Ex-Laker Ariza speaks out on M&H Show today (7-6-09)

[Jordan-esque]

Says he doesn't know what really went on regarding negotiation. Felt like Lakers were saying he was worth MLE money. A lot of I don't knows. I mean a LOT of I don't knows from Trevor.

- Nothing he could really do with the negotations.

- Reason he chose Houston was to be closer to his son, and his family. They said he'll be getting more opportunities there to expand his game.

- Aboud David Lee, thinks that anything Mr. Gumbygld did, paraphrasing "I don't think anything he could've done would be wrong." Trevor says that he himself is a loyal guy.

- Says he was not in the negoations because he was not aware that there was one, from his understanding.

- Says it's tough to leave LA his home.

- Says he's not pulling a Hedon't and will indeed sign with the Rockets.

- Said every Laker player called him and wished him the best. No hard feelings against the Lakers.

- Hadn't talked to Phil. Vitti gave him a call.

Seems like he really had NO or LITTLE control of his OWN negotiation. There were a LOT of "I don't knows" on his part. Didn't even sound happy talking about signing with Houston. In fact, Myers, Hartman, and the other hosts were all talking about it and ribbing David Lee.

EDIT:
Check AM570Radio.com M&H show for the Podcast Link later today (he was on around 3:40 pm)

[YiYaoYue]

Sounds like a classic douchebag agent screwing him. Leave your client in the dark (never tell him about anything that really goes on) and try and get your own by demanding more money above player's worth. Then when things don't go your way, use the media to blame the organization saying they don't "respect" their client.

Trevor needs to start realizing his agent screwed him... he's such a loyal guy... believing a messed up agent.. I feel real bad that he was screwed. If Ariza knew what was going on, I'm sure he would have taken Laker's MLE offer in a heartbeat.

[what would jack bauer do?]

Not that I was a huge fan of Ariza's gambling defense, especially as our primary sf defender, but I hope he comes back in the future.

I feel bad for the guy, he had the right attitude and got along with our team. His agent sure screwed over what was to be the highlight of his career (being part of a potential dynasty with a team that has good chemistry on and off the court).

Not trying to knock him, but I think after a couple losing seasons in Houston he will be on the trading block. He's got a limited ceiling and he's a fringe starter outside of our special situation. So I hope we get him back at the deadline in a year and a half. Sasha and our first round pick might be good enough by then.

[what would jack bauer do?]

oh yeah, thanks for the summary man

[dockingsched]

i don't think there's anything david lee could have done to work it out. lakers wanted artest over ariza, simple as that. david lee resorting to his media tactics is funny now because obviously it wasn't that the lakers were low balling, like david lee thought, the lakers were simply looking elsewhere.

[JustBlaze]

I really really hope he fires his douche bag agent...then Bynum does the same.

[Trifecta7]

Wow, Ariza... how can you be so trustful with your agent that you didn't know all the details that went down in your negotiations?

After listening to Ron's video with his agent mentioning Mitch thought Ariza would be getting $35-42 million total ($7-8 million per year), I can see why the Lakers decided to immediately inquire about Artest. In the early media reports, we had his agent wanting $9 million a year.

At this time, Ron's agent was also talking about other free agents like Gordon going to back to the Bulls/going to the Pistons. It sounds very early in the free agency period.

It looks like Lakers never thought they had a chance at getting Ariza back because they expected him to be out of their price range after talking to Lee. The Lakers did believe he was worth the MLE and Ariza said that in this interview. I think they told Lee to look for an offer sheet elsewhere and perhaps they'll match it after Lee refused the MLE offer (with the expectation Lee was never coming back), which ironically is what Ariza got with the Rockets in the end.

[DubaLakers]

I heard the interview live, Trevor was straightforward and unbelievably loyal to his agent I was blown away. I miss Trevor man, he better get a standing O for 2.5 minutes minimum when HOU comes to LA.

Don McClaine said and it best assuming that there was no negotiation because Mitch made a call to Artest for the MLE ands as soon as he was able and when Artest said yes the decision about Ariza was made.

Trevors agent should take about 50% of his cut and give it right back to Ariza for support like that wow Ariza blew me away with his support of that moron, because he's saving his ass, when he could have easily threw him under the bus.

[Rox_Nix_Nox]

hmm interesting, I like ron artest's agent

[mmyers37]

Seems to me that Ariza's agent did the right thing by trying to field all offers, considering the Lakers came in at the virtual minimum. Free agency only comes around every 3-5 years. I think the problem, from what I've read, is that the agent was kind of a jerk about it. I don't know if it made a difference. Once Ariza's agent rejected the initial offer, the Lakers moved right to Artest.

Just didn't work out for Ariza and the Lakers. If he REALLY wanted to be in LA, he could have taken that initial offer, but.... If the Lakers really wanted Ariza over Artest, don't you think they would have contacted him right before Ron showed up to sign his deal, just to give him one last chance? Doesn't sound like they did that.

[DEEP3CL]

I heard the interview also, it was a classic example of an inexperienced agent trying to play hard ball with one of the pillar franchises in the history of sports. I feel sorry for Trev because we KNEW he didn't want to leave but his agent clearly put him in a bad spot. Lee's "running to the media" tactics blew up right in his face.

Trying to play Trev as the victim and the Lakers as the villain was mistake number one, especially when the Lakers have a set precedent as being a franchise to pay it's own and will pay to get others here. You could tell Trev had no answers for what happened..........and that's what's so sad.

[TonyMontana]

i don't think there's anything david lee could have done to work it out. lakers wanted artest over ariza, simple as that. david lee resorting to his media tactics is funny now because obviously it wasn't that the lakers were low balling, like david lee thought, the lakers were simply looking elsewhere.

I think he couldve I think his agent left a bad taste in the Lakers mouth with the ish he pulled when it came to Bynum and the Lakers felt that his agent pushed them into signing Bynum into a big contract and I have a feeling that the Lakers front office felt that they shouldve waited for Bynum to recover and give them a solid 09 season and then negotiate a contract. I personally think that his agent had a lot to do with what happened with Bynum as well as Ariza.
So they basically said Skip Lee and Ariza and we will go after Artest for less money and better player.
As far as Ariza too. He's full of ish, you mean to tell me all that talk about he's a LA local with his family here in LA and now its about his son and he had no clue what his agent was doing???
B.S if I was an athlete you better believe Im going to find out what Im signing for and how much Im signing for.

This Dirtbag agent David Lee isnt going to have a job soon the way he goes about his services and the way he represents his clients.
He is trash and he has no clue how to negotiate players contracts and you better believe not to many G.Ms are going to look at players that are being represented by this DBag.

Good luck Trevor and dont let the door hit you in the ass buddy. Thanks for the help on the ring, its time for all of to move on Trevor, you made your bed now sleep on it.

[Mamba Venom]

Ariza loyalty is w/ his freakin agent and not w/ his hometown team...

WTF

[lakersfanatic]

Really sucks to see him go. I guess it wont really hit him until he really leaves and goes to houston. But on the day that we plays against the lakers would be the worst.

Like what most of us mentioned before.. it was his stupid agents fault for playing hardball. He should have fielded offers prior forcing the lakers to the wall which gave artest the perfect opportunity to offer his discount (which was awesome) to join the lakers.

Good Ariza. Maybe you'll play for us again in the near future.... You will always return to the ring (lord of the rings moment HAHA).

[tlifeset]

I think that "I don't know" is code for "I got f'd". Honestly, Ariza should fire David Lee immediately. Does he understand that David Lee LOST HIM MONEY??? He could have signed the MLE with the Lakers except the Lakers can offer 20% more than any other team plus add a 6th year. Mr. Lee literally lost Ariza about 8-9 million dollars. Not to mention that once Artest signed with the Lakers, Ariza should have held out to see which team (Portland or Toronto) was going to sign Hedo. I think it's fairly safe to say that after the fiasco, Portland probably would have wanted to save face by throwing money at Ariza. I'm guessing he probably would have gotten around 8 mill a year from the Blazers. So let's say that David Lee cost him another 8 mill from that blunder. All in all, I think what we saw was a brazen agent that left his client in the dark, but continued to operate like the Chris Wallace of agents. Just a complete and utter embarrassment on every level. Forget firing him, Ariza should sue his incompetent a off.

[LAKESHOW]

his agent screwed up. we made an offer. he didnt take it, and made media threats about his worth. it was at that moment that kupchak moved immediately to alternatives. artest to be exact.

[The Laker Kid]

It's best for Ariza to be in Houston and develop his game, and eventually become a superstar. I wish him nothing but luck. David Lee was just doing his job.

[MAMBAEMD]

It's really too bad.
Ariza was a perfect fit for the Lakers team ans system.
It seems more and more obvious that his agent went after bigger offers that never really came and the Lakers had to go after Artest since he was willing to take the MLE.
This is a good move for the Lakers in the short term, but for the long term I wish they had kep Ariza. I loved his game.
He will not find a better system to suit his game other than a run and shoot team like the Knicks.
I wish him all the luck in the world but I think he and his agent blew it big time.

[YiYaoYue]

I think it was just timing issue. Lakers gave Ariza the first offer... the agent didn't take it and didn't speak with his client that he was going to field other offers when clearly it seems like Ariza wanted to stay in LA and he probably thought he was going to stay in LA. David Lee was not looking out for his client, he was looking out for himself first. Then Lakers couldn't just stand by and wait so they looked around and Artest accepted the offer Lakers gave very quickly because his agent wants to do what Artest wants and that is play in LA. I think even Laker management was surprised the offer was accepted so quickly and they couldn't back out of the offer and also they wanted Artest since awhile ago. So, the fallout was that Artest gets signed and not enough money to sign Ariza as well as not being able to offer him the starting job and minutes.

[Anklebreaker702]

Horrible. Just horrible. I hate it when a saddle sore brain dead agent wrecks a well liked players chance to sign back with his team. We could have probably signed Artest & kept Ariza with a bettef agent. Hopefully we have some other move up our sleeve to get this team to pretty much be a lock. Had we kept Ariza we had answers for whoever because of depth & players that can play more than 1 position.