Comments on: Free Agent Feeding Frenzy

By: sufian

sufian — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:53:12 +0000

well there you go, mitch agreed with me

By: museum

museum — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:48:55 +0000

Is there some reason you guys aren’t making a run at Kidd? Apparently he’s considering a MLE one year deal from the Knicks. Why would he not consider the same or better from LA? You guys could really use him, and your starting 5 would be insane. Am I missing something?

-Timberwolves fan

By: cahuitero

cahuitero — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:13:50 +0000

Was this the plan? I just have a feeling a 24 year old Ariza leaving will haunt us Lakers fans.

Does the Lakers FO think so little of Ariza? Is it a giant middle finger to his agent? No chance he’s back? Really, that’s it?

By: Don W

Don W — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:49:26 +0000

The argument against Artest wasn’t never whether he could be a good fit, but whether he would be. Certainly, if he plays within the system he brings toughness and strength to a team built on quickness and length. He gives us a solid shooter, another option at the post so teams can’t hide Redick on Ariza, and someone who can guard Pierce, LeBron, and Carmelo with his strength.
But the bigger question remains to be whether he will conform to the system and play 3rd and 4th fiddle. The more I think about it, the more I see differences between the Hou situation and ours. He had to be the ballhandler and creator when Aaron, Luis, couldn’t create for themselves and Yao couldn’t get the ball. On a team of established players like Kobe and Pau he may defer a little more. I may question his commitment and stability but I don’t question his respect for Kobe. Secondly, I like how management decided to be proactive instead of reactive. They got someone who can not only play Ariza’s role but also Odom’s at the 4. Sure he will be not as good at some things but he will be better at others. And chances are Odom will be back.

So I’m not sold yet, but I can start to see some things that make sense with Artest being on our team.

By: Archon

Archon — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:47:24 +0000

My guess is the Lakers looked at the contract year stats of Luke Walton and Sasha and decided that Ariza’s 3 point shooting is fool’s good and will most likely revert back to the mean (as it did for Sasha and Luke). Now I love Ariza if he’ shooting 50 % from 3 as he did in the playoffs, but is Ariza’s game worth 8-9 mil a year (what he was asking) if he really is just a 29 % three point shooter? When teams start chasing him off that 3-point line next year will he adjust or will his shooting go in the tank like Sasha’s?
Another question is, does Ariza do anything that we can definitively say Ron Artest cannot do? If not, then why should the Lakers pay Ariza more when they can get someone for cheaper and who arguably is better right now.

I understand the mixed feelings from fans but I agree with the Laker management on this one.

By: han

han — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:46:49 +0000

spurs and cavs got rj and shaq without giving up much. celts are lookin to build the big-4 with sheed. ours is a horizontal move in comparison to those vertical ones. high-risk upgrade at a position that didn’t have such a bad time of it last season.

when danny ainge traded for ray allen, many thought that it was a horrible trade getting an aging pg with good name but bad knees. it turned out to be just the first half of a 2-punch combo trade. can this possibly be mitch’s first of 2 punches? does he have some secret admirer who’ll take our garbage for draftpicks or something?

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:46:28 +0000

New Artest Thoughts post up.

While nothing can be finalized until July 8, everyone is now telling me done deal.

By: harold

harold — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:41:42 +0000

Sorta tough and unexpected development, since Ariza said in his exit interviews that he felt a lot of love. A lot of love.

I really wonder how exactly events unfolded (sure will hear a version from David Lee), but I’m guessing it was part Artest lobbying and Ariza not accepting the MLE.

Now, for Ariza’s sake, I hope he does get signed for something more than the MLE. Would make both sides feel really awkward if Ariza signed for the MLE, or worse, less than that.

By: DirtySanchez

DirtySanchez — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:38:07 +0000

384. I dont think he got scared it was just the fact that the longer we waited on TA to make a decision the list of options for his replacement was going to get shorter. TA had to as the old saying goes “either s### or get off the pot”

By: TRad

TRad — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:37:59 +0000

It’s awfull. Ariza has produced just more. He’s already better player than Artes – and he’s going up, while Artest is going down.

I could understand it if Ariza had some stupid offer – but he will probably get similar money around MLE. I don’t understand it at all. From all teams Lakers decided to chase a name instead of a player.

Mitch, WHYYYYY?