Semi-OT: Ariza, Talks with Lakers going "Nowhere"

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B-Roy

B-Roy

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http://blogs.pe.com/prosports/2009/07/ariza-contract-talks-not-going.html
Trevor Ariza's agent emerged from a lengthy phone conversation with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak on Wednesday afternoon convinced that the team isn't as interested in re-signing his client as it claims to be.

"I had a long conversation with Mitch, and I don't think it's going anywhere," agent David Lee said. "I think I'm being optimistic when I say it's not going anywhere."

Lee said Kupchak did not make a contract offer, nor were salary parameters discussed in the ballpark of what he believes Ariza deserves. Ariza already has "several" firm offers from other teams, according to Lee, and will begin speaking with opposing coaches on Thursday.

Asked if he could envision Ariza accepting a deal from another team without speaking to the Lakers again, Lee said, "Yes, we have no choice. That's the position they've put us in."
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I personally don't think he's enough of an upgrade at SF, but this would open it up for us to snag him.
 
His agent is such a douche.

I don't believe this for one bit. I think his agent is trying to drive up his value from other teams.
 
Would Rudy get pissed if we sign the guy who knocked the shit out of him instead of Hedo?
 
Black Mamba said:
His agent is such a douche.

I don't believe this for one bit. I think his agent is trying to drive up his value from other teams.
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That's what agents are supposed to do. Teams are supposed to spend as little money as possible on players. Does that make Kupchak a "douche"?
 
I think this is bad news. It suggests that just as Milwaukee wised up and realized which of their FAs was actually the really valuable player (Sessions, not Villenueva), so the Lakers are realizing that Ariza is much more replaceable than Lamar Odom. If I hear this from ODOM'S agent, then I will get excited. But the Lakers losing Ariza would not exactly knock them from contender status. Matt Barnes is probably available.
 
I think you grossly under estimate Ariza's defensive prowess. He is probably in the top 10 of SF defenders if not higher. Odom is truly special on offense but only so-so on defense. Perimeter defense is part of what makes the Lakers so sick. They have defenders everywhere you turn. Odom is an important piece but I think Ariza is vastly under rated in this forum.
 
Call me crazy, but I think it was a hard foul -- not a malicious foul. I've seen fouls a lot more intentional and nasty than Ariza's.
 
Yeah I definitely want LO back before Trevor. Harder skillset to replace and insurance if Bynum goes down.
 
BSPN reporting Trev is likely gone.

Portland?
 
If we get Hedo, we'll have no room for Ariza. Unless we could land a major talent by trading Batum/Bayless/Rudy. I'd really hate to see those 3 go, butIf we could land Parker or Devin Haris...
 
Idog1976 said:
I think he's quite the upgrade and wouldn't need a lot of shots to be effective (unlike Turkoglu). Also it hurts LA and allows us to trade Batum if we want to in a package for a PG.
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We have a SF that doesn't need shots to be effective.(Batum) What we need is a SF that can create his own shot and help his teammates get better shots.
 
Sinobas said:
If we get Hedo, we'll have no room for Ariza. Unless we could land a major talent by trading Batum/Bayless/Rudy. I'd really hate to see those 3 go, butIf we could land Parker or Devin Haris...
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Heh, as much as I like Batum, I'd happily take Ariza and Harris over Batum/Bayless/Rudy (plus Outlaw and Webster!).

But there's no way to get both, even assuming Harris were possible. Any Harris deal would require Portland using its cap space to help New Jersey out and take back more salary than they send, in the form of a bad contract (like Bobby Simmons).

So, Portland would then have no cap space to sign Ariza.
 
If we bring Ariza too we could be to small-forwards what GSW is for shooting guards (*). Run an all SF team.

(*) Well, we do need to buy some mopeds.
 
PapaG said:
That's what agents are supposed to do. Teams are supposed to spend as little money as possible on players. Does that make Kupchak a "douche"?
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In this case, the Ends do not a douche make, but the Means may - for both sides.
 
Batum is a younger Ariza. If we can't get Hedo, then we might as well spend the money on another position.

It does hurt the Lakers though, if they lose Ariza. He had the big steals and hit the big threes that helped them win big games. At times, he looked like their third best player.
 
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