How About Getting This Young SF?

[BalancedMan]

Before scrolling down to look at my argument and the name of this player, what do you think about trying to pickup a good young SF that is posting these numbers for his per-36 minutes/game this year?



His per-36 minute numbers this year are:

13.4 pts, 7.1 rbs, 3 ast. 2.5 stl. 0.5 blks with percentages of 48/32/71


Before scrolling down to look at who this is, take a guess and post who you think I'm talking about. Then read my next post and tell me if you agree or disagree, and why.















































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[BalancedMan]

So let's say that we just keep RLEC....or trade it for a pick and a trade exception or something (not sure if that is possible). Regardless, let's say that we're not taking back any more guaranteed contracts. The money is coming off the books this summer. How much under the cap will we be speculated to be?

I realize that this might mean renouncing the rights to Frye and Diogu since they haven't been extended and it's too late to do that until the FA period. We can give them a 1yr qualifying offer I think though at the very least.

In any case, one player that I liked when he was with NY, and then followed while he was in Orlando and then saw LAL sweep him up, what do you guys think about Trevor Ariza. He's only 23, and plays pretty good defense. LAL uses him to guard Tony Parker.

Unlike most young talents, Ariza was drafted in the second round and thus while the Lakers have his bird rights, he should become a unrestricted FA after this year. If we threw MLE money or better (a 4 year deal starting at 6 million increasing 12% annually?) do you think that could be enough to attract him? I don't think it happens because Lakers can give him more money than any other team, they like him, and the kid went to UCLA. But looking at the other FA options at SF, he seems to fit the mold of young and good at defense.

What do you all think about this one?

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

What would be the point? Is he really that big of an upgrade over Batum? Doesn't he have bad feet too?

I'd rather try and go for a big upgrade at PG or SF, if we can't get either of those, then I'd hope we could sign Josh Childress this offseason, or just let our guys improve and continue to draft extremely well

 

[Minstrel]

Yup, I'd rather go after Josh Childress than Trevor Ariza. By next season, I could certainly see Batum being at least as valuable as Ariza, so I don't see the point of spending to try and get him. Childress would be a solid upgrade, if we can't work out a deal for a star/near-star player like Gerald Wallace or Caron Butler.

 

[BalancedMan]

What would be the point? Is he really that big of an upgrade over Batum? Doesn't he have bad feet too?

I'd rather try and go for a big upgrade at PG or SF, if we can't get either of those, then I'd hope we could sign Josh Childress this offseason, or just let our guys improve and continue to draft extremely well

I'm very excited about Batum, but I'm just looking at options. In another thread I pretty much said I'm only REALLY enamored with Butler, Granger and Gay, and maybe G.Wallace as additions at SF to this team. Outside of that talent, who would I like to bring in. Ariza is one of the few young talents that shouldn't cost a ton that is a uFA this summer, so he could sign with us.

Okay, would you rather sign Richard Hamilton (probably miffed because he not longer is starting in Detroit) and play him at SF? I actually kinda really like that one. He's an uFA and I think we could get him at a pretty reasonable salary given his age and expectations of dropping off production.

 

[BalancedMan]

Actually looking at Richard Hamilton's numbers...I don't know if I'd want to pay much for him either. Artest and Hedo are still out there, but again they are Crazy and unlikely to move (in that order).

Looking at Childress's numbers, I guess he wouldn't be so bad. I'm a bit biased because watching him in college I never thought he'd be very good. But he's a good role-player piece that does shoot good percentages and does a lot of little things. Isn't he still a RFA when he comes back though? Atlanta could sign him. Does he have a buyout for this summer?

 

[BalancedMan]

I also just want to see DaRizzle's opinion on the subject.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

Childress won't play for Atlanta, so they can hold onto his rights (while he continues to play overseas) or sign and trade him for something, picks? euros? Sergio?

If Portland tried to sign him to a 7 million a year deal I don't really see Atlanta being much of a roadblock either

 

[DaRizzle]

I fucking LOVE Ariza...as a bball player! I really dont envision the Lakers letting him get out of their grasp. In exit interviews last year Phil and Mitch told him he was gonna get major play if he signed with them. They also told him to work on his J. Well he obviously busted his ass in the summer because he came out better than ever. He can guard anybody from PG to SF and even SOME PF's. His shooting has improved leaps and bounds. I dont think of it as a bonus anymore when he scores...he CAN score. I think(pretty damn sure) the Lakers view him as a very major piece for the younger guys they want to keep around

His defense is amazing....really. That guy can get his hand to the ball so fast. He put one game away for us this year by getting three steals in the closing minutes and getting easy dunks. If you saw the xmas game against the C's you might remember those "toeing the line" saves of the ball from going out of bounds. He had at least two of those that game, maybe three. A person who just watches that game would call him lucky, its skill. Its the skill to be smart/athletic enough to put yourself in that position so you have an attempt to make plays like those.

When the Lakers got him everybody thought it was just for salary dump. Lo and behold we got the best player in the trade, and at the cheapest price!

So no, you cant have him...but I like your taste

 

[free_lafrentz]

No way we deal with the Lakers.

 

[DaRizzle]

No way we deal with the Lakers.

didnt you hear?!? POR getting Kobe at the end of his contract!

 

[BalancedMan]

I fucking LOVE Ariza...as a bball player! I really dont envision the Lakers letting him get out of their grasp. In exit interviews last year Phil and Mitch told him he was gonna get major play if he signed with them. They also told him to work on his J. Well he obviously busted his ass in the summer because he came out better than ever. He can guard anybody from PG to SF and even SOME PF's. His shooting has improved leaps and bounds. I dont think of it as a bonus anymore when he scores...he CAN score. I think(pretty damn sure) the Lakers view him as a very major piece for the younger guys they want to keep around

His defense is amazing....really. That guy can get his hand to the ball so fast. He put one game away for us this year by getting three steals in the closing minutes and getting easy dunks. If you saw the xmas game against the C's you might remember those "toeing the line" saves of the ball from going out of bounds. He had at least two of those that game, maybe three. A person who just watches that game would call him lucky, its skill. Its the skill to be smart/athletic enough to put yourself in that position so you have an attempt to make plays like those.

When the Lakers got him everybody thought it was just for salary dump. Lo and behold we got the best player in the trade, and at the cheapest price!

So no, you cant have him...but I like your taste

Too bad Ariza is a free agent. So we COULD have him

 

[BalancedMan]

No way we deal with the Lakers.

We don't have to.

 

[BalancedMan]

But yeah I don't see Ariza leaving. He went to UCLA. The Lakers are like the Yankees in that everyone wants to play for them, even taking a discount. I hear sports commentators talk about it's unwise to take less money to play where you want. But you only live once. If you get paid a few million less but get to live like a superstar in a town of superstars (LA) then that's where I'd want to be. Nothing against Portland, because it is definitely a great city and place to raise a family. But if you like the ego trip, there's probably nowhere better to play than LA (for the Lakers).

Saying this, I've never really spent any time in LA...ever. I'm basing what I'm saying by watching every episode of Entourage.

 

[DaRizzle]

What the Lakers have with Ariza.

EARLY BIRD EXCEPTION -- This is a weaker form of the Larry Bird exception, and is also a component of the Veteran Free Agent exception. Players who qualify for this exception are called "Early Qualifying Veteran Free Agents" in the CBA. A player qualifies for this exception after playing two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team may re-sign its own free agent for 175% of his salary the previous season or the average player salary, whichever is greater (see question number 24 for the definition of "average salary." Also note that for 2005-06 they used a defined figure of $5 million). Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons (which limits this exception's usefulness -- it's often better to take a lower salary for one more season and then have the full Bird exception available the next season) and no longer than five seasons. A player can receive raises up to 10.5% of the salary in the first season of the contract using this exception.

LINK

 

[DaRizzle]

Saying this, I've never really spent any time in LA...ever. I'm basing what I'm saying by watching every episode of Entourage.

Yeah man, my best friend is Turtle and I dated CJ from Baywatch

...its how all of us LA people live

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What the Lakers have with Ariza.

Using this exception, a team may re-sign its own free agent for 175% of his salary the previous season or the average player salary, whichever is greater (see question number 24 for the definition of "average salary."

LINK

So, all that means is that the Lakers can resign him for MLE money without using their MLE. If we wanted to give him more than that, we could, and there's nothing the Lakers could do about it. NOTHING, I say, NOTHING AT ALL! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

 

[craigehlo]

Ariza is a good player, but probably not worth the type of cash you'll likely will have the shell out to pry him away from the Lakers. For a guy averaging 9pts/4rbs/2asts he's not much of an upgrade from TO or a healthy Webster.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

I'm fine with Batum and Webster being our SF's of the future/present.

 

[DaRizzle]

Ariza is a good player, but probably not worth the type of cash you'll likely will have the shell out to pry him away from the Lakers. For a guy averaging 9pts/4rbs/2asts he's not much of an upgrade from TO or a healthy Webster.

Those stats dont even begin to show what type of player he is

 

[Ed O]

Ariza is a very good player. Plugging him in for Batum would help this team a lot right now.

I'm not sure that, for Portland, it would make sense to spend a big chunk (more-than-MLE) of money to sign him, though, and there's no way that the Lakers trade him.

Ed O.

 

[cdub503]

just like batums stats dont show what he does to annoy the ever livin shit outta wade and them

 

[hasoos]

just like batums stats dont show what he does to annoy the ever livin shit outta wade and them

But they sure as hell do show that he is "Scoringly challenged".

 

[DaRizzle]

Not a video that shows his all around skill...but sick

Grant Hill's boogeyman in his dreams is Ariza
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[barfo]

If we brought in Ariza, how would we ever get the stench of Laker out of the lockerroom? That smell tends to linger.

barfo

 

[hasoos]

If we brought in Ariza, how would we ever get the stench of Laker out of the lockerroom? That smell tends to linger.

barfo

Did that same stench come when Udoka came and played here?

 

[barfo]

Did that same stench come when Udoka came and played here?

Since he was from Portland before he went to the Lakers, he had immunity. He didn't pick up the stench.

barfo

 

[hasoos]

Since he was from Portland before he went to the Lakers, he had immunity. He didn't pick up the stench.

barfo

That gives me a marketing idea. How about a new mens fragerence called "Laker Stench".

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Ariza is a very good player. Plugging him in for Batum would help this team a lot right now.

Technically not RIGHT NOW - he's got a concussion.

I'm not sure that, for Portland, it would make sense to spend a big chunk (more-than-MLE) of money to sign him, though, and there's no way that the Lakers trade him.

Ariza is a very nice player - a top-level role player. He's a big part of the Lakers' improved D and he has a mean streak to him. He's actually kind of Kersey-esque, right down to the nasty streak and great hops. But he also has a three point shot. However, also like Kersey, he has limited skills otherwise. Doesn't appear to have great handles or passing ability. He's perfect for the Lakers (who, you will note, have two other SFs whose skills make up for his lacks and who get about equal time [of the three I like Walton best because we don't have a passer like that at SF]), but Batum has his skills and more and is younger. That's not to say that Batum is better, or even that he will be, because Ariza's toughness and all-out play are things Batum could stand to develop. But I think he will, and by the time he's Ariza's age, he'll be better. So why bow ourselves over to acquire Ariza when it might stunt the growth of a player we already have who looks likely to be better? PLUS: Ariza has had injury issues. Let's see him last a full season before we get carried away.

I think we have greater needs at PG or even backup PF. We don't have a banger and our PGs all lack something important. SF is probably the least important, most easily-filled position and we have three young'uns there. If we DO get a SF, let it be a veteran who can help develop our young players and have a leadership role rather than get in their way and potentially drive them away.

 

[MickZagger]

But they sure as hell do show that he is "Scoringly challenged".

He doesn't look to score often. Right now we know he has a streaky corner 3 pointer and is excellent in transition or cutting to the basket. He is very gifted athletically and he just turned 20 years old. He's still wet behind the ears, give him a couple years to get acclimated to the NBA game and the language barriers and he'll be a solid, solid player. I'm not saying superstar or anything, but solid player.

Not everythings about right now.