Chisolm: Ariza Made Huge Mistake

[maldoror]

Chisholm: Ariza made huge mistake in turning down Laker offer



Brilliant move.


Here is the cold, hard fact about Trevor Ariza: He is a mid-level player. He doesn't have much scoring prowess, he's surprisingly earthbound for such a super athlete, and his defence is really no better than that of, say, Dahntay Jones. He fit into the Lakers' system like a glove, though, and sometimes it takes a savvy player to realize that he's made to look as good as he does because he's the fourth (or fifth) best player on an insanely deep team (right Ben Wallace?). When Kobe, Pau and Odom are doing the heavy lifting, all a player like Ariza has to do is hit the open spot on the floor, box out and run. Heck, even if he's charged with keeping pace with the opposition's best perimeter option, he still isn't the kind of player who can shut him down, he's just asked to slow his role and stay in front of him. Phil Jackson is a master at utilizing his role players and making them invaluable and very few players have repeated their under-Phil success post-Phil.

Now Ariza has to go crawling around the league trying to find a team that will pay him the mid-level exception (because that's probably all he's gonna get) just to save face. The Lakers have already shrugged off his defection – they got Artest – and now it's up to Ariza to try and act as though he hasn't just made the biggest mistake of his career.

....Here's the thing with turning up your nose at the Lakers' offer; if you're gonna do it, make sure that A: you have them backed into a corner, and B: you have a reasonable exit strategy if they balk. In this case, the Lakers made an offer perfectly in line with Ariza's value, his agent says they should have overpaid as a sign of respect (huh?) and now the Lakers have upgraded their position and Ariza's...well, I guess we'll soon see what the future holds for Ariza. If it's a return trip to the Finals I'll be eating crow, but as of right now it doesn't look like crow is on the menu.

[TRslick81]

bad for ariza good for the fakers

[CrackWhore]

The only way for Ariza to save face is to sign with Cleveland or Boston.

[TRslick81]

houston apparently just offered him the full mle

[maldoror]

NBA free agency: Trevor Ariza verballly agrees to sign with Houston Rockets - ESPN

And Ariza is signing with Houston. It turned out to be a trade. Ariza for Artest.

Ariza should fire his agent. He played poker and lost.

[mpgraphix]

wow...doesnt houston already have a better version of Ariza...Battier?

rich get richer.

[Vito Corleone]

I have a feeling Arza and Houston are going to have the last laugh. I don't think Artest can handle the Lakers and the media circus that follows them.

Artest will do nothing IMO that Arza wasn't doing except he probably is a better defender. Offensively I see zero improvement since there are still only so many offensive possessions and only so many shots to be had.

[TRslick81]

ariza did get royally screwed, have fun scratching and clawing just to make the playoffs trevor

[mpgraphix]

he'll always have the ring...but i have a feeling he'll be the next stephen jackson

[Guille]

So... Ariza to the Rockets. Any news on Oberto joining the Rockets too?

[TRslick81]

in a way im guess im glad he didnt go to cleveland no what does lamar odom do?!?!?damn lakers

[miguelito]

What this idiot writer is forgetting is that Ariza is a quiet guy, a good soldier who does his job and doesn't flap his lip. He stayed in line and let Bryant be the hero.

Artest is the opposite of Ariza in this regard. LA will regret this move by Game #40.

I hate the Lakers, and I love the fact that Artest is with them now. Love it.

[grizzly_bexar]

I don't know that Ariza comes out worse for this. He got his money. And with McGrady down/Artest gone, likely he'll get his PT as well.

And he's already got a ring.

[choppsboy]

Originally Posted by Vito Corleone

I have a feeling Arza and Houston are going to have the last laugh. I don't think Artest can handle the Lakers and the media circus that follows them.

Artest will do nothing IMO that Arza wasn't doing except he probably is a better defender. Offensively I see zero improvement since there are still only so many offensive possessions and only so many shots to be had.

I have to give this a +1

Ariza was going to Houston before Artest was going to LA. Artest didn't get an offer from Houston because they knew they were getting Ariza. I would rather live in Houston that LA. Besides, Houston almost beat LA without Yao!

Go Rockets!

[Danes]

Why use the MLE on Ariza when they need big guys?

[buttsR4rebounding]

Originally Posted by Danes

Why use the MLE on Ariza when they need big guys?

They are going to move McGrady to the post...

[AJR2004]

Originally Posted by Danes

Why use the MLE on Ariza when they need big guys?

Amen!

[autumn20]

ariza knows the lakers plays too i hope

[TodTango]

We'll see how well Ron-Ron "fits".
Ariza played large in the playoffs for the Lakers. He had that role down cold. Now, Ron has to let his game get subjugated. n that team, he'll be the main perimeter defender. Strong true, but not quick enough to guard Tony Parker. Ariza at least, had some speed to his game. I guess that means Kobe can try to check TP or maybe Shannon Brown or Farmar(like those guys could guard TP).

[Grego]

Originally Posted by grizzly_bexar

I don't know that Ariza comes out worse for this. He got his money. And with McGrady down/Artest gone, likely he'll get his PT as well.

And he's already got a ring.

At his age, he needs to lock in the best contract possible. Otherwise he'll never get a good pay day.