Ron Artest Joining Kobe, Lakers

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's the mindset that Ron Artest has apparently taken following today's news that he's agreed to join Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. Artest was instrumental in helping the Rockets take the eventual champion Lakers to seven games during the Western Conference semifinals. Instead of serving as Kobe's antagonist, he'll become Kobe's sidekick.

According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, Artest met with Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss and spoke with Phil Jackson on Thursday before instructing his agent to get a deal done. Details of the agreement -- both the length and the amount -- are still unknown, but from the sounds of it, Artest isn't about to quibble over the details.

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

The agreement was confirmed via Twitter by both the Los Angeles Daily News and Sacramento's 1140 AM (KHTK). Stay tuned as more details emerge.

Update: Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times confirms a deal is close.

Update: ESPN's Chris Broussard reports Artest will sign a three-year, $18 million deal. Three years is something of a magic number, as that's the minimum amount of time until the Lakers attain Bird Rights on Artest, which would allow them to go over the salary cap to re-sign him.