The Lakers made out with this deal, they'll be the favorite but I wouldn't look past the Spurs.

The Lakers made out with this deal, they'll be the favorite but I wouldn't look past the Spurs.

 

Me neither. I worry about the Spurs more than any other team when it comes to teams I think can beat the Lakers. If their big 3 is healthy along with the addition of Richard Jefferson, they will pose a serious threat to the Lakers. Thank goodness for Artest. The Lakers need to hurry up and lock Odom up.

Me neither. I worry about the Spurs more than any other team when it comes to teams I think can beat the Lakers. If their big 3 is healthy along with the addition of Richard Jefferson, they will pose a serious threat to the Lakers. Thank goodness for Artest. The Lakers need to hurry up and lock Odom up.

 

:thumb: Odom is a very very good player, he has all star talent, and he showed that in the playoffs. I think he really wants to stay in LA, and they want him. Overall I think the Lakers know how crucial it is to resign him and eventually they will. Many teams would be interrested in him, but I think he values winning being a veteran who has been on a few bad teams (i.e. the Clippers:D). Bynum is going to be a star, but they are in a position to win again now, and he can progress even more if they are winning a lot, and Odom is key. Next to Kobe and Gasol, Odom was the third option, even coming off the bench.

Not to mention the Lakers offered Ariza 5.6　per year as their MLE and he goes to the Rockets for the 5.8 MLE. So for all you folks talking about "cashing in", he left a championship winning team to go to a team whose center may never play again(Yao), whose best player won't be back until midseason(TMac) and now their best player left not injured(Artest) took Ariza's spot so Ariza could make $200,000.00 more per year. Good job, Trevor. Your agent is impeccable. At least it's good too see his family will be better off with that extra $200,000.00 a year.

 

Who are you to judge him for taking $200K more!? You know nothing about his situation. Maybe he wanted out of L.A.? $200K is a lot of money.

Who are you to judge him for taking $200K more!? You know nothing about his situation. Maybe he wanted out of L.A.? $200K is a lot of money.

 

I am judging because I wanted Ariza to stay in L.A. for whatever money they offered him because I was hoping he would value winning over money. You were one of the ones who said he should take the money and leave. Now that he has taken a whopping 200,000 more than the Lakers offered, I think he may have realized the error in his ways. It's too late now, he's been replaced and all he got is a chance to play on a team that isn't as good as the Lakers and only 200,000 more per year. To me, it isn't worth it, nor is that near enough money to justify leaving. Of course to you, a raise is a raise. Good luck in Houston Trevor, is all I can say. Welcome to L.A. Ron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

He didn't even want out of L.A. until they offered 5.6 and then he signed somewhere else for 5.8. Are you serious. Great agent Trevor.....great agent.

 

I'd much rather have Ron at 6 million per year than Trevor for 5.6 anyways.

Artest for Ariza. As a Lakers fan, I love it. Ariza played well in the postseason, but he's no Artest. LA gets a lockdown, junkyard dog type of player they've been needing. And Artest cost less that Ariza, go figure...

 

Thank you. I've been trying to convince people of this all day. LA loses a 9 and 4 a game type guy for someone who can play great defense and still put up 17 and 5 last year.

 

Big fan of this upgrade. And yes I will call it a huge upgrade. Artest plays great defense and still puts up great numbers, this can only help the already great L.A. Lakers.

 

Looks like their rise to the top is not just temporary, they are still hungry for more.

Who are you to judge him for taking $200K more!? You know nothing about his situation. Maybe he wanted out of L.A.? $200K is a lot of money.

 

I feel like this is a bad career move for Ariza.

 

5.6 to stay in LA and compete for titles or 5.8 to be just another wing player in the league for Houston. It seems like an easy choice. Maybe that's just because I'm a Laker fan.

Who are you to judge him for taking $200K more!? You know nothing about his situation. Maybe he wanted out of L.A.? $200K is a lot of money.

 

I would say 200K is mere pocket change when you consider millions of dollars.

 

I'd rather have my name on the hardware than the little extra cash, but it's true the situation is crucial - maybe he just wanted a change of scenery and wanted out of L.A.

 

Another crucial point is... maybe Ariza will be a much more stand out player on Houston's line up especially with the potential exit of Yao Ming. A stand out player on a team will make more money than a life time role player on a great team - which is what he would have wound up being in L.A.

Odom will be back. Watch. He and Artest are actually good friends and he apparently signed a contract that averages 6 million per year which is what the Lakers were trying to get with Ariza which will in turn free up money for Odom who has already publicly stated he will stay in L.A. for less money. Apparently Odom and Artest value winning more than money.

 

Odom and Artest are both in/close to their 30's, aren't they, and have made a bunch of money in their NBA career. Ariza is 24 and hasn't. He HAS to think of sitting the rest of his life up first and then winning next.

 

$200,000 over 5 years is another million and may be enough to cover his agent's commission on the deal.

Odom and Artest are both in/close to their 30's, aren't they, and have made a bunch of money in their NBA career. Ariza is 24 and hasn't. He HAS to think of sitting the rest of his life up first and then winning next.

 

$200,000 over 5 years is another million and may be enough to cover his agent's commission on the deal.

 

So your saying he made a good decision because he can cover his agent' commission.

 

Don't these guys get big bonuses for each round they advance in the playoffs? If that's the case(which I think it is, but I am not sure) then he also gave away a lot of money as well. The Lakers are more likely to make it farther than the Rockets. We may never see Ariza again.

I would say 200K is mere pocket change when you consider millions of dollars.

 

I'd rather have my name on the hardware than the little extra cash, but it's true the situation is crucial - maybe he just wanted a change of scenery and wanted out of L.A.

 

Another crucial point is... maybe Ariza will be a much more stand out player on Houston's line up especially with the potential exit of Yao Ming. A stand out player on a team will make more money than a life time role player on a great team - which is what he would have wound up being in L.A.

 

I think Ariza is a life time role player regardless of the team. I don't see him being a stand out on any team regardless of the talent that is in place. He is a younger version of James Posey, IMO.

So your saying he made a good decision because he can cover his agent' commission.

 

Don't these guys get big bonuses for each round they advance in the playoffs? If that's the case(which I think it is, but I am not sure) then he also gave away a lot of money as well. The Lakers are more likely to make it farther than the Rockets. We may never see Ariza again.

 

I think Ariza is a life time role player regardless of the team. I don't see him being a stand out on any team regardless of the talent that is in place. He is a younger version of James Posey, IMO.

 

So, you think a 24-year old NBA player is just going to accept he is a "role player" and not test the waters to see if he can be something more than that?

 

I am saying that when I was a 24 year old, I could beat the world and do anything and wanted to make as much money as I could.

 

Plus, his endorsement dollars could be higher for the Rockets. He will be farther up the pecking order in Houston than he would be in LA.

 

Now that I am older and closer to Artest/Odom age, my priorities are much, much different and the money would not be near as important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I loathe the Lakers.

So, you think a 24-year old NBA player is just going to accept he is a "role player" and not test the waters to see if he can be something more than that?

 

I am saying that when I was a 24 year old, I could beat the world and do anything and wanted to make as much money as I could.

 

Plus, his endorsement dollars could be higher for the Rockets. He will be farther up the pecking order in Houston than he would be in LA.

 

Now that I am older and closer to Artest/Odom age, my priorities are much, much different and the money would not be near as important.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I loathe the Lakers.

 

 

Ahhhh, the truth comes out.:lol:

 

It's all good though.

 

 

 

I just hate Trevor got some bad advice. I really liked his future.....in L.A. I just think he will fade into oblivion in Houston. He's not capable of carrying a team. Aaron Brooks will get more shine than him.

^ Agreed in that Ariza shined on the biggest stage, and thought because of that, there was more money on the market for him than there actually was. I hope he does well in Houston, but he went to a team for a marginal salary increase in basketball terms, that is on there way out of contention for a title.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-artestkobe070309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

Interesting article about the Ariza/Artest swap.

 

The Lakers don’t believe he’ll leave, Lee kept barking. Surprise, surprise: Lee didn’t think the Lakers would tell him to get lost, sign Artest and leave Ariza to take the five-year, $33 million deal in Houston he could’ve had in L.A.

 

“I told Mitch that it was never about the money; it was about respect,” Lee told NBA.com.

 

Well, take your respect and pack your client’s bags for post-Yao lottery land in Houston. Respect? Yes, there are American soldiers and missionaries in faraway lands cheering for David Lee and this noble stand for the neglected and disenfranchised everywhere. It is about respect, and God knows a $33 million offer for Ariza’s eight points and four rebounds a game rates a disgraceful act.

 

No, this wasn’t about the money, nor his client’s needs. This was a failed power play, an embarrassment of the highest order. Looking back, Ariza will rue the day. He’s a good player, but he’ll never be a star elsewhere. He’ll just be another player on another team.

 

“He was way too emotional about this,” said a league executive who had talked to Lee in recent days.

 

Yet, you can be a star without being a star with the Lakers. When L.A. is winning championships, the role players become commodities. They get endorsements. They get television careers. Ask Rick Fox. Or Derek Fisher(notes). Ariza was an L.A. kid living a dream, 24 years old, a gifted, young talent on the defending champion, and his agent’s bluff backfired.

 

Now, Artest trades places with Ariza, and the Lakers get a dimension they haven’t had in a long, long time. Perhaps three or four years ago, Artest couldn’t have handled living and playing in L.A. He gives the Lakers sheer nastiness, and as an executive with one of his past teams said Thursday night, “Ronnie will show everyone that he can win. I think he’s matured, and overall, he’ll be on his best behavior. Phil [Jackson] has been through this before with Rodman. He’ll handle this.”