Artest to join Lakers

From combined dispatches Ron Artest is joining Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. David Bauman, Artest's agent, said the Houston Rockets forward has verbally agreed to play for the NBA champions next season. Bauman said the final details are still being worked out but could be finished Thursday night. ESPN.com reported Artest agreed to a three-year deal worth $18 million. Bauman would not confirm those numbers, saying the deal was still being negotiated. "We're not quite there yet," Bauman said. "We're still working on it." PISTONS: A day after jumping to Detroit, Ben Gordon told a Chicago radio station ... Email </a