"First he said it was money issues ... then he said I'm going to take up a roster spot and that he's not and the owner's not willing to wait," Powe said. "He said they've got a two-year window to win the championship and they wanted someone who could play right away."

"They gave me a lot of reasons why. It's not like I'm asking for $30 million a year. That would be hard," Powe said. "Just give me something for one year, just to show y'all that I'm going to work hard and when I come back I'm going to be right."

"I thought, 'I've been with the team, they know me, they know I'm a hard worker. I've done everything I've been asked. I was playing hurt when I did it,'"‰" he said, referring to the anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"They told me I need to go find another team. I didn't think they'd do anything like that."
"You always want to be somewhere you're appreciated. At that time I didn't feel appreciated," he said.

"I got a lot of motivation right now," he said. "I love the work, it's just a challenge for me. I've been down this road. It's nothing new.

"I ain't got no doubts. I know as soon as I get back on the court I'm going to be ready to play and play good."

Today he told reporters “I’m not here to demand 40 or 50 shots. Thirty (laughing). I’m just coming in to do my part.” Funny because during his introduction in Phoenix he said almost the identical thing, “I’m not a ball freak I’m not going to be asking for 30 or 40 touches. I just want to fit in”. We all saw how that worked out for the Suns. By the 2008-2009 season Shaq was demanding more touches than a frat boy at a strip club and instead of advancing the Suns fans’ dream of a title, he and his personality helped to dash them.

Don’t get us wrong Cleveland, stay optimistic as long as you can. Try not to lose faith until it becomes abundantly clear that you have to. Just remember, when Shaq came to the desert, the Suns were a first place team in the west, they were a title contender for four years running and they just couldn’t get over the proverbial hump to win it all (sound familiar?). One hundred and three games, thousands of tweets and one playoff win later the Suns are no longer a contender and are on the verge of losing one or two of their stars, Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash, (if you’re not careful it will sound familiar sooner than you think). Buyer beware, because once you buy into the hype that is Shaq the process begins and, at least in Phoenix, it ends with the fans still urning for a ring and with the feeling of a “Big Disappointment”.

Looks like I can go back to hating Ron Artest on the court. I disliked him on the court for the Rockets

Good Riddance! this guy was a locker room cancer

I won't lie, I'm happy he's not a Rocket....not so happy he's a Laker though, unless he implodes that team like he has every other team he has been on.

I couldn't agree more. I think he has a good chance of imploding that team. His horrible shot selection isn't going to sit well with Kobe

I'm glad he's gone. He sucked on the court.

no idea what actually took place, but the Lakers are absolute idiots if they chose to give Ron Artest the MLE in lieu of Trevor Ariza. I'm guessing though that Ron was plan B after Trevor gave word that he wouldn't be back. I can't see them being that stupid.

Good, someone to keep the ball out of Kobe's hands.

he will implode that team. ariza was a better fit for them b/c he only shoots when he's wide open and NEVER creates his own shot (even if he can b/c he has that ability sometimes). ron dribbling and going nowhere will piss kobe off.

Nice, Artest the chemistry killer will destroy the Lakers.

Agreed. There is no way in hell that Kobe is going to put up with that crap when not even Rafer Alston could. Ron doesn't even bring defense anymore.
This is an atrocious signing by the Lakers, especially coupled with the fact that they're losing Ariza, a guy who fit like a glove on that team.
I don't think they repeat next year, just based on this.

I can honestly see Ron, Kobe, and Odom fighting in the locker room. Something will happen in that locker room before the season ends.

there is nothing special about artest. his selfish play was detremintal to the Rockets. So long Artest. I really don't care where he ends up. as long as it isn't here.

I think this great news. I had hopes for Artest when he came over but was really disappointed in his play.

Agreed, his toughness/attitude was better than his actual play on the court, I can't wait to see him implode that team.

Ron is gone so what. He didn't do anything here anyway. He wasn't the Ron Artest that we saw. Good ridance. We were suppose to have 2 shut down defenders. I found it funny how we still only had 1. Every guy Ron guarded just went right by him. Hmmmm some great defender. He use 2 be good but the past 2 1/2 years his defense has slipped.

Artest can't guard anybody anymore that has a quick first step. Lakers should have gone with Ariza imo.

i imagine Kobe fighting to get the ball from his teammate Ron

Artest is not the caliber player he thinks he is. And his Robert Horry imitation grew old fast.

honestly this is probably the best case scenario. artest has the best potential to internally destroy the lakers.