Editor's Note: Artest for Ariza?

Trevor Ariza took a gamble, one that ultimately did not work out the way he thought it would. He thought that he could get the Lakers to up their offer, to put more cash on the table. Unfortunately for him, the Lakers found a more cost-effective substitute with Ron Artest. And now it looks like an old-fashioned swap, with LA taking Artest while Houston signs Ariza. In the long run, the Rockets have a better investment. Trevor is young and athletic, and can help a team that struggled to defend at times last season. Artest gives the Lakers a helping hand, a trustworthy defender who can take pressure off Kobe Bryant. He's a tenacious player who will leave it all out on the court. Both teams have much to gain from their respective transactions. How much though will be seen during the season.

If Ariza does leave for the Lone Star State, the Lakers are now in a prime position to resign Lamar Odom. One of the most versatile players the league has ever seen, Odom grew up playing basketball on the streets of Queens with Ron Artest. Artest's arrival, coupled with Ariza's departure, makes Odom's return almost inevitable.

Ron Artest to Sign with Lakers and Fill Ariza's Void

Ron Artest is close to finalizing a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to CBS Sports. The controversial player was previously seen as a trade-target for the Lakers during the off-season last year. The news of Artest's impending arrival came just hours after word broke that Trevor Ariza was dissatisfied with the Lakers' offer, and would look to other clubs even if their proposal's equaled LA's. Ariza also reportedly met with Houston Rockets officials in Las Vegas. The deal could also help the Purple-and-Gold bring Lamar Odom back, as Artest and Odom know each other from their days growing up in New York. ESPN reports the deal is worth $18 million over three years.

Trevor Ariza has reportedly agreed in principle to a deal with the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN.

Ariza Discontent with Offer

Trevor Ariza is closer to leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN, after he was disatisfied with their initial offer of $5.6 million per year. Ariza has garnered interest from Cleveland, as well as Portland, Toronto, Houston, and the Clippers. However, only the Raptors and Blazers could offer more than the Lakers due to the salary cap. Sources say Ariza's disappointment with the Purple and Gold's offer has put the other teams ahead of the Lakers on his wish-list.

NBA Free-Agency Begins

At 9 o'clock tonight, free-agency began in the NBA, and no one faces a more daunting task than the Lakers. The Purple and Gold must try to resign Lamar Odom (left), Trevor Ariza (right), and Shannon Brown. It will be a long and bumpy road as owner Jerry Buss and GM Mitch Kupchak try to bring all three back while still not going too high above the salary cap. Ariza is a young small-foward who showed his incredible athleticism in the playoffs, grabbing steals and hitting three-pointers almost automatically. Odom came up big after Andrew Bynum went down with a knee injury, and was a force off the bench. He is capable of playing all five positions, and is a rebounding machine. Brown was a sign of stability at the point-guard spot as Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar both began to underperform. As Fisher gets older, Brown might be needed to split time with Farmar. It's not an easy task to have all three men return, and even with the extra cash from selling their draft picks, the Lakers have a lot to think about.

Kobe Promises to Stay with Lakers

Kobe Bryant told reporters he will not be leaving Los Angeles anytime soon. Bryant has an option for the next season, and could opt-out if he chooses to. However, Kobe openly said both to reporters and at the victory rally that he will remain with the Lakers. He could opt-out purely to create a new contract though. Bryant sounded more concerned with the free-agency of Lamar Odom and Trevor Ariza. Both were key in the playoff run, but with the salary-cap keeping both seems highly unlikely.

Game 5: And the Winner Is...

...Your Los Angeles Lakers! The Purple and Gold defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86 to take the series 4-1, and were crowned NBA Champions. The game looked like a nail-biter as Orlando had a 2-point lead after the first quarter. But the Lakers stormed back, and outscored the Magic 30-18 in the second to enter halftime with a comfortable 10-point lead. It was all Lakers after that as they held on to win the game, the series, and the title. Orlando shot just .415 from the field for the entire game, and failed miserably on rebounds, 47-36. The Lakers were not perfect, but 8 blocked shots and 13 offensive boards helped pad their lead. Kobe Bryant was named MVP of the Finals as he had 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 blocked shots. Lamar Odom had 17 points and 10 boards off the bench, and Pau Gasol added 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Trevor Ariza chipped in 15 points, and Derek Fisher threw in 13. Rashard Lewis led the Magic with 18 points, and Dwight Howard had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Game 4: The Fish that Saved LA Pt. 2

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 99-91 in overtime, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. The Lakers entered the second half down by 12, but stormed back in the third quarter to take a 4-point lead. The Magic quickly responded, and took what looked like a sure 3-point lead with only seconds left in the game. However, Derek Fisher sent the game into overtime with a long 3-pointer. In OT, Fisher again hit a 3-pointer to give LA the lead for good. The Lakers won the OT period 12-4. Orlando was nowhere near their dominant shooting from Game 3, going 31-for-74 from the field. Their fatal flaws were the free-throws and the turnovers though; the Magic were 22-for-37 from the charity stripe and committed 17 turnovers. Kobe Bryant had 32 points and 8 assists, and Pau Gasol chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds. Trevor Ariza had 16 points as well, all coming in the second half. Fisher finished with 12 points. Dwight Howard led the way for the Magic, scoring 16 points, grabbing 21 rebounds, and blocking a record 9 shots. Hedo Turkoglu added 25 points, and Mickael Pietrus had 15 off the bench.

Game 3: So Close, Yet So Far

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Orlando Magic 108-104, but still have a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. The game was close for most of the time, with neither team able to compile a double-digit lead. Orlando entered the fourth quarter with a 6 point lead, but the Lakers were able to cut it to two and even tie it on various occasions. However, LA could not overcome the hump, and never managed to take the lead in the second half. The Magic were on fire for most of the game, shooting .625 from the field. Free-throws took their toll on both teams, as the Lakers were 16-for-26 from the line while Orlando was 22-for-29. Kobe had a red-hot first quarter, but could not muster much after that, finishing the game with 31 points and a playoff-low 5-for-10 shooting from the charity stripe. Pau Gasol had 23 points, and Trevor Ariza added 13. Both Lamar Odom and Jordan Farmar scored 11 off the bench. Five different Orlando players scored in double-digits, starting with Dwight Howard who totaled 21 points and 14 rebounds. Rashard Lewis and Rafer Alston followed as both scored 20 points. Hedo Turkoglu added 18.

Game 6: Movin' On Up

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-92, winning the Western Conference Finals 4-2 and clinching a berth into the NBA Finals. The Lakers led early, going into halftime with a 13-point advantage, and never looked back as they out-scored Denver 66-52 in the second-half. LA dominated in rebounds (38-27), assists (28-14), and field-goal percentage (.573-.438). Kobe Bryant had 35 points and 10 assists, and Pau Gasol added 20 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Trevor Ariza scored 17 points, and Lamar Odom had another stellar game with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 25 points, and J.R. Smith had 24 points off the bench.

Game 3: Rocky-Mountain Comeback

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 103-97, taking a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Denver had an 8 point lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers roared back, out-scoring the Nuggets 32-18 in the final period. Trevor Ariza had another game-changing play as he stole an inbounds pass, was fouled, and converted both free-throws to give the Lakers a 4-point lead with just seconds left. LA struggled to convert at the foul line though, going 31-for-45. Denver shot just .393 in the game, missing 22 of 27 3-pointers. Kobe Bryant sliced and diced the Nuggets' defense, scoring 41 points, including a clutch 3-pointer that gave LA the lead for good in the fourth. Pau Gasol had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and Ariza added 16 points, 9 of which came on 3-pointers. Carmelo Anthony was cooled off, scoring just 20 points before fouling out late in the game, and Chauncey Billups had 18 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. Chris Andersen added 15 points off the bench, and also blocked three shots.

Game 2: Lakers Can't Repeat

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets 106-103, evening the series at a game apiece. The Lakers started off hot, leading by 8 after the first quarter, but the lead fell to just one-point at halftime. Denver stepped up in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points to take Game 2 and split the series heading into Denver. The Lakers caught the Nuggets' free-throw bug, going only 27-for-35 at the stripe. The missed free-throws proved to be the difference, as both teams were evenly matched in every category, including rebounds, offensive rebounds, assists, turnovers, 3-pointers, and blocked shots. Kobe Bryant led LA with 32 points, and Trevor Ariza added 20 points and 4 steals, but had a pivotal turnover as he lost the ball after Pau Gasol tipped it to him on a jump-ball with just seconds left in the game. Gasol had 17 points and 17 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 34 points and added 9 rebounds, and Chancey Billups put up 27 points.

Game 1: Lakers Escape Denver's Clutches

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-103, taking an early 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. The Lakers nearly lost the game, at one point trailing by 13, before they took the lead for good in the last seconds of the fourth quarter. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer as time expired at halftime to put the Lakers up by one, but Denver came back to take a 2-point lead at the end of the third. LA out-rebounded the Nuggets 46-37, including 17-7 on the offensive boards. Denver's key flaw came at the charity stripe, as they were just 23-for-35. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 40 points, and Pau Gasol added 13 points and 13 boards. Derek Fisher scored 13 as well, and Trevor Ariza grabbed 3 steals, including one on an inbounds in the last seconds with Denver down by two. The Laker bench was outstanding, scoring a total of 27 points as opposed to Denver's 16. Carmelo Anthony ripped LA's interior defense apart as he scored 39 points, and Chauncey Billups added 18 points and 8 assists.

Game 7: Lakers Cruise to Series Victory

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 89-70, winning the Western Conference Semi-Finals four games to three. The Lakers returned to form after struggling in Game 6, and used stifling defense to keep Houston from mounting a comeback. LA out-rebounded the Rockets 55-33, as well as 13-5 on the offensive glass, and blocked 10 of Houston's shots. The Rockets could not score more than 20 points in any quarter, and only shot .368 from the field. Pau Gasol dominated the inside, scoring 21 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and collecting 3 blocks. Trevor Ariza had 15 points, and Kobe Bryant added 14, three steals, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Andrew Bynum scored 14 points, snagged 6 boards, and blocked 2 shots. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 13 points, and Luis Scola had 11.

The Lakers will play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

Game 5: Lakers Exact Revenge

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 118-78, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers dominated from the beginning, outscoring Houston 35-24 in the first quarter. The Rockets then scored 15 points in each of the next two quarters. LA put up a .512 shooting percentage, while Houston shot just .326. The Purple and Gold defeated the Rockets in almost every catagory, including rebounds, assists, steals, turnovers, blocked shots, and fouls. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 26 points, and Pau Gasol added 16 points and 13 rebounds. Andrew Bynum had his best night of the playoffs, scoring 14 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had 13 and 3 steals. Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom, and Josh Powell each scored in double-figures off the bench. Aaron Brooks led Houston with 14 points, Luis Scola had 12, and Von Wafer added 13.

Game 3: Five's For Fighting

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 108-94, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers were without the services of Derek Fisher after his suspension, but made the most of his absence as all starting five Lakers scored in double-figures. LA held Houston to just .417 shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers, compared to the Purple and Golds' six. The Rockets had 19 offensive rebounds, but could not outscore the Lakers in all four quarters. Kobe Bryant finished the game with 33 points, and Jordan Farmar had an impact in his first career start, getting 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and two steals. Lamar Odom added 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza scored 13 points and grabbed 4 steals. Ron Artest led the Rockets with 25 points before leaving the game with a flagrant-2 foul in the final seconds of the fourth quarter after hitting Pau Gasol hard. Yao Ming added 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Game 5: Lakers Clinch Second-Round Berth

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz , winning the series 4 games to one and advancing to the Western Conference Semi-Finals. LA will face either Houston or Portland in the next round. The Lakers held Utah to .402 shooting, and shot 45% themselves, as well as 9-for-21 from behind the arc. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter leading by 19, but the lead fell down to six before they bounced back and held on. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 31 points and 4 steals, and Lamar Odom added 26 points and 15 rebounds. Pau Gasol had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Trevor Ariza had a solid game despite a sore ankle, scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Deron Williams scored 14 points for Utah, and Paul Millsap had 16 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Ariza In, Walton Out

Trevor Ariza will start, despite concerns over a sprained ankle he suffered before Game 4 in Utah. Ariza left the court during the first half, but returned for the second. However, Luke Walton will be out for the rest of the series with a torn ligament in his left ankle. Adam Morrison will be activated after being in street-clothes for the series against the Jazz.

Game 2: Escape from LA

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 119-109 in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Los Angeles leads the series 2-0. The Lakers used a mega 41-29 first-quarter to hold the lead throughout the game. LA shot 60% from the field, including 11-for-20 from three-point range, while Utah used 29 free-throw opportunities to keep the game close. The Jazz shot a shade under .500 and grabbed 13 steals, ultimately forcing 21 Laker turnovers. LA out-assisted Utah 33-25, and the Lakers' bench defeated the Jazz's 37-28. Kobe Bryant had 26 points and 9 assists, and Pau Gasol put up 22 points. Lamar Odom scored 19 off the bench, and Trevor Ariza had 13, 9 assists, and was a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. The entire Laker starting five scored in double-figures, and Shannon Brown added 12 points off the bench. Deron Williams had a monster game, leading all scorers with 35 points and 9 assists but also 7 turnovers for Utah, and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Game 1: Ariza, Lakers Dominate Jazz

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Utah Jazz 113-100 in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Lakers kept a deep Utah offense in check for most of the game, entering the second half with a 22-point lead. LA finished with a .556 shooting percentage and 9 blocks, while the Jazz shot just .391 from the field. Utah remained in the game though, using 20 offensive rebounds to stay close. Kobe Bryant led LA with 24 points and 8 assists, and Trevor Ariza scored 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting, the most points Ariza has scored in the playoffs. Pau Gasol added 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Lamar Odom had 13 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, and Shannon Brown had 9 points on 3-for-3 shooting from 3-point range. Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 27 points for Utah, and Deron Williams added 16 points and 17 assists.

Editor's Note: Bynum Changes Playoff Complexion

Now that the regular season is over, the Lakers can really get ready for serious competition, starting with a tough Utah offense. Utah gave the Lakers their toughest competition out of the Western Conference, pushing the semi-final series to six games. But the outlook is completely different this time, not just against Utah, but against every team. And there are two players who contribute to that: Andrew Bynum (right) and Trevor Ariza (left). Bynum was out for the entire season last year after a knee injury, and suffered an eerily similar injury this season as well. The difference is he's back though, and appears to be very healthy. Bynum is a strong defensive presence, and can rebound, block, and create havoc along with Pau Gasol. The other difference-maker is the oft-forgotten Trevor Ariza. Ariza fractured his ankle last season, keeping him off the court until the Western Conference finals against San Antonio. Ariza came back, and after spending most of the season on the bench he's now in the starting five. Ariza's defense is bar none for Lakers as he led the team in steals. He's quick, agile, and has the length to be a power-forward in addition to being a small-forward. Both Ariza and Bynum bring more to the table than their substitutes last season, and that can easily translate into a lot of hardware.