Agent David Lee Is At It.........Again

[DEEP3CL]

Well this snake of an agent is at it again. Last summer he was at it poisoning Bynum's head on his impending extension, now he's seems hell bent on "over pricing " Trev. It's his choice of words that irk me the most same as when he was speaking on Bynum last summer.

"It's a question of how committed the Lakers are to competing again,"

Since when have the Lakers ever not tried to compete and win every year ?

When was the last time Dr.Buss hasn't ever been committed to keeping a winning team together ?

I telling you all here this is some young punk of an agent who is trying to make a name for himself in a business full of deceitful devils. I can't tell you the agents that have ruined careers by over valuing their clients. Ask Boni Wells how much money his agent made him ? Ask Ron Artest why he in the situation he's in now. Or ask Terrell Owens how his agent screwed him over.

Look I get that Trevor is looking for security and can't sell himself short, but if he thinks he's worth more than 7 or 8 million then I'll say it right now let him and David Lee take their asses out of LA.

Bottom line is this, David Lee tried to pull this "strong arm " crap last summer and he simply doesn't understand the dynamics of being a Laker or the dynamics of this franchise. Lee doesn't understand, we get guys here period.Weather it's a hell'va trade or a free agent from another team but they get here period. At the moment I'm done with Trev, if he walks.....then he walks.

Anyway here's the link.
http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/

[96 Til Infiniti]

Just saw this on the Wiretap. Of course Lee''s using the big acquisitions by Orlando and Cleveland as leverage for a big contract. Shame we're getting screwed by a greedy agent again, would Trevor really trade a couple million for living/playing in his hometown and having the best chance to win?...But in the end Buss will probably pay.

[YiYaoYue]

Lakers should look to get Turk if David Lee persuades Ariza to ask for a very large contract. Personally I think Turk is better although I do like Ariza and think he should stay. Also Lakers have made Ariza's value high by starting him and benching Odom (like Ginobli) making it seem like Ariza is better than Odom. And I think on another team Ariza wouldn't be nearly as good... He can't produce his own shot like Hedo. He also isn't strong enough to gaurd the bigger SFs.

[Tekkenlaw]

I love Trevor, but is there any competitive lineup the Lakers put out there where he is more than the 4th option on offense? The mid-level is enough for a role player, even if that role player is rock solid and clutch.

[aussie_laker]

i really hate this guy! He just sounds like such a money hungry tool and makes the players he represents sound the same way

[Anklebreaker702]

Deep I can't stand this magget. These are they types of agents that not only mess up players careers but also mess up a teams chemistry because he's not concerned with team cohesiveness just how much his commission check will be.

[DEEP3CL]

Deep I can't stand this magget. These are they types of agents that not only mess up players careers but also mess up a teams chemistry because he's not concerned with team cohesiveness just how much his commission check will be.

Yep, the man is still bent that Bynum put an ultimatum on him and made him get a deal done last fall. You can just sense that once Bynum signed he wasn't overly happy because it wasn't the max that he was trying to secure for Bynum which in turn cut his 4% by a few G's.

[DEEP3CL]

i really hate this guy! He just sounds like such a money hungry tool and makes the players he represents sound the same way

You and me both, some guys you just don't want to deal with. Dude is looking for his big break.

[Danny Darko]

Seriously Lee is a jack ass. If we lose Trevor because of greed and I was Mitch I'd make a policy about not dealing with his clients anytime soon. He's got three players... to hell with his clientele if it goes down badly.

[Anklebreaker702]

Deep I can't stand this magget. These are they types of agents that not only mess up players careers but also mess up a teams chemistry because he's not concerned with team cohesiveness just how much his commission check will be.

Yep, the man is still bent that Bynum put an ultimatum on him and made him get a deal done last fall. You can just sense that once Bynum signed he wasn't overly happy because it wasn't the max that he was trying to secure for Bynum which in turn cut his 4% by a few G's.

Yep. He's garbage

[DEEP3CL]

The man ranks 59th on the agent list, here's his stats :

Clients' Salaries : 6,391,809

Players: 3

All-Stars: 0

Maxed-out: 0

Tell me you guys can't see his ulterior motive, the numbers say it all.

[microfib4thewin]

They're just doing their job. If they're nice guys they would be out of business. Besides, he didn't make any statement on what the demands are, so this is just a typical statement before negotiation.

[Luffy]

No worries. I doubt Trevor Ariza produces the kind of numbers he did this year without three star players in Kobe, Gasol, and Odom. I would very much like for Ariza to stay, but if he demands too much money, then I'd rather spend that kind of money on a guy like Turkoglu. I'm sure that guys like Ron Artest and Shawn Marion would play for the MLE in LA as well. We just won the freakin championship. We should have all the leverage.

[Lakerholic44]

I guess I wouldn't worry to much if LA loses Ariza (assuming he over prices himself) if LA can turn around and sign one of the following players.

Ron Artest, Matt Barnes, Shawn Marion, or Grant Hill

Marion would be a solid pick-up as his versatility and ability to play the bigger SFs would be welcomed. Hill would be the biggest concern because of his age. However, Barnes would be able to fit right in and produce as much as Ariza did and still play solid D, albeit not having the ability to make steals the way Trevor does. Still, Barnes is a steady outside thread, can finish, and currently has better handles than Ariza. Oh yeah, and he can be had for much cheaper as well.

Artest would be able to guard the post effectively, something that Ariza struggled with and will continue to struggle with until he gains more weight and strength, against players like Carmelo, Lebron, and Pierce. Artest will have trouble staying in the perimeter with Lebron especially, but who wouldn't? Also, I Artest would bring more nastiness to the Lakers and would be able to post up weak SFs with ease...just like he did Ariza in the first few game of LA in the post season. His shot selection? I'm sure that would improve because LA's firepower would allow Ron to pretty much be a facilitator, spot up (he's better as a spot shooter than shooting off the dribble), and post up. In Houston he would have to compensate and force shots up because of a the lack of a perimeter threat not named Brooks. That wouldn't be the case in LA.

These players should at least get a look if Ariza departs as they would be decent options...Gerald Green, Rodney Carney

I especially like Green's upside and spending an off-season with Kobe would do wonder for his game just like it did with Ariza. IMO, if Green decides to work-out with a baller like Kobe and/or commit himself to better learning footwork, playing better defense, and working on his release on his jump shot (Ariza had the same problem before he got to LA, much like other leapers in the game....Craig Hodges should get lots of credit for this, BTW), then he can change his career around. Ariza did it, Travis Outlaw did it, and there are other talented wing players in the past that have done it...but there are many more that have not been able to do so. Anyhow, seeing Green being mentored by Kobe would be interesting as Green is actually more athletic than Ariza and has slightly better handles.

[CowsMoo]

Why does Lee have to go public about it.

[dockingsched]

Why does Lee have to go public about it.

did you see the annual salary that bynum got? i don't blame him. he's a complete idiot though, everything about him screams sleaze ball. i can't stomach that two of clients are on the lakers.

[doozyj]

Why does Lee have to go public about it.

For leverage, obviously. To make it out that Buss is cheap if they don't pay him. It is a tactic to get the fans behind them as well.

I want Ariza back. I don't want Mario, Hedo, Hill or Artest (OK maybe Artest, he can defend good). Regardless it is all upto Trevor, sometimes you need to secure your future with the salary. This is a big business and they want to get paid.

[chefy]

anthony parker anyone?

[DubaLakers]

How can he be so fn' obnoxious? I can give a shi* if he thinks that, just don't fuc* your client into what he wants, by letting your ego get in the way.

If that's the case, that this agent thinks he's the best wing player in the game? He's as good as gone.

if Trevor leaves he'll be paid and unhappy, at least on the basketball court.

[SashAlex]

Can Ariza dump it ?! Even Sasha has a much better agent.