The only thing I can think of is that the Lakers were going to get Odom back at any cost, and they could only get either Ariza or Artest. Once Ariza dragged his feet, they took the better player, and told him they couldn't keep him anymore. I can't see any other reason why he would leave the Lakers for the Rockets.
Ariza agent is an idiot. He was offered full MLE YESTERDAY. A contract he laughed at it and went the media that Ariza would go and play somewhere else for cheaper b/c he felt disrespected by the Lakers. The lakers only offered him MLE b/c they wanted to sign LO.
Lakers had a shot at RA once he became available. They waited on Ariza but nothing changed. I think they did not want to risk the chance of losing both and being without a SF.
RA wanted to be a Laker, would accept a cheaper contract, and is a better player on both sides the ball.
Ariza a player who I love is the 1 screwed out of all of this. He should fire his agent. Left a perfect place for a worse situation and did not get a cent more.
SA will be much better next year but I still give the Lakers a slight edge if they sign sheed.
They have the 2 of the best perimeter defenders in the league backed up by 2 7 footers. KB and RA can lock down Manu and RJ.
Offense is already there and I think there D will be much improved next year.
I'm pretty sure that Ariza just committed career suicide here. He is going to play in Houston there is no doubt about that but they aren't going to be competitive, there will be no national exposure for the most part, and he will fall off the NBA radar. You also have to remember despite having a great playoff season his numbers simply aren't that good even if he is a heck of a defender. 5 years from now he will be wondering wtf did I do, who knows, maybe it will 3 months from now. I'm guessing that unless we see a trade somewhere next season to a contender this is the last we will see or hear of him
Trevor Ariza makes the Rockets younger, faster and better. He fits with the way Rick Adelman wants to play.
Sometime next season, we’re going to see Tracy McGrady, Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks and Ariza leading a fast break that will take your breath away.
Ariza told the Lakers and other teams it wasn’t going to be about the money, but that’s what people say. He apparently meant it, however; one source esti-mates he left $9 million on the table to join the Rockets.
Morey and Adelman reached this decision a couple of weeks ago. They didn’t believe Artest was worth the money he was seeking. They also believed they could get him at their price but worried what his attitude would be if he thought himself underpaid.
Morey toyed with offering Artest a one-year contract and hoping he’d be on his best behavior in order to try to land a big deal next summer. They took a pass.
Here’s hoping Kobe Bryant understands how different his life is about to be with his new teammate. I hope Kobe caught Ron-Ron’s ESPN interview on Thursday night. If Kobe is wondering if Artest really is that strange, I don’t want to be the one to deliver the news.
As for the Rockets, Artest will not be missed by the coaches or players. There was just too much craziness, too many wild mood swings, too much selfishness
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6509633.html
Finally, we’re going to have an Adelman team that plays like an Adelman team. I’m so giddy about Ariza that I’m willing to forgive and forget with T-Mac.
Sometime next season, we’re going to see Tracy McGrady, Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks and Ariza leading a fast break that will take your breath away.
Ariza told the Lakers and other teams it wasn’t going to be about the money, but that’s what people say. He apparently meant it, however; one source esti-mates he left $9 million on the table to join the Rockets.
Morey and Adelman reached this decision a couple of weeks ago. They didn’t believe Artest was worth the money he was seeking. They also believed they could get him at their price but worried what his attitude would be if he thought himself underpaid.
Morey toyed with offering Artest a one-year contract and hoping he’d be on his best behavior in order to try to land a big deal next summer. They took a pass.
Here’s hoping Kobe Bryant understands how different his life is about to be with his new teammate. I hope Kobe caught Ron-Ron’s ESPN interview on Thursday night. If Kobe is wondering if Artest really is that strange, I don’t want to be the one to deliver the news.
As for the Rockets, Artest will not be missed by the coaches or players. There was just too much craziness, too many wild mood swings, too much selfishness
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6509633.html
Finally, we’re going to have an Adelman team that plays like an Adelman team. I’m so giddy about Ariza that I’m willing to forgive and forget with T-Mac.
Muddy,
Same offer he got from Houston. Lets face it. His agent tried to play hardball with LA and got burned. Ariza did not want to leave LA.
Max,
Ariza is a solid role player. He is a great defender. Very athletic.
But we will have to see how he does when he actaully being defended. He is the player no 1 guarded or cared about when playin LA. His numbers were a product of a system.
His offense was built on taking wide open 3 pointer when kobe, LO, or Gasol drew double coverage.
Ariza can say whatever he wants but it was about the money.
Here is what happened: Ariza agent started to play super hard ball and Mitch told him to fawk off and he signed Artest.
Ariza had no interest in leaving LA. The 9 million he left on the table would have been an offer from Toronto. Nothing had been offered so its not like he turned down the Toronto offer. Who knows what they would have offered.
Ariza choice was go to cleveland where they already have a SF or Houston.
BTW, Ariza lost bargining power once Artest was signed b/c teams no longer felt they would have to get in a bidding war with LA.
Same offer he got from Houston. Lets face it. His agent tried to play hardball with LA and got burned. Ariza did not want to leave LA.
Max,
Ariza is a solid role player. He is a great defender. Very athletic.
But we will have to see how he does when he actaully being defended. He is the player no 1 guarded or cared about when playin LA. His numbers were a product of a system.
His offense was built on taking wide open 3 pointer when kobe, LO, or Gasol drew double coverage.
Ariza can say whatever he wants but it was about the money.
Here is what happened: Ariza agent started to play super hard ball and Mitch told him to fawk off and he signed Artest.
Ariza had no interest in leaving LA. The 9 million he left on the table would have been an offer from Toronto. Nothing had been offered so its not like he turned down the Toronto offer. Who knows what they would have offered.
Ariza choice was go to cleveland where they already have a SF or Houston.
BTW, Ariza lost bargining power once Artest was signed b/c teams no longer felt they would have to get in a bidding war with LA.
oldirtyku,
If we would have kept Artest...it would have been a disaster. No Ming...or Tmac means that Ron-Ron would have tried to carry the o. The guy is atrocious at the offense end. He dribbles for 22 seconds then heaves up a prayer...great D though...he will be missed. Ariza will never be a scoring threat but we were able to get younger..and thats always a plus
If we would have kept Artest...it would have been a disaster. No Ming...or Tmac means that Ron-Ron would have tried to carry the o. The guy is atrocious at the offense end. He dribbles for 22 seconds then heaves up a prayer...great D though...he will be missed. Ariza will never be a scoring threat but we were able to get younger..and thats always a plus
