This guy has been on my list for the entire season as a possible upgrade at the SF position. Well, now, there is no doubt in my mind, this guy would fit great in Portland. Don't let the Rudy thing fool you, he's a very nice guy and would fit perfectly on our roster. Here is a list of reasons we should offer a healthy long-term contract with our cap room: He can space the floor and hit threes. He doesn't demand the ball, but isn't afraid to take big shots. He can create for himself and others. He can defend multiple positions, very well. He has ideal size and strength for a SF. He has playoff experience. He is the perfect age to gel with this roster for a long time. He is an excellent pick and roll defender (Hurrakane212) To add the icing on the cake; losing him would really hurt the Lakers. The only downfall I see in signing him is that he would take away major minutes from Batum and Webster. However, I believe Batum has great trade value and you net us a nice young PG in the proper package. If we wanted to trade Webster, he has a very reasonable long-term contract that teams would want to take on in these economic times. A combination of Ariza and Batum or Webster would solidify our needs for years to come.
No, he won't have the hatred/dislike for the Lakers needed to become a Trail Blazer, plus Batum is our starter, we don't need another young SF who wants starters minutes
Batum can become a much, much better player than Ariza. And I've never seen Ariza create for himself or others.
You should check out the finals, he's done a decent job creating his own shot there. And I have no idea what you are basing Batum's ceiling higher than Ariza. One thing is clear, Ariza is better than Batum right now. There is nothing wrong with having both of them.
So Steve Blake is our starter, so we shouldn't go after another PG who wants starter minutes? Come on, that's not an argument. Ariza meets almost all the criteria this team needs at SF, and you don't think we should upgrade because you don't think he would play hard against his old team? Come up with some good reasons.
I don't think we need him because I think batum will hold his own quite well next year especially if he gets more minutes and maybe a few plays ran for him
I like Ariza, but he's a RFA and I don't expect the Lakers to let him go for anything reasonable. It doesn't matter too much to me, though. Ariza is better than Batum right now, but not by very much. I think Batum will be as good as Ariza pretty soon. That said, I really like players like Ariza, I wouldn't mind at all if Portland managed to snag him. But since Portland has Batum, my priority is on point guard.
I've been watching every finals game and every playoff game so far, I've seen enough of Ariza to know that he can't create his own shot on a consistent basis. His ability to create a shot isn't even on par with Outlaw. Batum, who already gives us a lot of what Ariza does, is younger and still has many years of development left. I would much rather spend our cap room on either a PG like Miller or Sessions; or a backup banger PF like Varejao and Bass. Ariza is not the type of player we need currently.
Has a former Laker ever signed with the Blazers? I know former Blazers have become Lakers, but I don't think it's ever gone the other way.
Let's keep it that way. I'd rather take Pietrus on my team. Did you guys see his last foul on Gashole? Beautiful.
Ariza "feared for his life" the last time he suited up in Portland. I doubt he would even consider signing in Portland.
You make a great point about his RFA status. However, they are going to have to make decisions on Odom, Brown, and Farmar. Not to mention that Bynum's huge deal kicks in next year. My guess is they don't want to get in the crazy luxury tax area. However, if they are smart, they'll resign Ariza and not Odom, unless they think Ariza is basically the same as Batum. In that case, they won't mind letting him go. I also agree that a PG is a more pressing concern. I bring this idea up because there is no obvious PG solution out there, so my guess is we are going to have to make a trade there. Getting Ariza, allows us to trade a guy like Webster without thinking twice.
Would you rather have the big bully at school on your side or 100% against you? The fans would quickly forget about the Rudy foul (which wasn't dirty), once they heard him in an interview, met him around the city, and saw his night in and night out effort.
I may be in the dark but I believe Andre Miller is a solution for PG. Bring him in, have Bayless develop under him.
Ok, we disagree. Can we at least agree that Ariza can create better for himself and others than Batum? That's so obvious you couldn't possible overrated our own players that much, right? I like Bass, but not for 7 million. If Batum is a good as some people feel, then Ariza would be an amazing backup. Sessions would be a waste of money. Varejao would never come here to backup LMA. Miller would be fine. He can't stretch the defense or defend quick PG's, but he would be an upgrade from Blake.
Ariza is on a team that's about to win the championship. I doubt he considers the Blazers a "bully". I'd bet on Ariza not even wanting to be on the Blazers for reasons stated above, but also because he knows how much he's hated in Portland.
I don't totally disagree with you here, he is a solid player. I get a little worried that he never seems to preform well on good teams, but he is a tough guy. We could always do a S&T with Blake and change to get Miller if Miller really wanted to leave town for Portland.
So he is or is not affected by Portland? I was kinda joking about the bully thing. I don't think many free agents rule teams out based on who has booed them while they played for the opposing team. These guys are professional basketball players. However, if he didn't want to play for us, then fine, he wouldn't sign. However, I would call up his agent first thing during free agency period and offer him a large chunk of our cap space and put the pressure on LA to match. He fits perfectly with this roster.
I like Ariza but not for 7 million. Batum in less minutes puts up near same production. Ariza has been in the league 5 years and is about to turn 24. I don't see him becoming much better. I guess if you count the ability to pump fake and dribble into the defense creating your own shot then Batum isn't far off. That's the only move I've ever seen Ariza pull to create his own shot. He doesn't have the handle to go by his man and his shot(until lately) has been shaky. Varejao would never come here to backup LMA. How would you know that? He was a backup for Drew Gooden for many years.
