Sports Thread #5 for 7/2/09: Artest Likely to the Lakers

(A record fifth sports thread on TWD today, by the way.)

It looks like all the concerns of resigning Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza are being put to rest.

"I'm definitely going to L.A. -- to sign, yeah," Artest said in a phone interview. "Lakers, Lakers, Lakers. I'm in L.A. right now."

Artest said he met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss Thursday and previously had spoken with Lakers coach Phil Jackson. He was en route to his financial manager's office, where he planned to huddle on the phone with his agent, David Bauman, to finalize details.

Artest's exuberance -- he spent the whole summer in L.A., including several appearances at Lakers home games during the NBA Finals -- got ahead of the process a bit. Other teams that made overtures for Artest -- including the Cavaliers -- have not yet been notified that Artest is signing with the Lakers. (Consider them notified.) Bauman has spoken with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, but parameters have not yet been agreed to. Still, it's pretty clear where Artest is going.

"I don't really care about the money," Artest said. "I'll play there for nothing. ... L.A. was very interested in me, and they got me."

Only a 25 year old Shaquille O'Neal will stop the Lakers from winning the title. and speaking of Shaq, here's some highlights of his press conference

By the way, did that announcer say Shaq was going to run the floor with Ilgauskas? Please, that guy is done.