Trevor likely to leave L.A.?

by first half surge on Jul 1, 2009 11:32 PM EDT

According to Chris Broussard at ESPN, the Lakers organization is not looking to offer Trevor Ariza more than the MLE, and Trevor is reportedly hearing from several teams, including the Cavaliers, Trail Blazers and Raptors. Anyone think Orlando could also find a way to interest Trevor? He was essential in the Lakers beating Orlando, and those criticisms that initially led to him being expendable (ex. 3 point shooting, defense) have been shown to be laid to rest.

If the Magic really aren't looking to offer Turk anything in excess of 10 mil/yr, could they pursue a dynamic, still young SF who just won a championship for 7-8 mil/yr? You would still be paying luxury tax, sure, but a few million less, for, and I re-iterate, A YOUNG, STILL DEVELOPING SF who has found a 3 pt shot, was an important piece to the NBA CHampion Lakers, and is no slouch on defense. Though he's no playmaker like Turk, he would spread the floor, be a dynamic option that would not need the ball in his hands as much as Turkoglu, leaving the playmaking to Jameer Nelson and Vince Carter.

The Magic brass have already said they're willing to go into the luxury tax to win a championship. If not Turkoglu, then why not Ariza? Thoughts?

This FanPost was made by a member of the Orlando Pinstriped Post community, and is to be treated as the opinions and views of its author, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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The Orlando Magic can't afford Ariza's price tag.

.. it’s a nice idea, but not realistic.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 1, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

yea

door closed, MP was comparably as good, and is comparably young with as much chance to be better as Ariza has on MP.

by derekk on Jul 1, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

my exact thoughts. Ariza was good because they didn’t expect much.

Again he is perfect fit in Cleveland as Lebrons Pippen..

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on Jul 2, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Apparently Ariza was looking for $8-9mil/yr.

talk about confidence, not sure what he’s thinking expecting that much with Odom being a FA and Kobe becoming a FA next season.

by Ariel112 on Jul 2, 2009 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

exactly now MP is cheaper too. But I dont blame Ariza, I think he might be able to just get that much or slightly above MLE. He ws deftly killer in the playoffs and finals.

by derekk on Jul 2, 2009 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

He might get that, playing with another team,

he’s really only worth $6 million max. especially being on the Lakers.

by Ariel112 on Jul 2, 2009 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions

It's Hedo syndrome

Good, but not great player, gets lots of airtime during the playoffs and Finals with everyone watching and his value skyrockets.

Ariza’s worth the midlevel, maybe a little more, purely for his defense, three ball and youth. But he’s got no midrange jumper, can’t finish in the lane except on dunks, and he can’t run the offense. If he gets anything more than $6.5m, he’ll be comfortably overpaid.

by eltharion_doa on Jul 2, 2009 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs