Ron Artest

[daddyfivestar]

If Ariza takes a crazy offer of 6 or 7 first year and leaves, I think Lamar needs to call his best buddy and say "Come to LA for the Ring"... and I do think Ron will take 5 mil MLE and be a great Ariza replacement if it came down to that. LO (8mil) and Ron (5mil) would be solid, Kobe (18m opt) and Fisher (retires) are the cherry on top. Ammo + 1st given away.

Bynum/DJ = 13.46
Pau/LO/Powell = 25.41
Artest/Luke= 9.84
Kobe/Sasha/Yue = 23.74
Brown/Farmar/(#42Llull) = 4.43

payroll > 77

[TonyMontana]

I take Ron over Ariza anyday.

[CodyB]

I wouldn't. Ron Artest has had the tools to be an amazing player for the better part of a decade. Yet, he is made a bigger name for himself for being a douche bag. Trevor Ariza has been underrated his whole career, he is an energy guy who is developing in ways no one would ever imagine. Is he as talented as Ron Artest? No. Is he better for any team in the league? Yes. Is he better for the Lakers than Ron Artest? HELL **** YES.

[daddyfivestar]

I wouldn't take Ron first (at age 30) in this scenario, but I would take him next if Ariza bolts for a big money offer.

[Dr Aki]

an LA native taking only 0.3-1.3 mil more to leave the 2009 champions LA Lakers?

[Sedale Threatt]

I probably wouldn't turn him away, especially on the cheap, but I just don't think Ron is a very smart player. He's good, and he'd contribute. But he's got to be one of the lowest-IQ offensive players in the league. Some of the shots he takes, and the decisions he makes, are just atrocious. So I'd think long and hard about bringing him in.

[daddyfivestar]

an LA native taking only 0.3-1.3 mil more to leave the 2009 champions LA Lakers?

That was an example, but a team like Detroit could go 8 or 9 easy with their caproom. If Toronto trades Bosh they'll have some nice cap space and they covet Ariza. The Lakers are going to offer a Luke type deal starting in the 4.5 to 5 range and escalating to 7's. If someone comes in and says they'll do the same thing but starting at 7 that's a huge increase.

Plus the "0.3-1.3 mil" is first year which means as the deal escalates that grows each time. By the 5th year he's made an additional 10+ mil... not chump change for a guy who has made 10.3 million in his whole 5 yr career so far.

That said, I hope he stays and takes a 5 yr deal starting at 4.5 mil.
Re-read - - Artest would be a Plan B. Ariza is Plan A.

[dockingsched]

rockets will be paying up more than the mle to keep ron, they can't afford to lose him.

[filmchurch]

Ariza will be 24 at the end of next season
Artest will be 30 at the end of next season.

Ariza shot near 32% on 3s in the reg. season, 48% in the playoffs (40-84)
Artest shot near 40% on 3s in the reg. season, 28% in the playoffs (23-83)

As you can see, Ariza is younger, played well down the stretch, hasn't hit his prime
and almost as important, doesn't need to take shots in an already incredible offensive unit.

Artest would be the enforcer/tough player that the Lakers have not had. Unless Artest gives them the one-year, 'desire-for-a-title' contract ala Karl Malone a few years ago, i doubt this comes close to coming true.

I think the point of emphasis is getting a good point guard (behind signing Ariza and Odom). Maybe that's Shannon Brown and then shift Kobe to the 1 in 4th quarter? Many would say that's how it is already.

[daddyfivestar]

Plan B.

[supaflash]

I see Ariza as a loyal guy. LA native and worked hard for a team that trusted him and gave him the chance...

I have little doubt that he resigns, him and management will come to a good agreement.

Same with Odom, guy has put his heart and soul into this team, loves the beach and city of LA, i think they make it happen. Yes he's been known to be flaky at times, but he really came with it this year and in years past he's played not entirely healthy. I love this guy for what he's been through and what he's done for this team. Rarely ever complains and has always tried to do what the team needed him to do even if it meant less stats in contract year.

Buss has been good with championship teams, I think he'll pay up. I read the Lakers made an average of 4 million per home game in the playoffs, that means these investments knowing that they will get you a lot of home games come playoff time are well worth it from a business standpoint.

[daddyfivestar]

I see Ariza as a loyal guy. LA native and worked hard for a team that trusted him and gave him the chance...

I have little doubt that he resigns, him and management will come to a good agreement.

Same with Odom, guy has put his heart and soul into this team, loves the beach and city of LA, i think they make it happen. Yes he's been known to be flaky at times, but he really came with it this year and in years past he's played not entirely healthy. I love this guy for what he's been through and what he's done for this team. Rarely ever complains and has always tried to do what the team needed him to do even if it meant less stats in contract year.

Buss has been good with championship teams, I think he'll pay up. I read the Lakers made an average of 4 million per home game in the playoffs, that means these investments knowing that they will get you a lot of home games come playoff time are well worth it from a business standpoint.

Damn. That means not having a game 6 at home was an extra lost 2 mil (tax doubled) to pay out to our FA's? Damn. That would've covered Shannon right there.

[#9]

an LA native taking only 0.3-1.3 mil more to leave the 2009 champions LA Lakers?

who's that in ur avatar?

[mvpmims2003]

Ron Artest should definitely be the second option if Ariza jets out of town for more money. He's 23 with a bright future, I don't see why he wouldn't go after the big bucks. Also remember KObe did try to get Artest in a Laker uniform a few seasons ago.

[LAKESHOW]

ariza is proven to me. ron isnt.

that third quarter of game 4 sealed the deal. no way. NO WAY does ron come up with somethin like that, justs caps off the magic. ron will do the jacking part, but it will clank and clank and clank.

[barnsleyman123]

Sorry, I hate to be that guy to troll but no way Ron Artest would take the MLE for 5 million. He's already said he wants to be back with the Rockets (repeatedly). And I think he is looking for more like 8 or 9 million. And I highly doubt Daryl Morey would let Artest sign for the Lakers.

[Kilroy]

Sorry, I hate to be that guy to troll but no way Ron Artest would take the MLE for 5 million. He's already said he wants to be back with the Rockets (repeatedly). And I think he is looking for more like 8 or 9 million. And I highly doubt Daryl Morey would let Artest sign for the Lakers.

I agree but I don't think what Ron says has much to do with it... He has no idea what he's going to think in the next 5 minutes, much less do...

But no way anybody in the West makes that easy for us, no way Ron takes a bunch less money to play 3rd fiddle to Kobe and Gasol, and no way the Lakers risk the chance that his mental state might derail a defending season.

Shane Battier would be a better fit and that ain't hapn'n either.

[LAKESHOW]

plus, ariza is i think 23 years old. GIGANTIC upside with keeping him.

[Slava]

I'd pay Ariza to keep him. He's the SF of our future and has already done more than what any of us would have expected since acquiring him. I like Artest but he'd reduce our efficiency on the transition game with his tendency to hold the ball up and his inability to be a good passer.

[One Love]

Ariza ia the Number One Option for obvious reasons... I would look at The Matrix before Artest, personnally... If all three are gone which is unlikely, we can always pick up a cheap alternative like Barnes or Hill, depending on what Kobe elects to sign for this summer... Three's are always the easiest and cheapest position to fill in the league... In my opinion, Kobe dictates his supporting cast with his contract... Just for the record, I say he signs for $100 million over 5 years...