The Los Angeles Lakers are not content to stand pat in defense of their latest championship.

They are very close to reaching an agreement with Houston Rockets free agent forward Ron Artest on a multi-year deal using the team's mid-level exception (last season's began at $5.585 million). Los Angeles could sign Artest for up to five years using the mid-level, but Artest may be inclined to sign for only three, which would allow the Lakers to retain their "Larry Bird" rights to Artest and thus be able to pay him an extra year's salary if he were to re-sign there. Or, if Artest wanted to leave the Lakers after those three years, he would make more money in a sign-and-trade deal.

In taking fewer years, Artest is gambling that the economy will improve by the time this three-year deal ends.

The deal is expected to be finalized this evening, according to a source. While other contending teams like the Cavaliers have tried hard to woo Artest, the opportunity to play in Los Angeles, with potential ancillary opportunities for income, is a large factor in his decision. The contract can't be signed until next Wednesday, the first day players can officially sign deals for the 2009-10 season.

If the deal goes as expected the Lakers would add one of the league's top on-ball defenders to their team, and make Artest and Kobe Bryant, who've had their own individual battles over the years, into teammates. Even if there is a last-second glitch with the Lakers, the source said that Artest was definitely leaving the Rockets, who had acquired him from Sacramento last summer.

Artest was actually close to reaching agreement on a contract extension last week with the Rockets, but those plans were thrown into uncertainty when Houston learned that center Yao Ming's injured foot wasn't healing at all, and might keep him out for part or all of next season. Not knowing Yao's short-term or long-term future with the Rockets made them less enticing to Artest, even though Houston could, and did; offer him more money to stay.

Agreeing to terms with Artest would effectively end the Lakers' pursuit of their own free agent small forward, Trevor Ariza, who was not interested in re-signing for the mid-level amount. Ironically, Ariza was meeting with the Rockets in Las Vegas on Thursday while Artest was agreeing to take his old job with Los Angeles.

The Lakers bombarded Artest with all manner of communication.

Bryant, who'd gotten into numerous trash-talking on-court spats with Artest over the last couple of seasons, has sent Artest numerous texts since the start of the negotiating period Wednesday morning. Hall of Fame great Magic Johnson called Artest on Wednesday as well. And Artest had lunch this afternoon with Lakers majority owner Jerry Buss.

He was already inclined toward Los Angeles. He'd expressed great interest in going to the Lakers near the end of his stay with the Kings, and was courtside during last year's Finals between Los Angeles and Boston.

The Lakers are the latest among the NBA's elite class to make a major talent acquisition since the end of the Finals. The Cavaliers, who lost in the Eastern Conference finals to Orlando, formally introduced center Shaquille O'Neal, picked up from Phoenix a week ago, to their fans in Cleveland yesterday. The Magic, which lost to the Lakers in the Finals, traded for eight-time All-Star guard Vince Carter on draft night. The Spurs picked up forward Richard Jefferson from the Bucks; the Celtics, Spurs and Magic all are in hot pursuit of Pistons free agent big man Rasheed Wallace.

Boston lead owner Wyc Grousbeck, general manager Danny Ainge, head coach Doc Rivers, Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all went to Detroit on Thursday to formally present Wallace with an offer for the full mid-level exception. But they left town without Wallace agreeing to a deal. Wallace will visit San Antonio and Orlando next week, according to a source, before making up his mind. Wallace is not likely to visit Cleveland.