Ariza's big mistake

[Shooter]

Bryant never campaigned for Artest over Ariza, his loyalty was with the hot-shooting kid who helped him win a championship without Shaquille O’Neal. In the long run, the Lakers were wiser to keep the young Ariza to transition into a post-Kobe stardom. Yet, general manager Mitch Kupchak barely blinked when Ariza’s agent, David Lee, started talking like a tough guy, parading his client on what one rival GM called “a leverage tour.”

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.

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

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Mr. Lee, you're fired!

 

[maxiep]

Maybe Ariza would have rather played in Houston than LA? Why is it assumed that playing for the purple and piss in Smogtown is the be-all end-all of NBA basketball?

 

[Shooter]

Maybe Ariza would have rather played in Houston than LA? Why is it assumed that playing for the purple and piss in Smogtown is the be-all end-all of NBA basketball?

Playing for a world champion is usually better than playing for a team that never goes anywhere in the playoffs, and whose two best players are constantly getting injured.

 

[SteelBlaze1]

I don't like the Lakers...but, if you want to win rings...LA is much better than Houston.

 

[cdub503]

Plus he's from LA

 

[BIG Q]

The Lakers would not even offer him. The report is that the Lakers told him to go shop himself and bring back the offer. They would not even commit to the MLE with Ariza. Now we all know NBA players have egos the size of Delaware. He was slighted, and pissed off. Ariza knew that Portland was the only team that would give him above MLE, possibly, but they made it clear they were pursuing Hedo, so Hedo took Houstons offer.

It comes down to a fractured ego, which may be how Portland is getting Hedo. You know he is pissed about the Carter trade. He carried Orlando when Nelson went out and then to not get the love he thought he deserved in a good offer, he was pissed. Compound that with how quickly they traded for Carter. Off the charts pissed.

 

[DaRizzle]

David Lee his agent fucked up bigtime...He an amatuer agent yet somehow he became Arizas and Bynums agent

http://www.eurobasket.com/agency.asp?AgentNm=Lee David&AgencyNm=David Lee services

^write him an email

 

[Uther TheGardener]

maybe thats why he wants out....

 

[handiman]

Lee came off as an ass before the negotiations even began. I always wonder why players let someone like that stick around and represent them... Honest and candid negotiating will do better for both sides in the long run.