 Arthur was selected by the New Orleans Hornets as the 27th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft but was promptly traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for cash.The Trail Blazers then traded Arthur to the Houston Rockets for draft rights to 25th overall pick Nicolas Batum.Soon afterwards, the Rockets traded Arthur to the Memphis Grizzlies for draft rights to the 28th overall pick Donté Greene.