What does Phil Jackson think of the Ariza / Artest situation?

"I wasn't given the either or [the choice between Ariza and Artest]. I know Ron has been on our wish list for what, 3 years now? We needed a defender besides -- I mean somebody that was a lock down defender besides Kobe Bryant that could take on the chores, and, you know, Trevor turned out to be that guy this year.

"And so I was quite surprised, as was most of our fans I think, that, you know, negotiations did not go well with Trevor and his people. "

"And uh, you know, we think we have a player [in Ron Artest] that has probably a little more dimensions than Trevor, but still Trevor has that youth and that speed that we'll miss."

-- Phil Jackson to FSR's Myers and Hartman

Far more interesting, however...

Prior to the