EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Ron Artest signed yesterday with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, the team he wanted to join for years, but the timing was never right.

"This was a long time coming," Artest said. "As I started to compete against the Lakers and against Kobe (Bryant), I had respect for him and I always wanted to be a teammate of his."

During the playoffs, Artest could be seen courtside at Lakers games and was in attendance during the NBA finals last season, when Los Angeles lost to Boston. After the Celtics clinched the championship in Game 6, Artest approached Bryant and told him he wanted to help him out.

"I just wanted to make that connection," Artest said. "I wanted to let him know that he played tough and he played great and I can't wait to be a teammate of his."

Artest agreed to a deal last week, but couldn't sign it until yesterday.

The Lakers also re-signed guard Shannon Brown to a two-year contract for $4.2 million. The Lakers are still trying to retain free agent forward Lamar Odom.

UNION QUESTIONS CUT

The NBA players' association is upset with the league over a warning it sent teams projecting a significant decrease in the 2010-11 salary cap.

The memo sent early yesterday morning told teams the salary cap and luxury tax levels are expected to drop, echoing comments commissioner David Stern has made at various times this season.

But the union believes the predictions could discourage teams from offering big deals to free agents, who were eligible to begin signing yesterday.

The NBA didn't consult with the players' association before releasing the memo, and executive director Billy Hunter said the union has no basis to confirm the projections in it. Lawyers for the league and union had been in contact throughout the week to establish the 2009-10 salary cap, which was set Tuesday night at $57.7 million, about $1 million less than last season.

ELSEWHERE

Bucks: Milwaukee signed second-round pick Jodie Meeks, the 41st overall selection in the draft from Kentucky, to a three-year contract.

Celtics: Boston signed Rasheed Wallace. Terms of the deal were not released. He earned $13.68 million last season, the final of a five-year contract with Detroit.

Hawks: Atlanta has reached an agreement to re-sign center Zaza Pachulia to a four-year contract, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The AP.

Kings: Sacramento has signed guard Tyreke Evans, the No. 4 overall pick from Memphis in last month's draft. Terms of the deal were not released.

Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough, the 13th overall draft pick from North Carolina, has signed with Indianapolis and could receive $1.5 million this season.

Raptors: Toronto re-signed former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani to a five-year, $50 million contract extension and also closed in on a deal with free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu.

Spurs: Antonio McDyess is leaving the Detroit Pistons for the San Antonio Spurs and the free agent is expected to sign later this week.

Warriors: Stephen Curry, the seventh overall pick in last month's NBA draft from Davidson, has signed with Golden State. Terms were not released.