Laker Linkage - 7/8/09
lakersoffire.com 7/8/2009 — Oh sweet Jesus! So much for Ron Artest not being crazy. Check out his video “tribute” to Michael Jackson and prepare to weep, not tears of sorrow for Jacko but for the Lakers who clearly know not what they are getting themselves into. The Artest and Brown contracts will become ...

Lakers’ Fearsome Foursome: Artest, Kobe, Odom And Pau
lakeshowlife.com 7/3/2009 — ESPN’s Chris Broussard is reporting that Ron Artest and the Lakers have agreed on a three-year, $18 million deal. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this signing, is that the Lakers now, at least on paper, have one of the most-imposing foursomes ever to step on NBA ...

Laker Linkage - 7/17/09
lakersoffire.com 7/17/2009 — Now that the Jazz have announced they will match the offer sheet Portland extended to Paul Millsap, they are back in the market for a big free agent and everyone thinks Lamar Odom should be at the top of their shopping list. Thus far the Blazers are being awfully shy about reaching out to ...

Laker Linkage - 7/6/09
lakersoffire.com 7/6/2009 — The legend of the Kobe-Artest shower meeting is confirmed by Phil Jackson . Ron Artest has posted some personal video diaries from the night leading up to his signing with the Lakers . The most interesting thing from the video is that it sure seems like it was the Lakers who reached out to ...

Laker Linkage - 7/13/09
lakersoffire.com 7/13/2009 — Rockets’ head coach Rick Adelman has nothing but praise for Ron Artest . Then again, what do you expect him to say? He’s not about to give Artest bulletin board material for next season and if he does think Ron-Ron is crazy, he isn’t going to tip off the Lakers to it just ...

Laker Linkage - 7/29/09
lakersoffire.com 7/29/2009 — The Story: A Miami area columnist thinks that this whole Odom dilemma can be resolved amicably if the Heat and Lakers agree to a Haslem-Odom sign-and-trade agreement . The Fire Says: That is a nice idea and all and I even suggested it a week or two ago, but the Lakers have no incentive to ...

Laker Linkage - 7/28/09
lakersoffire.com 7/28/2009 — The Story: Hoopsworld is reporting that the Lakers have made their reduced offer to Odom which is $25 million over three years (down from $27 million) but he can get back to $27 million with incentives. The Fire Says: That isn’t much of downgrade for Odom so hopefully it won’t ...

Laker Linkage - 7/23/09
lakersoffire.com 7/23/2009 — The Story: John Ireland reports that Lamar Odom, not his agent, chose to turn down the Lakers four-year contract offer and that the offer has since been pulled off the table. The Fire Says: There is a lot of misinformation out there on Odom right now, so I don’t know how much I ...

Laker Linkage - 7/20/09
lakersoffire.com 7/20/2009 — If Odom’s refusal to re-sign is really about the money, than why would he take less to go to Miami ? For LO, the contract offers are all about respect. In his eyes, the Lakers are low-balling him while the Heat are offering the best that they can, even if it is significantly less.  ...

Laker Linkage - 7/22/09
lakersoffire.com 7/22/2009 — The Story: The Blazers continue to ignore Lamar Odom and now appear to be targeting Andre Miller instead . The Fire Says: OK, Portland, we get it, you really don’t want Lamar Odom. I understand preferring Hedo Turkoglu or Paul Millsap, but Andre Miller? Well, good luck with that ...

Ron Artest's Big Move: But Was It The Best Move? — Bleacher Report - NBA 7/7/2009
It's a long way from being the NBA's face of evil incarnate. After a few quiet, though unsuccessful, seasons in Sacramento, Ron Artest's image as a citizen was mostly rehabilitated. After a shockingly successful playoff run in Houston, the last ...

The Blazer Alternative to Free Agency — Bleacher Report - NBA 7/7/2009
The first few days of July 2009 were like a kid's anticipation for Christmas for Blazer fans. For the first time in years, the Portland Trail Blazers were on the verge of signing a legitimate free agent. A guy who could potentially put the ...

Kobe Bryant Guest Stars on FOX Business Network's Scoreboard — Bleacher Report - NBA 7/7/2009
In an interview that will air tonight on Fox Business Network's Scoreboard, Los Angeles Lakers very own Kobe Bryant discusses his opinions on the tragic death of the king of pop, Michael Jackson, as well as what it was like to personally win his ...

Dynamic Change In Los Angeles: Trevor Ariza Out, Ron Artest In — Bleacher Report - NBA 7/7/2009
Think back—way back—all the way to May. It was the second round of the Western Conference Playoffs and things were getting pretty chippy between the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Rockets’ Ron Artest. The two players had an ...

Be Careful What You Wish For LeBron — Bleacher Report - NBA 7/7/2009
We are going to do some time traveling, so hang on and enjoy the ride.  It's a few months into the future and the NBA season has started. LeBron has just fallen asleep on the Cavaliers jet, fresh off a win, feeling good and ...