CHESHIRE Jets are refusing to concede defeat in their pursuit of LA Lakers forward Ron Artest.
There were fears the deal could be off last week when negotiations broke down over insurance for the 6ft 9in New Yorker, who is part-way through a $33m contract with the Lakers.
A planned press conference in Chester to unveil Artest to the media was postponed, along with a string of other media engagements.
But Jets officials have not given up on signing Artest after he confirmed via Twitter earlier this week that he still wants to make a sensational transatlantic move.
When a Jets fan asked when he would be coming to the UK, Artest replied: “I wanna see you @ the Jets!!!!” Soon!!!!!!”
Jets director Pete Hawkins, who has spent the last month in talks with Artest and his representatives, added: “The amount of energy and time that Ron has put into this partnership is fantastic. From the outset the deal was purely around his love of the game and promoting basketball in the UK. We are still hoping to make this happen and we are happy to see that through Twitter so is he.”
Artest, 31, is available to play in Europe due to an ongoing pay dispute – known as a ‘lockout’ – between the players’ union and the NBA in America.
While his transfer saga rumbles on, Jets have made another addition to their roster for the 2011-12 season.
They have snapped up 6ft 9in forward Bill Cole, a versatile defensive player who has graduated from the University of Illinois.
Jets’ head coach John Lavery said: “It is really great to have a player of Bill’s calibre coming to the Jets. He is a great defensive player for his size, and he can score both inside and outside.”
Cole added: “I want to be known to the coach and to the fans as the hardest worker – the guy who hustled, was prepared to dive on the floor and never took a play off.”
