Ron Artest signs with Los Angeles Lakers; Trevor Ariza verbally commits to Houston Rockets
by Tom Martin on Jul 2, 2009 8:57 PM CDT
in Random Commentary
68 comments
Looks like the Rockets are going to start free agency with a couple of whiffs. First, Marcin Gortat signs with a team in our own division, and then we fail to re-sign Ron Artest, who has chosen to stay in the Western Conference. While neither move was going to be a shoe-in, it would have been nice to see us nail down one of the players. Now we'll have to look elsewhere. Who wants to start up the Birdman-to-Houston e-mail address?
However, to be honest, I'm not so sure that letting Artest go was a bad thing. If Yao Ming were to miss much of next season (which is a distinct possibility), it would be the Ron-Ron Show, starring Ball-Hoginess, Bad Shot Selection, and Angry Postgame Tweets. I wouldn't be a fan. Why put up with Artest for another year when the chances of winning a championship would be slim to none? Why pay him when we can save the money for later?
That's how devastating Yao's injury is. It not only cost us our best remaining wing player; it made the loss of Ron Artest somewhat necessary.
Now that Artest is gone, our chances of winning 40 games, much less 50 games, are looking dim. We'll be without our two remaining stars for at least the first twenty games of the season, and that's the best case scenario, pending a miracle recovery from Yao. At worst, we lose Yao for the season, and McGrady doesn't come back for 30-35 games, leaving, as of today, Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola as our go-to scorers.
As everyone in the West is improving, the Rockets are getting worse.
So what's the plan? Do we accept a bad season in 2009-2010 in order to draft high and spend freely next summer? What's it going to be?
Update: Trevor Ariza has verbally committed to the Houston Rockets. Check it out here. In Morey...we...trust?
Update 2: Marc Spears of the Boston Globe is reporting that Ariza will sign a 5-year, 33 million dollar deal. Yikes.
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i am no fan of ron-ron
ron ron- as much as i was excited for u to come here, i dont mind u leaving…not a sad day for me…the only sad thing is us missing on gortat (at least thats whats reported)…now without ron ron, we free up around 20 shots a game, and we know they aren’t going to ron ron who will dribble 18 secods off the clock before taking 2 dribbles and fading to either side and missing…his defense will be missed but not so much with battier still a rocket…the only real thing i will miss is how much fun it is watching ron ron, u never kno what will happen with him at any time and i must say that it was fun watching every game not knowing what will hapen…thats what ill miss the most…
as far as the rockets in general…its sad but still lots of hope…nothing is official with yao…who knows, maybe it will heal (im no doctor)…but u never know…t-mac is still a rockets for now so who knows, maybe he has a amare like recovery and is back to old t-mac (except without the injuries)…this rockets team still has a talented roster and until we hear official news of yao out, for now there is no panic…
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jul 2, 2009 9:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It obviously depends upon how much the Rockets are paying him,
but I really like the Ariza move.
Honestly, I wasn’t that impressed with Artest throughout the year. That’s not to say he was bad, but he was very inefficient and made bad decisions all the time. I think Ariza solves (or at least addresses) a lot of our problems.
Looks like the Rockets are going to start free agency with a couple of whiffs.
Morey had a number he was willing to pay each of these players. Dallas wanted to pay Gortat more than that (and now that Artest is gone, I wonder if the Rockets might up their offer). The Lakers wanted to pay Artest for longer than we did. I wouldn’t really count those events as “whiffs.”
Now that Artest is gone, our chances of winning 40 games, much less 50 games, are looking dim.
I don’t know about that. Like I said, Artest didn’t really add all that much to the Rockets. And the Rockets are a young team. The other players are likely to improve, I think.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Ariza, but not for more than the MLE.
Which is what we’re paying him. He chose Houston so he could start, and start he will. The problem is that he’s never been depended on this much before. He’s never been asked to create his own offense. He’s never been the primary focus of an opposing team’s defense.
Either he will rise to the challenge and find ways to create offense by himself, or he will be one of the more overpaid players this offseason.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 2, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, it's a gamble. These things always are.
But the real question is how he’ll fit into the rest of the offense. I made this argument in the last post about Ariza, so I’ll just cut-and-paste it here:
Beyond that, Ariza doesn’t dominate the ball (he hasn’t posted a usage rate greater than 19% in his career; Artest has never posted one less than 20%). Depending on what we’re trying to do (and, without Yao or Gortat, I think that the plan is obviously to try the post-March 2008 strategy of lots of jumpshooters spacing the floor and lots of small lineups; I think Ariza fits that), Ariza could help us a lot.
And it gives us some insurance at the 2 or 3 in case Taylor and Budinger don’t work out or if McGrady never makes it back to form.
I think Ariza will give us an athletic player who can get inside and score. He’ll be able to get to the rim after the rest of the Rockets have spread the floor. I like that option.
Remember that Adelman won 61 games in 2002 without a true star. I think Sleepy can pull it off. Probably not 61 games, but I think we’ll do fine until McGrady (or whomever we trade him for) and Yao (maybe) make it back.
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
look at the second update.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 2, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's some expensive insurance.
The Dream Shake ...on Twitter.
"I think girls are probably just better shooters." - Steve Novak
by Tom Martin on Jul 2, 2009 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
slightly less that 6 million a year.
Yeah, a lot of cash. As Simmons said this afternoon, though, Morey’s batting .900, so I trust him.
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dig This Move. A Lot.
So much so that I had to leave my Texans’ bubble to comment on it. Morey has shown himself to be as adept as any GM in the game, and Ariza is (1) young; (2) improving; (3) a seemingly great fit for Adelman’s offense; and (4) not nearly as likely to go on a five state killing spree as Artest. Five years is certainly longer than you’d like to commit to Ariza, but the market is what the market is.
Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...
by Tim on Jul 3, 2009 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
a seemingly great fit for Adelman’s offense
That’s the key, I think. He looks like a great fit for a system that is based around cuts to the basket and quick passes.
not nearly as likely to go on a five state killing spree as Artest
More importantly, he’s not as likely to think he’s freaking Ray Allen or Reggie Miller or some shit.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 3, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's only 24 too
The guy has only improved and improved every year in the league. He really does have a superstar ceiling- he’s a terrific defender, strong finisher, and an improving shooter. He seemed to be figuring it out towards the end of the last year. Combined with our superb player development staff, I’m confident we’ll look back at Ariza towards the end of the deal and realize what a steal this contract was.
Also, he is a perfect fit our system that relies more on smart movement and passing rather than isolations. I am ecstatic with this move!
by oelayat on Jul 3, 2009 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Having watched Ariza all year long
he has a pretty good first step, but his handle is a bit suspect. He does a very good job of finishing at the rim because he’s very athletic. I don’t know if he can create his own offense consistently, but he’s a hard worker and it’s not unthinkable that he will be a great slasher.
His three point shooting has been great, but without an interior presence, I don’t expect he’ll be getting open looks. He will be at his most effective if and when the Rockets re-establish their postgame.
The best thing about Ariza is his D. Great anticipation, great length, great quickness.
"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."
by ignign*kt on Jul 2, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Unless McGrady pulls off the exceedingly unlikely
and makes it back to the active roster by October, Ariza will be the highest-paid Rocket on the court on opening night. Crazy, huh?
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
actually
That will be Battier. $8M in ’10 for Shane
by grungedave on Jul 2, 2009 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so now without artest...
and if mac not back and possibly no wafer we have no real shooter…now im sorta thinking outloud, but y dont we deal T-Mac to PHX in a 3 way deal with GS…
HOU gets: Stephen Curry and Robin Lopez
PHX gets: T-Mac, Randolph, Biedrins, Wright, Belinelli
GS gets: Amare, Cook, Pavlovic
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jul 2, 2009 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
GSW is not trading Curry.
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well idk bout that...
b4 they were willing to, now less likely…i think for amare and for some odd reason if they really liked Mac (and were going for 2010 summer), they might be willing to deal him…
without dealing curry, it’d be hard to get a great player like amare back in return
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jul 2, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
they've said as much, though.
Granted, talk is cheap, but they seem pretty committed to not trading Curry. They wouldn’t trade him for Amare, so why would they trade him for McGrady?
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
of course
if amare had to go to us…
HOU gets: Amare, Belinelli
PHX gets: Curry, Randolph, Biedrins, Wright
GS gets: T-Mac, Cook, Pavlovic…
by EveryHoustonTeamRox! on Jul 2, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can't imagine
GS trading Curry for that threesome.
by Metalate on Jul 6, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Could the teams have signed-and-traded the players for each other?
At least that would have preserved the MLE.
"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."
by ignign*kt on Jul 2, 2009 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Two things
Woooow that’s a lot of money we’re signing with Ariza. It seems like a trade with Ariza and Artest because they’re getting paid around the same. I would take Artest over Ariza for defense but not offense, so this could be interesting to see how it pans out.
Second, the Gortat going to the Mavs shows me how smart Morey is. Considering how much Gortat is getting offered from the Mavs, that means Morey wasn’t willing to go that high. You guys probably wanted Gortat, but I didn’t want to dip into the luxary tax to do so. Hopefully Morey can pull out some sick ass trades by July 8th.
by T-Mackin on Jul 2, 2009 9:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
thanks for taking Ariza, Houston
as long as he doesn’t go to the Cavs it’s all good for the Lakers. He’s a good guy. Houston will need to surround Trevor with more quality guys because he can’t create for himself.
He’s a great finisher at the rim and he’s a slasher. Trevor can shoot the open 3 but he needs superstar around him to get the attention of the defense so he can nail his shots.
question to you guys: How does he fit in with Shane Battier? do they play at the same time? Battier off the bench to spot Ariza ? how do they fit together?
by UnleashTheMamba on Jul 2, 2009 9:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Shane's listed as a forward,
but he typically played SG last year when Ron was on the court (oddly enough, Ron was listed as a Guard, which is just a lie). He can keep up with Kobe at the 2, he can keep up with virtually anyone. The rotation of players into the 2 and 3 spots is going to be interesting, however, since both Taylor and Budinger need to get minutes.
Basically, I imagine Ariza basically playing like Wafer did last year. Lots of cuts to the basket, lots of shooting open shots after Brooks or Lowry drives.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ariza flourished in the lakers system because kobe and pau got him wide open shots. Also he got many easy open court lay ups and dunks because the lakers play up tempo style of basketball.
In houston, all they do is play half court basketball and that style defintly doesnt suit ariza so i dont think he will be as good offensivly as he was in LA
by matthewmafa on Jul 2, 2009 9:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
He wasn't that great offensivly for the Lakers
He was more of an intangibles guy that came up big for the Lakers and made lots of big plays. I think he averaged something like 9 points per game during the playoffs and less during the regular season. The Lakers didn’t run any plays for Ariza, though. Maybe in Houston they will make him one of the focuses of the offense and maybe he will flourish
by UnleashTheMamba on Jul 2, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
note from Laker fan
I love Ariza. I’m bummed to lose him. I am thrilled and frightened about the spectrum of possible Artestness to come.
On Ariza:
- You get an outstanding steal man, both off the dribble and in the passing lanes.
- He is not that bulky or strong so don’t expect an on-ball stopper.
- You get a guy who can catch and shoot the open spot-up 3, but basically does not create the 3 off the dribble.
- He cannot hit the midrange jumper at all.
- He is an adequate passer, but don’t expect him to create for others off the dribble.
- He can dunk with height if not force, if you get my distinction.
- He doesn’t finish that well at the rim in traffic, though he has improved his palette of strange snaky close range tosses.
- Great work ethic. Infuriating agent.
- Great attitude, humility.
- Has a knack for electric hustle plays… one in pretty much every big game this season.
The big question is whether he is going to keep developing his game. I think it’s a good gamble for Houston. If he remains as he is today, MLE is about right, maybe even a touch high. If he develops well, he’ll be a bargain.
On Artest. Here is a comment I wrote at forumblueandgold. I’d appreciate corrections and additions:
Let’s talk scouting. Ron is clearly strong and reasonably fast on D. He can hit from 3, but I can’t tell how reliable he is as a spot up shooter since most of the threes I saw him take were contested and off the dribble. I remember him as an adequate passer and screener. He can post up, but again some bad shots billing through help. If he is given a clear role in the system and will follow it, there is huge upside. I have no sense for his IQ and how he’ll pick up the tri. I’ll look forward to others filling in the gaps.
But as I said before, seeing how he blooms or destructs under Phil would just be great basketball drama. I’m pretty excited to see it happen.
by Apricot on Jul 2, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Ron is clearly strong and reasonably fast on D.
Ron is probably the strongest SF in the league (besides LeBron). His speed, however, can be an issue. As you probably noticed in the playoffs, he can’t really keep up with reasonably fast guards. Kobe destroyed his defense. He was rarely asked to guard either Kobe or Roy, because of his declining speed.
However, he’s excellent, as long as he is matched up against the right players. And while I think Kobe is overrated defensively, he’s still very, very good, and he’ll probably see more action against speedy SGs than Ron.
I can’t tell how reliable he is as a spot up shooter since most of the threes I saw him take were contested and off the dribble
He’s an excellent three-point shooter, so long as he just catches the ball, sets his shoulders, and is open. But the problem is that he thinks he’s a good shooter, and so he takes a lot more bad shots. He does well when he gets inside, but he’s often unwilling to do that.
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 9:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
for a pretty good view of the deal:
see Kelly Dwyer at BDL. I don’t really see how Artest improves the Lakers much. I think he’d have greatly improved Cleveland, but not so much for LA.
The Lakers don’t need him. His off-court palatables hardly matter. The Laker offense begs for players whose hands don’t stick to the ball, and Ron’s hands stick to the ball like no other. He’s the wrong idea. He’s a wasted face. He’s the wrong choice.
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
another view:
Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus.
This would be OK if Artest was more efficient with said possessions, but his 51.2 percent True Shooting is well below average (and below Ariza’s 54.4 percent mark from last season, which he upped in the playoffs when he improbably developed into a lights-out three-point shooter). The Lakers are trading more efficient possessions from Ariza and other players for less efficient ones.
contributing nothing substantial to your blog, since 2008!
by misterterrific on Jul 2, 2009 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
good find
I think it’s very possible that the Lakers have just made their offense significantly worse and their defense only marginally better.
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by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe
The D clearly gets worse against fast players, but the Lakers didn’t really have someone to match up with Lebron/Pierce/Carmelo masses (besides an undersized Kobe).
On offense, it is amazing to me that Artest is as efficient as he was, given the truly shocking shot selection he displays. If Phil can forbid the contested jumper, then he might not damage the offense.
by Apricot on Jul 2, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't that Ariza's extract role?
To match up with the leading wing players in the league..?
by oelayat on Jul 3, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
unless the system can mask Ron's shortcomings
I don’t see how this signing makes them significantly better.
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by misterterrific on Jul 2, 2009 10:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
(I'm assuming you're talking about the Cleveland idea)
they had a big problem defending undersized 4s / oversized 3s (Rashard Lewis and Hedo come to mind). His offense is still an issue, but he could fit into the Lebron drive-and-kick they’re built around.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 2, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
nah, i meant the Lakers.
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by misterterrific on Jul 2, 2009 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like this move.
I don’t like Ariza at all. I’ve never been impressed with the guy. I guess he has more upside then Ron because of his youth going forward. I don’t know. We’ll see.
by erod on Jul 2, 2009 9:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Cool, so we're getting younger...
Now, if we could just get rid of Brent Barry and Brian Cook for something useful I like our chances at making the playoffs
by Carlos_HoustonSportsFanatic on Jul 2, 2009 10:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess I should take back the "Ariza sucks" comment huh?
I’m starting to come around a bit. Frankly, the MLE isn’t really that much money in the big scheme of things for one player on the team. It is called mid-level for a reason. The Rockets aren’t really “overpaying” him, just paying him a little more than I’d like.
Morey must see something in him past what we saw on the court with our eyes. He is an effective shooter, though clearly not a three point shooter. I guess we’ll see
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Jul 2, 2009 10:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Why is everyone in love with Morey???
Seriously. I am not trying to be a troll/dick, but every Rocket fan seems enamored with him and I am not aware of any really great deals he has made. The Rockets haven’t exactly been destroying the league so what is so great about him? Honestly not picking on him, I just don’t see the basis for all the “In Morey we trust” stuff.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Jul 2, 2009 10:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
BTW, I don't really know what to make of the Artest/Ariza trade.....
You get my point. Only time will tell. It is one of those if this, and if that, and if this happens. etc. situations. Should be interesting 09-10.
Well, sir, you are a cowardly son of a bitch! You just shot an unarmed man!.......Well, he should have armed himself if he's going to decorate his saloon with my friend. – Will Munny
by pslakerfan on Jul 2, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because he got us Shane Battier, Luis Scola, Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry, Ron Artest and Von Wafer.
by Jeffrey on Jul 2, 2009 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah what Jeffrey said.
And Morey got us most of those players for a kid’s meal and some fries.
by airchina23 on Jul 3, 2009 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep.
He’s found depth, which isn’t too hard, but has done it from picks in the late 1st or 2nd round, and from folks no one else wanted.
I believe no team in basketball had as much annual money tied up in 2 players as the Rockets had in Yao/MacGrady (Boston and LA are just behind, according to the numbers I found), and they took LA to 7 games with neither of them in the lineup. That says something about what Morey has done. Does anyone really believe that an LA team without Kobe or Gasol could take a Rockets team at full strength to 7? The Rockets role players have simply been better (and yes, perhaps both Yao and TMac are overpaid/overrated).
by Metalate on Jul 6, 2009 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
He has built depth like no other team.
Look at the depth on our team. Who else really matches that? The Rockets issue is that our foundation is built upon two injury prone players (McGrady and Yao). If the Rockets had avoided that injury plague, we’d be the best team in the NBA. Straight up. The Lakers would never have beaten the Rockets if we had Yao, Tracy, AND Ron Artest all healthy and playing together. You know this.
by erod on Jul 3, 2009 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who has depth like no other?
I can name two other teams. Portland, and the Lakers. Lakers routinely played 10 players every game, despite the overwhelming talent of atleast 4 players on the roster. Portland needs experience.
The similarity between those two teams and Houston? Their GM. Morey and Kevin Pritchard of Portland are considered geniuses. But nobody says that about Mitch Kuptchak, despite being mentored by the greatest GM ever, Jerry West. Mitch has made mostly brilliant moves throughout his GM career. The largest glaring bad move was Caron Butler for Kwame Brown, but considering Kwame then latter netted the Lakers Pau Gasol, the end result wasn’t so bad.
by tandur on Jul 3, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Portland has youth masked as depth
They are not a deep team but could be in a few years. And the Lakers are not half as deep as the Rockets.
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Jul 3, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So
“depth like no other team” is a bit of an overstatement, and depth is over-valued in the NBA anyway.
But, “overwhelming talent of atleast 4 players on the roster”
The fact that the Lakers played 10 guys to me is an indication that none of them (after the first four, and Bynum has real trouble staying on the floor) are good enough to demand big minutes. Last year, the Rockets roster goes 7 deep with all seven better than anyone outside the Lakers 1st 4.
by Metalate on Jul 6, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm alright with this
the offseason isn’t over, so I expect the front office to make more deals.
Anyway, about the signing. Around 6 million a season for Ariza sounds reasonable enough for me. Granted, it doesn’t look like it makes sense given the situation we’re in. But looking forward, this signing doesn’t have any negative long-term effects. Next season, without Ariza’s salary being counted, the Rockets are due to pay a total of $29 Million by 2010-2011 (that’s assuming if Yao doesn’t opt out, the team exercises its option on brooks, makes a QO to Lowry, etc.). We’re in a good position to make a run at people who can be significant contributors, come 2010 and beyond.
Don’t get me wrong or anything, I’m not suggesting that the Rockets should be fine with tanking the season. Morey can still pull off some moves. However, If the situation doesn’t get any better then understand that the team probably might not be able to have any viable options to work with.
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by misterterrific on Jul 2, 2009 10:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i had a link. it didn't appear, weird.
Payroll for the next 4 seasons
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by misterterrific on Jul 2, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
This makes Houston better. Ariza is much, much better than Artest and will have a better career when all is said and done.
by runningdonut on Jul 2, 2009 10:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The Future is taking shape
Ariza plays a style that fits Adelman’s system. He stays in motion,cuts hard and finishes,gets out and runs,disrupts other team’s offense and crashes the offensive glass.
The Rockets have substantially upgraded the speed of their starting line-up. Would not be suprised if Taylor starts at SG w/Ariza.
If Taylor can give team 25-30 min at SG for a couple of months and either White or Budinger can play 10-15min at backup 2/3 the team should stay in contention. If McGrady comes back Dec/Jan,ready and willing to play he gives the team a vet closer and Morey will have enough pieces to make a deadline trade to address revealed weakness. Lotta if’s,but there’s hope.
We will finally see Adelman’s proven offensive system at work.
And my darkhorse FA signing in 2010/2011 is Portland’s Aldridge. Player said to want to play in his native Texas who’s been rumored to be hesitant to sign an extension.
by Tisbee on Jul 2, 2009 11:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I appreciate the enthusiasm
But that team you just described wins 35-40 games at the most
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Jul 3, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t really understand why the Lakers wanted Artest over Ariza. Artest is a ballhog.
by VBG on Jul 2, 2009 11:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That wasn't the choice
There wasn’t a choice between Ariza and Artest.
It was taking the best available option besides Ariza, since Ariza’s agent informed the Lakers that the MLE was not enough for his client.
Given that stance, the Lakers could have told Ariza “look we have Ron Artest willing to sign for the MLE, if you still want the MLE we’ll take you”, but that would be disrespectful to Ron Artest, and then the Lakers would have lost Artest if he found out that he was the Lakers’ second choice.
The Lakers were playing the hand they were dealt.
"This is not a game for boys. This is a game for men." - Phil Jackson
by Gils_Keloids on Jul 3, 2009 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
My take on this
Artest has been a ball hog — but that was with sac and houston where he was one of their best weapons. However, as a laker he is their 4th maybe 5th best scoring option (depending on bynum’s development). Hopefully, with the lakers he will understand this or at least maybe Phil or Kobe will instill it in him. Fortunately the Lakers have two tremendous talents that are extremely unselfish (Gasol and Odom).
Ariza probably fits the lakers starting 5 a little better offensively, but artest is a superior defender when it comes to defending guys like melo, lebron, pierce — and matchups are everything.
Additionally, where Ron Artest should help the lakers is when Gasol and Kobe are not on the floor — he will make the Lakers better when it’s just Odom, Bynum and Artest on the floor with say farmar and vujajic. it will allow kobe more rest which is nice.
The risk obviously is Ron seems to go insane every once in a while. But 3 years 18 million is an absolute steal. Now the Lakers just need to re-sign Odom. In a year when teams can all basically offer players the same amount of money (due to luxury tax and cap reasons) — the rich just get richer and poor just get poorer..
by outlawnyc on Jul 2, 2009 11:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think my biggest problem is Adrian Wajnarowski’s calling Houston “lottery land” twice in his article. He may be right — we’ll know about 82 games from now — but it still sticks in my craw. Last I checked, a Yao-less and TMac-less Rockets team basically split a four-game series with the Lakers in the second round… not exactly the results one would expect from a lottery team.
by DribbleHooper on Jul 3, 2009 4:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
if you're a firm believer in win shares (which I don't think anybody really is, other than those douches at wages of wins)
a Yao-less, T-Mac-less, Ariza-full Rockets squad playing at 2009 levels finishes with a 44-38 record. That is technically “lottery land” (I can’t believe he used that joke twice), but there’s a good argument to be made that the playoffs cutoff this year will be lower, simply because the Jazz are likely to regress with the loss of Millsap and the Suns have decided to self-destruct.
Of course, that’s with Ariza playing about 25% fewer minutes than Ron. It also assumes that Brooks and Lowry don’t improve and that Budinger, Taylor, and Dorsey contribute virtually nothing.
Anyways, I also think that the Rockets will make the playoffs. McGrady will be back at some point. Unless Yao opts for some pretty extreme surgery, he’ll probably be back as well.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 3, 2009 4:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We still have a huge hole to fill at center.
Does anybody know of any deals in the works?
by mutombo4life on Jul 3, 2009 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Can we use our biannual exception?
If we didn’t use it last year, we could sign someone like Rasho Nesterovic. Although I understand the need for having a true C on the roster, does signing any of the remaining crop of C improve our team? We might just be better of with a rotation of Hayes, Dorsey, and Scola at Center.
by oelayat on Jul 3, 2009 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Phil with 10 RINGS
If Phil Jackson, a coach with 10 rings prefers Ron to Ariza, I wonder how fans and managers with no such pedigree are thinking otherwise. Ron’s addition to Lakers would make them REPEAT!!
by BALLTOW on Jul 3, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Phil Jackson
also seemed to think that Derek Fisher could guard Brooks better than Shannon Brown could throughout the conference semifinals. Phil Jackson thinks a lot of things, and not all of them are correct.
Your friendly neighborhood Dream Shake mod.
by Only_A_Lad on Jul 3, 2009 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Phil is a great coach
But those 10 rings were just as much because of MJ (probably more in that case) and Kobe
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Jul 3, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Excited about Trevor Ariza yet?
Let the Halo power flow!
by HALO N BRIMSTONE on Jul 3, 2009 12:09 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I'm a big fan of the move
Morey has made us more competitive for next year, while continually building our young nucleus of player for the future. Even with this contract we’ll only have $35m going into the summer of 2010 with Brooks, Battier, Yao, Ariza, Landry, Hayes, Dorsey, White, plus this year’s pick and QO to Lowry.
With that much cap space, we can easily resign Scola and target one of the premier free agents available. We could not be in a better position to be competitive next year and contenders in 2010-11.
by oelayat on Jul 3, 2009 1:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That is why I'm coming around
5 ish million a year for a guy with Ariza’s “up-side” isn’t really that big of a risk
www.TheDreamShake.com Co-Founder and Writer
by UofTOrange on Jul 3, 2009 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i still feel pretty optimistic for the season
We still have our core guys, and we know this team can play through the adversity. If we can sign a good center, even if he ends up being yao’s backup, we have a good shot to make another run this year. GO ROCKETS
by mutombo4life on Jul 3, 2009 4:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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