Since the Lakers are in the process of signing Houston forward Ron Artest, there's almost no way they'll match the Rockets' offer. The deal is said to be for mid-level money, which would be roughly the same amount the Lakers offered him. "I understand that they did sign Ron Artest," Ariza said of the Lakers. "They did what they had to do." Call us crazy, but Ariza would have been much better off checking his ego at the door and trying to re-sign with the World Champions, instead of joining a team that will be lucky to make the playoffs.

"L.A. is what it is," Artest said. "I've been here for the whole summer, and it's pretty good. It's good for me. I know Lamar Odom, so that's pretty cool." While that's nothing more than Artest talking excitedly about his new team, you have to think he and Odom have talked recently. Trevor Ariza looks to be good as gone, but our guess is that Odom will return to the Lakers next season.

If the Knicks are going to offer Kidd three years, which is what the Mavericks are offering, the chances of him going to New York look much better - even if the offer is for less money. Kidd would love to play for Mike D'Antoni and his kids live in New York. "I have a little leeway which will leave me in good position for next year," Walsh wrote to The Associated Press. "I know what it is but do not talk much about it."

However, if he stops playing basketball for one full year he can re-enter the draft and would be up for grabs again. The latest word out of Spain is that Rubio is planning on fulfilling his contract with DKV Joventut, meaning he won't play in the NBA for at least two years. He will start being paid as the No. 5 pick on the rookie scale whenever he does join the league, so the sooner he does so, the faster he'll make his money. And for what it's worth, the Wolves say they have not heard from Rubio's camp that he is returning to Spain for two years.

"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 that he met with owner Dr. Jerry Buss Thursday, has spoken with Phil Jackson and is meeting with his agent, David Bauman, tonight to finalize details. This likely means Trevor Ariza will not be returning to the Lakers, but could be joining Artest's former team, the Rockets. "I don't really care about the money," Artest said. "I'll play there for nothing."

Dallas is reportedly offering him their full mid-level exception - which could be for five years starting at about $5.6 million. If the offer is for five years, there's a decent chance the Magic will choose not to match it due to the luxury tax penalties that would follow. And after also losing Tony Battie and Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic could be pretty thin in the front court.

The Heat probably wouldn't make either player an offer of more than one year, but could also explore sign-and-trade possibilities.