Rockets and Lakers Swap Small Forwards

Day 2 of NBA Free Agency came with a basic exchange with Trevor Arizia going to Houston (5 year 33 million) while Artest returned the favor and is going to the Lakers for (3 years and 18 million). Here's my quick breakdown

LA Lakers
The question for the Lakers is Artest actually better for their system and given their players? Similiar to Orlando's acquisition of Vince Carter unless Artest changes his play its probably a negative. As noted here Artest has a history of hogging the ball (he used 24% of Houston's positions relative to Arizia's 16.7%) and being less effecient than Ariza. What that means is that offensively Artest, at best will be less effective than Ariza at scoring and at worst take shots away from the far more effective Kobe/Gasol combo. Now this leaves out the question of Artest's defense relative to Ariza's but it seems that Artest doesn't add that much and when you factor in potential off-court antics could be downgrade.

Houston
There's two ways to think of Houston's signing. One is signing a player that flourished in the playoffs and at 24 coming into his own. On the other you are signing a player that averaged less than 9 points a game and had inconsistencies in his 3 point shooting for most of the season for over 30 million dollars and 6 years. Houston's managment runs the stats better than anyone so perhaps I should give them the benefit of the doubt but the MJ question of over paying now especially given 2010 seems to apply

Cleveland
The Cavs are included only as they are clearly in the market for a SF and had targetted both of their players. Its unclear if the Cavs simply lost out on the free agents despite their best efforts or are trying to improve the team with the limitations of 2010 in mind. Whatever the case this is the third player (CV) the Cavs have targetted and the pressure on the Cavs and Danny Ferry will mount to do something. I'm curious also how this effects negotiations with Anderson Varajao. On the one hand the Cavs appear to be in a bind to resign AV however the market for players at let alone above the mid-level exception is quickly shrinking.....