With at least five teams pursuing [Trevor] Ariza, the Lakers are currently unwilling to pay him...

With at least five teams pursuing [Trevor] Ariza, the Lakers are currently unwilling to pay him more than the $5.6 million mid-level exception.

"They're letting him go," one of the sources said.

Cleveland is making a hard push for Ariza, and the Cavaliers' coaching staff was speaking with him on Wednesday. While Cleveland can only offer the mid-level as well, Ariza's disappointment with the Lakers' stance has moved other suitors ahead of his current team.

Chris Broussard of ESPN.com reports that Trevor Ariza, the former Magic forward who was instrumental in the Lakers' championship over Orlando, may sign with Eastern Conference contender Cleveland.

8 months ago Ben Q Rock 41 comments 0 recs |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Yeah, if this happens .. that's not good for the Orlando Magic.

Here’s hoping another team comes in and swoops Trevor Ariza away.

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 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we dont have Hedo handling the ball any more. this is good for us. lewis >trevor=non factor

by D-RAK on Jul 1, 2009 11:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ariza (or Delonte West, for that matter) can guard Carter.

James can guard Lewis. Cleveland would be in better shape to matchup defensively with Orlando.

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 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Delonte West defending VC is a serious mismatch

"Shoot first, ask questions last" Rafer Alston

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Jul 2, 2009 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily.

West is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

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 2, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

VC has decent low block turn aournd.

I take VC with West on him anyday…

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

by Wmillion on Jul 2, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cleveland making a push for ariza

he’s rejecting the lakers’ mid-level for someone else’s mid-level, to spite them..

fitting then that he would pick CLE (presumably to spite both us at the same time)

by coque429 on Jul 1, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and of course i hate losing gortat

but you gotta love morey setting up that e-mail account. kill two birds with one stone: show the player how much you really want him, and satisfy the fans by getting them involved. (web 2.0 is a beautiful thing my friends)

by coque429 on Jul 1, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was a savvy move by Morey, definitely.

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 2, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's too bad a lot of ORL fans emailed him saying not to go to Houston

lol, at least I did…

"Shoot first, ask questions last" Rafer Alston

by DieSlowKeyshawn on Jul 2, 2009 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's one way to back stab Kobe.

by Ariel112 on Jul 1, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow CLE and BOS

truly APPEAR (don’t take words out my mouff folks) like teams genuinely adjusting to The Magic, and finding players that match-up well with ours.

by fwedo on Jul 1, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is shaping up to be a crazy and weird offseason...

by Swami Digital on Jul 2, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised LA isn't willing to pay Ariza that kind of money

considering what he did for the team during the season.

Courtney, nooooooooooooo! :(

by TheGiantSquid on Jul 2, 2009 12:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Seems like they'd rather have Odom.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Central

by Ben Q Rock on Jul 2, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's exactly what it is.

The Lakers can only realistically sign one of the two .. they’ve made their choice.

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 2, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ahh, of course

think Ariza’s worth as much as he’s asking?

Courtney, nooooooooooooo! :(

by TheGiantSquid on Jul 2, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope.

He’s a nice player, but not worth what he’s asking ($8 million to $9 million).

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 2, 2009 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I agree

i think he is good player because he his the 5th option..

Ahhh we need someone to come in and swoop him from both.. Doesn’t make sense to leave LA slash home because LA is unwilling to back the truck up and go some where else just to make the same thing.. Although 5 mil in Cleveland is a lot more then 5 mil in LA.

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

by Wmillion on Jul 2, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I don't know ..

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 2, 2009 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Might be leveraging the Lakers to pay him more money.

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 2, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess, but that won't work,

not when the Lakers are in this financial situation, plus he’s only worth the MLE anyway.

by Ariel112 on Jul 2, 2009 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's why I said might.

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 2, 2009 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ariza leaving LA?

Please say it ain’t so…ps: i’m a huge lakers fan.

I do not think that these rumors are true. I believe that this is just Ariza’s agent looking for leverage through the media. The truth of the matter is that there is no team willing or able to offer Ariza more than the MLE. The agent needs to find a way to increase his clients payday. So he spreads a rumor that Ariza who just won a championship in LA, was raised in LA and loved the lakers growing up in LA —-and who were the team which developed this young talent and gave him playing time, coaching, etc. Ariza is going to leave this team for Cleveland, for the SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY, in order to play BACKUP small forward to Lebron James in Cleveland. I know i’m biased, but what sense does this make?

Ariza and Odom are BOTH coming back to the lakers. Stop dreaming that they won’t. Repeat next year folks!

by plyka on Jul 2, 2009 1:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Portland and Toronto are a couple teams that can offer more

He can start there.

by bandrewg08 on Jul 2, 2009 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

.. and that's what might happen.

Woj has been on point with his reports. Here’s another one.

http://twitter.com/YahooSportsNBA/statuses/2433139414

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 2, 2009 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn. Portland is way under the cap,

but I think they can do better than that deal.

by Ariel112 on Jul 2, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saw your Twitter...

Where did you see the Nate report?

by bandrewg08 on Jul 2, 2009 2:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

New York Times.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/sports/basketball/02knicks.html?ref=basketball

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 2, 2009 2:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like you said... BS

He’ll want more than what we can offer and we would have the shortest PG combo in the L.

by bandrewg08 on Jul 2, 2009 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

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 2, 2009 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah hopefully Ariza chases the money and winds up there instead of Cleveland.

If he does wind up with the Cavs, then unquestionably the best three teams in the league are in the East. Plus between Lebron on offense and Ariza on defense, Orlando will never get a single call in any game we play against them.

by Lee for three on Jul 2, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hedo to Toronto

Ariza to Portland, would work out best for everyone (except us and the Lakers, obviously). The Blazers pursuing Hedo is just nuts, their front office must be smoking crack.

by eltharion_doa on Jul 2, 2009 9:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Ariza would be a better fit for Portland than Turkoglu.

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 2, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man..

Roy and Turk do similar things. The good thing with Ariza is he can defend the other teams perimeter player, allow Roy to stay fresh, and out of foul trouble. I am with you Portland should focus on finding a PG. Give me a Ariza/PG combo vs Just Turk.

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

by Wmillion on Jul 2, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's not going to get

more than the MLE anywhere else, i don’t think.

why would you bolt la, where you grew up, after just winning a championship?

every year, some dude gets a ridiculous deal that messes with the rest of free agency (see: ben gordon). trevor ariza ain’t worth 8-9 mil per.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Jul 2, 2009 2:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

People overvalue playoff performances that don't match up with career performances

Example: Trevor Ariza shot 48% from 3 this post-season despite being a 30% career three-point shooter. I mean Ariza is a good player…good defender, good energy guy off the bench. But he benefited greatly from being the 3rd, 4th or sometimes 5th scoring option on the floor for LA. Will he be able to have similar production in an increased role? I’m not sure. But people will look at what he did this post-season and say the answer is absolutely yes and will pay him more than he’s worth.

Incidentally, perhaps the biggest example of this phenomenon was Jerome James. The guy averaged like 5 pts and 5 boards for his career. Then for about 10 games in the playoffs for Seattle he averages about 14 and 8 and the Knicks pay him an absurd amount. Not saying Ariza will be anywhere near this kind of a bust…but it’s a danger of what can happen when you look at small sample versus entire body of work.

by Lee for three on Jul 2, 2009 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs