全文如下... L.A. address didn't pan out for Artest By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, February 23, 2006 Ron Artest thought it was going to be his second home, this apartment with the downtown Hollywood address. He signed a nine-month lease, figuring the next deal to be done was the one that brought him from the Indiana Pacers to the Los Angeles Lakers. But the place is nothing more than a vacation spot now, with bare walls and no furniture because the Lakers deal he thought was certain was anything but. And while Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh and Lakers coach Phil Jackson have said the proposed Artest-for-Lamar Odom swap was never close to transpiring, Artest was told otherwise. "It got really, really close; really, really close," said Artest, who made his trade request in Indiana on Dec. 12 and visited the West Coast weeks later. "I was going to their games, got my apartment out there. My agent told me I was going there, so I figured, if I'm going there, I might as well get ready." Reportedly, the deal that would have sent the Clippers' Corey Maggette to Indiana for Artest came closer than that of Los Angeles' crosstown counterpart. Still, there was Artest on Jan. 12, watching the Lakers host Cleveland and getting comfortable inside Staples Center at one of two Lakers games he attended. It was a fine idea no matter which Los Angeles team he played for, since they share the facility. He was traded to the Kings on Jan. 25. Artest was flattered by the courtship, especially when Kobe Bryant was quoted as saying he would like to play with him. "That was awesome," Artest said. "Kobe said that. LeBron (James) said it. ... That's a pretty cool thing. But those guys have played against me. They know I can play." As does Artest, who has yet to play himself into prime shape and issued a warning of sorts for when that time comes. "Once I get back into shape, there's going to be a lot of problems in this league," he said. -- My heart beats her waves at the shore of the world and writes upon it her signature in tears with the words, " I love thee. " --

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