, Earl Clark
Key subtractions: Shaquille O'Neal
In limbo: Grant Hill (U), Matt Barnes (U), Stromile Swift (U)
Posted by: Cal | July 08, 2009 at 11:23 AM