ARIZA & TURIAF

[The_Trade_Seer]

There are quite a few folks who believe former Lakers Trevor Ariza of the Hornets and Ronny Turiaf of the Knicks will be amnesty cut casualties.

I personally believe Turiaf is gone for sure while Ariza is a tough call. However if Ariza and Turiaf come on the block WE WOULD BE INSANE NOT TO SIGN THEM!

We would not have won the title against Orlando without Ariza and Ronny was always a fan fave, Kobe fave, all heart and a great teammate.

We also should seriously be making a play for Dwight Howard AND Gilbert arenas as that will allow Orlando to not only net a great return for D12 but allow them to dump BOTH of their cancers in Arenas and Turkoglu, Arenas through the trade with us and Hedo through the amnesty cut.

We could then either dump Arenas and hold onto Luke (he's on out team already so it's not like we are really losing out on some great gift) or if Kobe and Gil can co-exist, keep Arenas and dump Walton as planned.

An offer of Bynum, Gasol and Darius Morris for D12, Arenas and Bass should do the trick.

PG: Fisher/Arenas/Blake
SG: Kobe/Barnes/Goudelock
SF: Artest/Ariza/Ebanks
PF: Odom/Bass/Caracter
C: Dwight/Turiaf

That is a championship team right there!

[crazyeights]

Turiaf is exactly the kind of guy we need on this team.

[Jetset]

Where to start...

So it's just as easy as that to get Dwight? You do realize that the amnesty cuts will affect other teams than just the Lakers, right? Like......oh, the Orlando Magic. If they cut Hedo or Arenas, that gives them flexibility which gives them more of a possibility of making a move and then trading for Paul. You must also understand that to an extent Orlando will be reluctant to just give up Howard to the Lakers, so it won't be as simple as just "trading X player and that should do the trick 8-]".

Also in your trade you have Orlando getting rid of their cancers in Hedo and Arenas yet, you have them getting a form of cancer right back in return in Gasol. Gasol won't be motivated in Orlando and he'd just be sucking up cap space for a rebuilding team. Besides we've already been over this, Bryant/Gasol/Howard is better than Bryant/Odom/Howard. So if anything Odom is the one who needs to be traded and a third team will need to be involved. Odom would be an expiring and would be easier to move.

As far as Turiaf, the Knicks have a need for big men so I definitely see them keeping Turiaf. And who thinks Ariza is getting cut? I'm sure the Hornets know they'll probably fail in retaining Paul, but they have to at least try. Ariza and Landry are a big part in keeping Paul in New Orleans. Even if and when they lose Paul, I'm sure Ariza will be a building block along with the pieces they get in return for Paul.

I'm sure we've probably burned a bridge with Ariza. We basically mocked him for how much he wanted and turned around and gave the same amount to a now lesser player in Peace.

[Slava]

The idea behind the Knicks and Hornets cutting Ariza and Turiaf is for the Knicks to create cap space for another free agent signing with Billups expiring as well and the Hornets need to resign David West. This assuming there will be a hard cap of around $56 million.

For Orlando Bill Simmons proposed this:

Trade Arenas + Reddick to Atlanta for Joe Johnson. Cut Turkoglu with amnesty.

The Hawks cut Arenas and also get rid of Joe Johnson's albatross of a contract while getting a cheaper replacement in Reddick.

I wonder if Atlanta would do it but money wise makes a lot of sense for both teams and Johnson might be the best Orlando can put next to Howard.

[tugs]

The idea behind the Knicks and Hornets cutting Ariza and Turiaf is for the Knicks to create cap space for another free agent signing with Billups expiring as well and the Hornets need to resign David West. This assuming there will be a hard cap of around $56 million.

For Orlando Bill Simmons proposed this:

Trade Arenas + Reddick to Atlanta for Joe Johnson. Cut Turkoglu with amnesty.

The Hawks cut Arenas and also get rid of Joe Johnson's albatross of a contract while getting a cheaper replacement in Reddick.

I wonder if Atlanta would do it but money wise makes a lot of sense for both teams and Johnson might be the best Orlando can put next to Howard.

sweet deal for ORL and Hawks imo Slav. both would be damage controls and would make sense.

Joe can create for Dwight and Dwight can create for Joe. scary combo right there.

as for cutting the 2. I think waiting for amnesty cuts than signing free agents would be NY's strategy. they've been built for "the now", evident from the Melo trade.

[TruSkool]

ariza and turiaf back on the lakers would be a godsend...

and the only other player im letting pau gasol go for is dirk nowitzki...not dwight howard, not when we have andrew bynum.

[aussie_laker]

turiaf spat in our face after we stuck by him during his heart issues.


Ariza yes, would love to see him back where he belongs - in purple and gold

[Dalakerbox]

Trade Pau and Bynum? Are you crazy? I'll leave it there.

I do agree that we need to make a play for Howard but Odom and Bynum is all I would offer, I for one would like to see what our young guys can do for us Morris, Ebanks and Goudlock are keepers so far in my book.

Also if the Hornets were to cut anyone it would be Okafore, although I see them as a team that does not use this Amnesty at all. I'm sure Ariza will be there unless they find an upgrade through trade

[LApwnd]

this is turiaf last year on that contrat, he is NOT getting amenstied...itd be idiotic to amensty and expiring.

[snaquille oatmeal]

turiaf spat in our face after we stuck by him during his heart issues.
Ariza yes, would love to see him back where he belongs - in purple and gold

that's so inacurate.

[LApwnd]

^^^agree there, Ariza did more "spitting" then Turiaf. Ronny had to get paid and we weren't paying him that money. Ariza got paid what we were offering and got greedy, LA made him and now he's been traded around like a 2 dollar whore and has had horrible #'s efficiency wise since leaving.

[The_Trade_Seer]

No way theHawks are dealing Joe Johnson for nothing but cap space, that's just stupid. They were the 4th best team in the East last season, could easily be the 3rd best this year and with injuries ... one never knows.

That would be a genius move for the Magic and would probably be enough to keep Dwight in town, but since Otis Smith is the GM ... a genius movie is a loooooooooong shot.

[The_Trade_Seer]

this is turiaf last year on that contrat, he is NOT getting amenstied...itd be idiotic to amensty and expiring.

WRONG. Turiaf has a plyer option for next year and that one salary alone could prevent them from offering a max contract to CP3 orDwight. Turiaf is the ONLY guy on the Knicks with a chance to be cut and he will be, book it.

[The_Trade_Seer]

turiaf spat in our face after we stuck by him during his heart issues.

Are you insane? Turiaf signed with a team that was offering way more money and a possible starting position ... that is NOT spitting in the Lakers face and all the Lakers loved Ronny and wished him well ... there were no hard feelings there at all and I am pretty sure Kobe and Lakers brass would love to have Ronny back in P&G

[The_Trade_Seer]

and the only other player im letting pau gasol go for is dirk nowitzki...not dwight howard, not when we have andrew bynum.

HAHAHAHAHAHA, you are either kidding or are a new basketball fan or something ... the above statement is lunacy.

Dirk is great and all, but he has about 15% of the market value as Dwight does. It's not even remotely close.

Maybe you didn't realise that Dirk is 7 and 1/2 years older than Dwight, if that is the case I can forgive your ignorance

[The_Trade_Seer]

Trade Pau and Bynum? Are you crazy? I'll leave it there.

Nope, not kidding at all. I would trade Pau and Bynum AND Darius Morris for Dwight, Arenas and Brandon Bass in a heartbeat!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do agree that we need to make a play for Howard but Odom and Bynum is all I would offer,

That won't top the Bulls offer of Noah, Deng, Asik and Watson for Dwight and Hedo.

I for one would like to see what our young guys can do for us Morris, Ebanks and Goudlock are keepers so far in my book.

This isn't kiddy campus, it's the win-now Lakers ... they are all expendable.

Also if the Hornets were to cut anyone it would be Okafore, although I see them as a team that does not use this Amnesty at all. I'm sure Ariza will be there unless they find an upgrade through trade

I don't agree about Okefor ... he's paid fairly and is the only defensive stalwart they have ... Ariza has been a bad fit for them so far and they spent a pick on Pondexter and like him ... he could easily replace Ariza before anyone on their roster could even think of replacing Okefor ... I do agree that the Hornets may not use the amnesty at all though.

[The_Trade_Seer]

Where to start...

Don't irritate me or I'll have to school you again young pup

So it's just as easy as that to get Dwight?

Bynum, Pau and Morris for Dwight, Arenas and Bass is a very solid offer and the best offer the Magic will get for Dwight. Whether Otis "How did I become an NBA GM" would accept it or just rather lose Dwight in the off-season for nothing is anyone's guess however.

You do realize that the amnesty cuts will affect other teams than just the Lakers, right?

Yup.

Like......oh, the Orlando Magic.

Which is exactly why my deal makes so much sense Dukie, it allows them to basically cut BOTH arenas and Hedo and really build for the future around the best starting big men in the East in Bynum and Pau.[/quote]

If they cut Hedo or Arenas, that gives them flexibility which gives them more of a possibility of making a move and then trading for Paul.[/quote]

No, no, no ... we've been through this before and I understand you just don't get NBA financials, so no worries. The amnesty cut will NOT help Orlando sign any free agent, let alone a max guy like CP3. The amnesty cut is a "tax cut" not a salary cut, it will simply save Orlando's owner from paying a monster tax to Stern, it will not erase team salary to allow the Magic to make a max offer to CP3. Now, a TRADE of Arenas would indeed clear his salary and following that up by cutting Hedo would really make the owner happy, but even this woul not give them the funds necessary to land CP3.

Let me make this clear ... the ONLY way the Magic are getting Chris Paul would be to trade Dwight for him ... and we all now that ain't happening.

You must also understand that to an extent Orlando will be reluctant to just give up Howard to the Lakers, so it won't be as simple as just "trading X player and that should do the trick 8-]".

No argument here as you're 100% right on this one, but again, we've been around this bush before too ... the Magic look set to lose D12 for NOTHING next offseason so if their GM is smart he will trade him before the trade deadline this year, and the Lakers can make a better offer than anyone else.

Also in your trade you have Orlando getting rid of their cancers in Hedo and Arenas yet, you have them getting a form of cancer right back in return in Gasol.

Is this a joke? Pau has NEVER been a team cancer in his life, has always been considered a great teammate and good guy and doesn't even have it in him to be a "cancer" I don't think.

Gasol won't be motivated in Orlando and he'd just be sucking up cap space for a rebuilding team.

Oh stop it. Just stop it. Pau Gasol has turned himself into a legitimate first ballot HOF'er over the past 4 years, won two titles and been considered the most skilled and even the best PF in the league ... if he and Bynum were traded to Orlando on a team that would have a starting 5 of Nelson/Reddick/Richardson/Pau/Bynum, Pau would relish being "the man" on a team that has a shot at winning the East. With that starting 5 the Magic would NOT be in rebuilding mode, they would be better than they are now and in win-now mode.

Besides we've already been over this, Bryant/Gasol/Howard is better than Bryant/Odom/Howard.

So what. If Dr. Buss owned both the Lakers and Magic that would be ar argument you could make, but since he doesn't he may have to give up his best to get the best and Bryant/Odom/Howard is better than Bryant/Gasol/Bynum and that's all that matters.

Of course if we can get D12 for Bynum and Odom I'm all for it, but I think it may take Pau and I'm fine with that too.

So if anything Odom is the one who needs to be traded and a third team will need to be involved. Odom would be an expiring and would be easier to move.

I'd certainly be cool with that.

As far as Turiaf, the Knicks have a need for big men so I definitely see them keeping Turiaf.

If the Knicks feel they can somehow swing a trade for CP3 or Deron or D12 they will certainly keep Ronny, but if they feel the only way to land one of the big 3 is to sign them as a free agent next year, Ronny is gone as an amnesty cut, period.

And who thinks Ariza is getting cut? I'm sure the Hornets know they'll probably fail in retaining Paul, but they have to at least try. Ariza and Landry are a big part in keeping Paul in New Orleans. Even if and when they lose Paul, I'm sure Ariza will be a building block along with the pieces they get in return for Paul.

Quite a few folks think Ariza may be cut ... I would put the odds at 30% ... I think it is 50/50 whether the Hornets cut anyone and if they do decide to cut someone I think it is 60/40 Ariza over Okefor.

I'm sure we've probably burned a bridge with Ariza. We basically mocked him for how much he wanted and turned around and gave the same amount to a now lesser player in Peace.

So what. If Ariza is cut his first choice will be the Lakers ... he just did an interview and made it clear he'd like to play in LA again.

[KingLakers]

If Ariza is cut which he wont be he won't comeback to LA simply because there isn't room on the Lakers roster for him. The only way he comes back is if there is 2 separate amnesty clauses in the new CBA maybe then the Lakers might cut both Artest and Walton. I just can't see the Hornets letting Ariza go they are in total keep Paul mode so waiving one of their core players won't be very smart. Turiaf on the other hand is more likely but again the Knicks dont have any size outside of Amare and Turiaf so waiving him opens up backup big spot on their bench which he would take if the Knicks sign a starting center like Marc Gasol. Amnesty or not, I dont know y but i totally think Turiaf is coming back to LA at the end of his contract in 2013 at a lower price.

[DEEP3CL]

Time to move on from Trevor people........we're not bringing him back period.

[KingLakers]

I agree with Deep3cl Ariza isn't coming back Artest will probably be back starting at SF.