Before scrolling down to look at my argument and the name of this player, what do you think about trying to pickup a good young SF that is posting these numbers for his per-36 minutes/game this year? His per-36 minute numbers this year are: 13.4 pts, 7.1 rbs, 3 ast. 2.5 stl. 0.5 blks with percentages of 48/32/71 Before scrolling down to look at who this is, take a guess and post who you think I'm talking about. Then read my next post and tell me if you agree or disagree, and why. .
So let's say that we just keep RLEC....or trade it for a pick and a trade exception or something (not sure if that is possible). Regardless, let's say that we're not taking back any more guaranteed contracts. The money is coming off the books this summer. How much under the cap will we be speculated to be? I realize that this might mean renouncing the rights to Frye and Diogu since they haven't been extended and it's too late to do that until the FA period. We can give them a 1yr qualifying offer I think though at the very least. In any case, one player that I liked when he was with NY, and then followed while he was in Orlando and then saw LAL sweep him up, what do you guys think about Trevor Ariza. He's only 23, and plays pretty good defense. LAL uses him to guard Tony Parker. Unlike most young talents, Ariza was drafted in the second round and thus while the Lakers have his bird rights, he should become a unrestricted FA after this year. If we threw MLE money or better (a 4 year deal starting at 6 million increasing 12% annually?) do you think that could be enough to attract him? I don't think it happens because Lakers can give him more money than any other team, they like him, and the kid went to UCLA. But looking at the other FA options at SF, he seems to fit the mold of young and good at defense. What do you all think about this one?
What would be the point? Is he really that big of an upgrade over Batum? Doesn't he have bad feet too? I'd rather try and go for a big upgrade at PG or SF, if we can't get either of those, then I'd hope we could sign Josh Childress this offseason, or just let our guys improve and continue to draft extremely well
Yup, I'd rather go after Josh Childress than Trevor Ariza. By next season, I could certainly see Batum being at least as valuable as Ariza, so I don't see the point of spending to try and get him. Childress would be a solid upgrade, if we can't work out a deal for a star/near-star player like Gerald Wallace or Caron Butler.
I'm very excited about Batum, but I'm just looking at options. In another thread I pretty much said I'm only REALLY enamored with Butler, Granger and Gay, and maybe G.Wallace as additions at SF to this team. Outside of that talent, who would I like to bring in. Ariza is one of the few young talents that shouldn't cost a ton that is a uFA this summer, so he could sign with us. Okay, would you rather sign Richard Hamilton (probably miffed because he not longer is starting in Detroit) and play him at SF? I actually kinda really like that one. He's an uFA and I think we could get him at a pretty reasonable salary given his age and expectations of dropping off production.
Actually looking at Richard Hamilton's numbers...I don't know if I'd want to pay much for him either. Artest and Hedo are still out there, but again they are Crazy and unlikely to move (in that order). Looking at Childress's numbers, I guess he wouldn't be so bad. I'm a bit biased because watching him in college I never thought he'd be very good. But he's a good role-player piece that does shoot good percentages and does a lot of little things. Isn't he still a RFA when he comes back though? Atlanta could sign him. Does he have a buyout for this summer?
Childress won't play for Atlanta, so they can hold onto his rights (while he continues to play overseas) or sign and trade him for something, picks? euros? Sergio? If Portland tried to sign him to a 7 million a year deal I don't really see Atlanta being much of a roadblock either
I fucking LOVE Ariza...as a bball player! I really dont envision the Lakers letting him get out of their grasp. In exit interviews last year Phil and Mitch told him he was gonna get major play if he signed with them. They also told him to work on his J. Well he obviously busted his ass in the summer because he came out better than ever. He can guard anybody from PG to SF and even SOME PF's. His shooting has improved leaps and bounds. I dont think of it as a bonus anymore when he scores...he CAN score. I think(pretty damn sure) the Lakers view him as a very major piece for the younger guys they want to keep around His defense is amazing....really. That guy can get his hand to the ball so fast. He put one game away for us this year by getting three steals in the closing minutes and getting easy dunks. If you saw the xmas game against the C's you might remember those "toeing the line" saves of the ball from going out of bounds. He had at least two of those that game, maybe three. A person who just watches that game would call him lucky, its skill. Its the skill to be smart/athletic enough to put yourself in that position so you have an attempt to make plays like those. When the Lakers got him everybody thought it was just for salary dump. Lo and behold we got the best player in the trade, and at the cheapest price! So no, you cant have him...but I like your taste
But yeah I don't see Ariza leaving. He went to UCLA. The Lakers are like the Yankees in that everyone wants to play for them, even taking a discount. I hear sports commentators talk about it's unwise to take less money to play where you want. But you only live once. If you get paid a few million less but get to live like a superstar in a town of superstars (LA) then that's where I'd want to be. Nothing against Portland, because it is definitely a great city and place to raise a family. But if you like the ego trip, there's probably nowhere better to play than LA (for the Lakers). Saying this, I've never really spent any time in LA...ever. I'm basing what I'm saying by watching every episode of Entourage.
So, all that means is that the Lakers can resign him for MLE money without using their MLE. If we wanted to give him more than that, we could, and there's nothing the Lakers could do about it. NOTHING, I say, NOTHING AT ALL! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Ariza is a good player, but probably not worth the type of cash you'll likely will have the shell out to pry him away from the Lakers. For a guy averaging 9pts/4rbs/2asts he's not much of an upgrade from TO or a healthy Webster.
