Lakers Face Tough Decision On Ariza

DubaLakers · Post #1 » by **DubaLakers** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:06 am

The Lakers are just two wins from their second straight NBA Finals appearance, but face an offseason of uncertainty.

They will have to deal with five unrestricted free agents, with Trevor Ariza heading the group.

Los Angeles wants to keep Ariza, who's stock has risen due to his strong play. The more Ariza commands, the less the Lakers will have to spend on Lamar Odom, Shannon Brown, Josh Powell and DJ Mbenga.

"When you play well, that normally is a good thing if you're going to be a free agent," general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "It's all good, when guys play well I'm happy for them. It's a good problem to have.

"There's nothing there that needs to be addressed right now. We're happy with his performance, we look at him as an important part of this team. The money thing will take care of itself during the offseason, when there's a market that's established."

Via Los Angeles Daily News

If it came down to Ariza or Odom I'd be pissed if Ariza wasn't the choice. To me he is the #1 priority in the off season, after Kobe likely doesn't opt out.

There was a poll that was taken in Real GM and the LARGE majority said LO was the better piece. I have to very much disagree. Lamar is maybe the most versitle player in the game, but he's also 30 in November. Just this year he finally broke thru after numerous injuries and years of inconsistancy. Ariza is 24, is already in the flow year 2, and to me is the 4th most important Laker, behind Bean, Pau, & Bynum (future).

Speed, athletisim, length, 6-8, excellent defender, can drive with speed and power, can knock down the three, can hit mid range, appears to have ice water in his viens, and is on point the entire game.

Lamar's versatility, ability to rebound and get to the basket is fantastic, but he doesn't play like Ariza does from tip to buzzer.

To me those are the fantastic four, and the rest of these fools still aren't even into the playoffs yet.

OT: The Magic are just fantastic. If the Lakers don't get this thing done, I will be rooting for the Magic, they are bringing it every night, and they have chemistry and skill. If the Nuggets took it, it would nearly be as bad as the C's last year. I don't know about you guys, but I pretty much want to get in a bar room brawl with the entire Nuggets team as long as I got all my Real GM guys in my corner, and we all are supplied with bats.

Sofa King · Post #2 » by **Sofa King** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:46 am

DubaLakers wrote:
"When you play well, that normally is a good thing if you're going to be a free agent," general manager Mitch Kupchak said. "It's all good, when guys play well I'm happy for them. It's a good problem to have.

I wish I can put Sasha in that category. :roll:

It's a contract year for him so that's great he's playing well. Knowing the Laker's luck, he'll if and when Ariza resigns, he'll go down with an ankle injury and be out most of the year.

Too early for off season moves. Lets see how the Lakers do and see if they can get tougher players.

DubaLakers wrote:If it came down to Ariza or Odom I'd be pissed if Ariza wasn't the choice. To me he is the #1 priority in the off season, after Kobe likely doesn't opt out.

There was a poll that was taken in Real GM and the LARGE majority said LO was the better piece. I have to very much disagree. Lamar is maybe the most versitle player in the game, but he's also 30 in November. Just this year he finally broke thru after numerous injuries and years of inconsistancy. Ariza is 24, is already in the flow year 2, and to me is the 4th most important Laker, behind Bean, Pau, & Bynum (future).

Speed, athletisim, length, 6-8, excellent defender, can drive with speed and power, can knock down the three, can hit mid range, appears to have ice water in his viens, and is on point the entire game.

Lamar's versatility, ability to rebound and get to the basket is fantastic, but he doesn't play like Ariza does from tip to buzzer.

To me those are the fantastic four, and the rest of these fools still aren't even in the playoffs yet.

OT: The Magic are just fantastic. If the Lakers don't get this thing done, I will be rooting for the Magic, they are bringing it every night, and they have chemistry and skill. If the Nuggets took it, it would nearly be as bad as the C's last year. I don't know about you guys, but I pretty much want to get in a bar room brawl with the entire Nuggets team as long as I got all my Real GM guys in my corner, and we all are supplied with bats.

I think you are very wrong about Odom. For example, if it wasn't for Odom's length on the inbound passes, Ariza would never have the opportunity to steal the ball... twice!

Ariza is great to have but really SF are a dime a dozen in this league. Odom provides a solid PF for the Lakers and if the Lakers can sign him to a decent deal, then it's worth it.

If the Lakers are to get Ariza and not Odom, there are some big shoes to fill. Not having Ariza next year isn't that big to me.

boshjonesford · Post #3 » by **boshjonesford** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:26 pm

Please sign and trade him to Toronto for Marion

NBAWestFan · Post #4 » by **NBAWestFan** » Wed May 27, 2009 2:44 pm

Ariza is number 1 and then I would see if Ron Ron is available.
He might want to come to LA.

If no Ron Ron then see if Odom's price is right.

Kobe/Sasha
Brown/Farmar/ Fisher - Player/Coach Time to think about being an assist coach
Bynum/Gasol
Ariza/Walton
Artest/Powell

To me this may not be a better regular season team, But Artest makes this a better defensive
team which makes this a much better playoff team that with Odom.

Artest is a gamer and a superior defensive and playoff player than Odom. And might be available short
term for a decent price to win a ring.

hermes · Post #5 » by **hermes** » Wed May 27, 2009 3:14 pm

boshjonesford wrote:Please sign and trade him to Toronto for Marion

pass

what we need is a money tree, then our problems would be solved

monk302 · Post #6 » by **monk302** » Wed May 27, 2009 3:25 pm

You have to sign Ariza. Odom's never looked comfortable in the triangle and I have a feeling he's going to wind up back in Miami (Riley loves him).

monk302 · Post #7 » by **monk302** » Wed May 27, 2009 3:27 pm

You have to sign Ariza. Odom's never looked comfortable in the triangle and I have a feeling he's going to wind up back in Miami (Riley loves him).

DubaLakers · Post #8 » by **DubaLakers** » Wed May 27, 2009 3:48 pm

30 V 24, Ariza would be cheaper, and he plays balls out from tip to buzzer and you guys want Odom, ahhhh I don't get it. I hope Mitchie prefers Ariza or I'm gonna be pissed. Prime years are 28-30 according to JWest.

One Love · Post #9 » by **One Love** » Wed May 27, 2009 4:23 pm

The REAL question is do you want Ariza at 23 for the MLE ($5 million a year) or LO at 30 for $8 million a year... Need to consider salary specifically when the CAP will decrease for the first time in years... In my opinion, we made the decision to dump LO when we committed prematurely (we can argue) to Bynum ($13 million next year)... As much as I would love to keep LO, the upside of Bynum and Powell's consistent jump shot and rebounding will suffice (assuming growth from Shannon, Bynum & Ariza next year)... I love Kobe & Shannon in the backcourt and hope to see that allot more next season...

Post #10 » by **Kilroy** » Wed May 27, 2009 4:31 pm

If we lose Ariza and get Ron Ron as a replacement, I'ma to start watching Hockey...

If I was a Rockets fan, I woulda wanted Ron Ron dead after watching him flop, collect Ts and jack up hopeless 3s against us.

Ariza isn't as versitile as Odom, but he's more consistant, and rises to occasions better. Odom just hasn't done anything for me this post-season, even before he got hurt on a hopeless drive.

Right now, all things considdered, Ariza is our 3rd most important player. We need to try to keep him or have an awesome plan B. If we're talking Rockets, that'd be Scola or Battier... Not Ron Ron.

I really think we need to approach Kobe about his desire to help make things happen financially first... And then talk to Ariza. And nothing else gets done untill Ariza is happy.

If that means he gets some 20M a year offer from some crazy team, then more power to him and he will have to go, but all reasonable offers should be matched.

joe.linnen · Post #11 » by **joe.linnen** » Wed May 27, 2009 5:08 pm

I wish Kobe would take 5 million a year( I know its a hell of a long shot), but this would really come in handy. We could keep Ariza, Odom, Brown, Powell, and Mbenga. I love our teamt he way it is too. We have all the tools we need to win a title its just a matter of keeping them together.

SF:Ariza/Walton/Morrison
PF:Gasol/Odom/Powell
C:Bynum/Mbenga
SG:Bryant/Vujacic
PG:Fisher/Brown/Barmar

Jajwanda · Post #12 » by **Jajwanda** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:21 pm

Buss has more than enough money to pay all three free agents. The downturn hasn't affected him in the slightest so he has no excuse not to pay them.

If we were actually limited (they're not, it's bull to be honest considering how profitable the Lakers are) I would go for Ariza based off of age and improvement that he's shown. Odom could make for quite the sign and trade. A professional like Antonio McDyess instead of Odom would be more than sufficient and about 4m less in salary (8m in payment). He wouldn't be as dynamic but he would be far more dependable and his skills fit well.

One of the best things we could possibly do however would be offering Fisher a coaching job with a salary of 1.5m per year for three years and trying to get him to retire. Him being out of the lineup would improve us by itself.

AmusingFiddle · Post #13 » by **AmusingFiddle** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:57 pm

What are chances of picking up Ariza and Ron Ron. Or giving up on Ariza and going after Ron Ron and resign LO. I think it is possible but are the Lakers willing to pay luxury tax? I doubt it.

DubaLakers · Post #14 » by **DubaLakers** » Thu May 28, 2009 3:54 am

I take full credit for this win, Lamar obviously read my post.

.

Sofa King · Post #15 » by **Sofa King** » Thu May 28, 2009 5:33 am

DubaLakers wrote:I take full credit for this win, Lamar obviously read my post. .

Can you tell Lamar to get me and TonyMontana Finals tickets. Thanks.

DubaLakers · Post #16 » by **DubaLakers** » Thu May 28, 2009 7:25 am

Sofa King wrote:
DubaLakers wrote:I take full credit for this win, Lamar obviously read my post. .

Can you tell Lamar to get me and TonyMontana Finals tickets. Thanks.

Tony has them coming in from Nigeria I thought, floor seats.

Tonight was a game you actually got a great effort, and I wouldn't have asked for a full refund. Excellent win. Pau was fantastic, as well as Lamar.

KingLakers · Post #17 » by **KingLakers** » Thu May 28, 2009 7:44 am

Powell has a team option for about 1 million and Mbenga's contract isn't fully guranteed for next year so I think the Lakers will keep both. The Real challenge is how do the Lakers keep Brown considering Ariza will get most to all of the MLE and Odom will take a paycut wherever he ends I think the Lakers are the only team the will give him more than the MLE. SO lets say Ariza gets the full MLE which will be about 5 million and if Odom takes 7 or 8 million for like 3 yrs all thats left for Brown is the LLE is he willing to take a 2yr contact for like 3 million.

Jajwanda · Post #18 » by **Jajwanda** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:36 am

No No No No

We have Ariza's bird rights through the trade we made, we can re-sign him for whatever we like. A full MLE level offer (not the MLE) will likely do it as I doubt Ariza goes to the teams with cap room currently. Brown we'll re-sign for a few million. Buss will just have to shut up and pay hefty for one year until Fisher retires, Phil Jackson retires, Morrison's contract expires, and things of that nature. One way to open up enough cap room to re-sign Brown for the majority of his deal would be the Walton/Morrison for Eddy Curry+cash deal.

If we can convince Fisher to take a front office job then that's all the better. Hopefully Rambis or Shaw get a HC job and we give Fisher a five year deal to head start his coaching career. With him gone off the cap we save a whopping 11m, enough for Ariza this year+luxury tax. We may decide to sell our first round pick for 1.5m and get a second rounder instead. At that rate we'll probably save another 3.5m or so through the process including the tax.

We'll make room. We have the capability to do so. There's no excuse...

SALMIEN · Post #19 » by **SALMIEN** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:01 pm

i want one too, Go lakers you are the only thing going right lately

daddyfivestar · Post #20 » by **daddyfivestar** » Fri May 29, 2009 5:44 pm

Jajwanda wrote:No No No No

We have Ariza's bird rights through the trade we made, we can re-sign him for whatever we like. A full MLE level offer (not the MLE) will likely do it as I doubt Ariza goes to the teams with cap room currently. Brown we'll re-sign for a few million. Buss will just have to shut up and pay hefty for one year until Fisher retires, Phil Jackson retires, Morrison's contract expires, and things of that nature. One way to open up enough cap room to re-sign Brown for the majority of his deal would be the Walton/Morrison for Eddy Curry+cash deal.

If we can convince Fisher to take a front office job then that's all the better. Hopefully Rambis or Shaw get a HC job and we give Fisher a five year deal to head start his coaching career. With him gone off the cap we save a whopping 11m, enough for Ariza this year+luxury tax. We may decide to sell our first round pick for 1.5m and get a second rounder instead. At that rate we'll probably save another 3.5m or so through the process including the tax.

...

We'll make room. We have the capability to do so. There's no excuse

Exactly.