Los Angeles Lakers

Swing and a Miss: Ariza > Artest According to Plaschke

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:49:52 -0500

This is the start of what I hope to be a series on Celtics 17. I will find stupid basketball columns and show them to you.

The first is a column by Bill Plaschke of the LA Times. You know, the guy with the egg-shaped head on "Around the Horn" who thinks the Dodgers are better without Manny Ramirez. This is his opinion on the Lakers' Ron Artest signing.

"Less than three weeks after the parade, the NBA champion Lakers have already met the biggest threat to their throne.

Themselves.

What are they thinking? What are they doing?"

Well, I'm just a blogger so what do I know? But from the looks of it I'd say that the Lakers are trying to improve.

"They just won a title that would not have been possible without the strong defense and stunning shooting of a 24-year-old kid with a limitless ceiling."

Plaschke is referring to Trevor Ariza, who was just signed by the Rockets. There are many good things to say about Ariza, but "limitless ceiling" is not one of them.

"Yet they send the kid packing for an aging nut whose greatest hits have occurred on the heads of fans."

Artest is 29, a year and three months younger than Kobe Bryant. As for being a nut, are people really still talking about an incident that occurred five years ago?

Come on. Michael Jordan hit Steve Kerr in practice. Randy Johnson hit a teammate to get out of Seattle. Unless you were hit by Artest, you need to get over it.

"They just won a title with a locker room bathed in the soothing light of unselfishness, teamwork and a quiet temerity."

And that's exactly how you could describe Artest with the Rockets. In fact, Artest might be better than Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming when you take his defense into account.

"Yet they cut the power and added the darkest of moods, a guy who has made a career out of hoarding the ball, the attention, and the anger."

Hoarding the ball? Artest is usually the guy who wants to assist the top scorer, the guy who wants to guard the other team's best player, and he does both of those very well. The only times he's angry seems to be when he's the main guy on a losing team, which won't be the case with the Lakers.

"Tell me again, why did they get rid of Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest?"

Because Artest is better and comes with a cheaper contract.

"Explain to me, please, why they wouldn't even negotiate further with Trevor Ariza before quickly agreeing to sign Ron Artest?"

They negotiated with Ariza and offered him the same contract as Artest, but Ariza wanted more. Why sign an inferior player for more money?

"Artest is a better player,"

Exactly.

"but that's not the point."

I'm not sure if there is a point in this article. There certainly hasn't been so far.

"Ariza was a better fit, and that's what wins championships."

What about two Finals ago when Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were inconsistent and Bryant didn't have a secondary player to help him. Isn't that a bit more important than Ariza, who at best is the fifth best player on a championship team?

"Artest is a strong defender, but if the Lakers need someone to quietly hound a guy during a routine inbounds pass and be willing to make a small play to win a big game, that's Ariza."

Who's better at hounding a guy on an inbound pass than Artest?

"Artest is a good shooter, but if the Lakers need someone willing to stand in the shadows for three quarters and emerge to make a big three-pointer before disappearing again, that's Ariza."

I've never heard of "disappearing" as a good quality of a basketball player, but then again, that might be why I'm not paid to write.

"Artest will supposedly make the Lakers tougher, but what is tougher than showing up every day and playing hard every play and fighting your way to a championship?"

So does Ariza disappear or does he "play hard on every play?" First of, kudos on the word choice in that quote. Second of all, Artest might be the hardest working defender in basketball.

"Ariza has a ring, Artest does not, so the Lakers are giving up wins."

Robert Horry has seven championships. Michael Jordan has six. Adam Morrison has a ring. LeBron James has none. Horry > Jordan and Morrison > James.

"Ariza is young 24, Artest is an old 29, so the Lakers are giving up age."

Now you're just repeating the age argument, which is easily proven wrong. Unless of course, Bryant is now past his prime.

"Ariza shot 48% from the three-point line in the playoffs while Artest shot 28%, so the Lakers are giving up clutch."

The Lakers usually go to Bryant or Derek Fisher before relying on Ariza for a clutch shot. Ariza scores his points when Bryant is double-teamed. In fact, Bryant will be double-teamed less frequently with Artest, giving Bryant more opportunities for clutch shots.

"The one thing the Lakers are absolutely gaining here is money, which is exactly what you will be paying them in increasing increments next season."

Real professional. Now you're discouraging people from going to Lakers games.

"Artest will sign a three-year deal for about $18 million, roughly the same annual salary that the Houston Rockets gave Ariza.

But Ariza was given two more years by the Rockets, pushing his total closer to $33 million."

You've already admitted that Artest is a better player. Now you're saying that Ariza is more expensive. This isn't really helping your argument.

"Heaven forbid you would want to give a rising young star two more years, or spend some of your roughly $1 million-per-game playoff bounty to do it!"

Is there a dictionary nearby? Look up "star." Bryant is a star. Dwight Howard is a star. Gasol is not a star. This would lead most to beleive that Ariza will definitely never be a star.

"Jerry Buss should have opened the pockets a little wider. And Mitch Kupchak should have jogged the memory a little deeper."

The Lakers are currently on the top in payroll. And if any memory needs to be jogged, it's your's, Plaschke. Have you watched a single game with Ariza?

"Remember the last time the Lakers made a postseason acquisition of an aging star that appeared to give them an embarrassment of riches and render them unbeatable?

The year was 2004, and they signed two of them, Gary Payton and Karl Malone, and you know what happened next. By the end of the season, the fractured chemistry imploded in a Finals loss to the Detroit Pistons that was so awful, afterward seemingly half the team either quit or was traded."

Malone and Payton didn't hurt the Lakers. The Lakers missed the Finals in the previous year and got their the next year. Without Malone and Payton, they're eliminated by the Spurs again, and this time in the second round.

"Like Malone and Payton, Artest is a great acquisition in a fantasy league. But this is reality, and nothing in NBA history has ever been quite like Artest's reality."

So what makes him worse than Ariza? All I see in here is that Ariza can do some sort of disappearing act that helps the Lakers.

"Everyone knows how, as an Indiana Pacer, he was suspended for 73 regular-season games and the postseason after going into the stands to confront fans and later punching one on the floor.

A long time ago, huh? Yeah, all of five years."

A real long time ago. Back when the Suns, Pistons, and Heat were great. When the Hornets sucked and the Cavaliers were irrelevant. When Steve Nash was MVP and Emeka Okafor was the next big thing.

"Did you know that he has also once shown up for practice in a bathrobe, asked to take a month off because he was tired, and been jailed for 10 days for domestic assault?"

What does this have to do with basketball?

"Everyone said he was a changed man when he was traded from the Pacers to the Sacramento Kings, but he was suspended for a playoff game in 2006 for a flagrant elbow, and the Kings lost that series to the San Antonio Spurs in six games."

This was the same year that Artest took a team that wasn't expected to make the playoffs to the sixth game as the eight seed. Bryant was also suspended from a playoff game and he's a year older than the aging Artest. What good is he? All he did was lead the Lakers to a championship?

"Everyone said he changed again when he joined the Rockets, but in this spring's playoff series against the Lakers, he was thrown out of two games while finishing the series hitting 17 of 61 shots in the last four games."

He also kept the Rockets in that series with the help of really only Shane Battier.

"And Trevor Ariza has done what, exactly? Agree to come off the bench? Agree to guard the team's best shooter? Agree to take that shot when Bryant couldn't?"

Artest won't need to come off the bench, he has always guarded the team's best shooter, and it's not like he'll decline to take shots.

"Ariza's only NBA mistake occurred this week, when he followed the lead of his misguided agent, David Lee. By joining the Rockets as a miscast free-agent star, the kid now faces the possibility of a career filled with disillusionment and mediocrity, not to mention anonymity."

Artest joins the Rockets and they're championship contendors. Ariza joins the Rockets and he's destined for mediocrity. I thought this guy had "limitless potential."

"Ariza was more valuable to the Lakers than to anyone else. This was his home, his comfort zone, the perfect spot for a supporting actor to shine from the wings."

So he's a role player, rather than Artest who could play a major role if Bryant is injured or if Gasol isn't reliable.

"Why didn't Ariza realize this? And why couldn't the Lakers have given him more time to realize this? This agreement occurred within two days of the start of the free-agent period.

Couldn't the Lakers have given him a chance to come to his senses?

Couldn't they have met somewhere in the middle?"

Yes and they could have spent more on a player destined for mediocrity rather than on a player who will make them better.

"But, no, a flashy guy in a funky haircut beckoned, and the Lakers bit, trading heart for Hollywood, quiet strength for false bravado, a rock for a hard place."

As I said earlier, Artest is happiest when he's out of the spotlight, like with the Rockets. And that's exactly what he is with the Lakers. He's not flashy at all. Artest is a scrappy, hard-working player. Are we really using haircuts to judge players?

"While Lakers fans are now faced with an unsettled title defense, there is a shining word of certainty for every other fan who recently watched the NBA's next dynasty while shouting "Break up the Lakers."

Done."

I would have suggested a different approach to this article. I would have written more than two lines about why Ariza is better than Artest. But maybe that's just not possible.

Ron Artest to join the Lakers; hangover pending

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:24:33 -0800

One of the most popular mixed drinks of all time is the 'Rum and Coke.' When I'm pouring (even with my heavy hand) I like to add a bit more Coke, as its sweetness helps to take some of the bite off of the potent rum. Not too far below Los Angeles, across the border into Mexico, they drink Rum and Coke too, but they have a different name for it. They call it 'Ron con Cola' (easily translated as 'rum with cola').

In Los Angeles, they will now be mixing up 'Ron con Kobe's' for (at least) 82 games next season. The Los Angeles Lakers will add a little extra something to their already-potent concoction, as they intend to sign Ron Artest at the conclusion of the moratorium period (July 8).

While the 'Ron con Kobe' mixer may seem somewhat hokey, it's actually quite fitting in this situation. In my experience with every big night of drinking, you might end up having the time of your life...or you might end up hugging the toilet begging for mercy - you just never know. This is the gamble that the Lakers may be taking with signing Artest. It is a high-risk high-reward situation. Either this could help propel them to a second-consecutive championship, or it could serve to be a distraction causing turmoil within the team.

From a basketball standpoint, this is a fantastic signing for the Lakers. Artest, in my opinion, is one of the most complete players in the game when all facets are considered. He is the league's premier perimeter defender, a scorer capable contributing inside or outside, a good rebounder, has good size and strength, and even has some point-forward capabilities.

What will be his most important contribution to the Lakers will be defending the best players on opposing teams. This will come in handy for Los Angeles when they face Western Conference foes like Carmelo Anthony or Brandon Roy, or a potential finals matchup against Cleveland with LeBron James. What it means is that Kobe Bryant won't have to exhaust all of his injury battling with stars on the defensive end - providing even more energy to dominate a game offensively. Bryant (a player of great intensity himself) will surely appreciate Artest's tenacity, as he witnessed it firsthand throughout their playoff series this year.

Of course, Artest has come with his fair share of distractions throughout the years. He's well past the Malice at the Palace at this point, but his on-court physicality and lack of control has led to more flagrant fouls and ejections than probably necessary. He's also shown his fair-share of 'crazy' off the court with his outlandish interviews. Clearly, Artest is a strong personality for a team to reign in. Let's just say, he has a little 'Captain' in him - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Luckily, Lakers coach Phil Jackson is no stranger to strong, irreverent personalities, as many point to his notable success of getting the most out of Dennis Rodman.

But with every mixed drink, one has to consider the mixer - both in type and in quantity. With the right combination, the bitterness of the alcohol can barely be tasted. Fortunately for Los Angeles, their mixers are of the utmost quality AND quantity. Taking a look at their current roster, they have a spoils of riches. Arguably the best player of this decade in Bryant, one of the best bigs in the game in Pau Gasol, another potential beast in the middle with Andrew Bynum, and a collection of some of the best role players a team could ask for. While it looks like Trevor Ariza will be elsewhere (he's verbally committed to Artest's Rockets, as a matter of fact), the Lakers would still like to re-sign Lamar Odom. If this happens, the Lakers will be embarrassingly stacked and a difficult to match up with. One area of weakness that they may still need to address is speed at the point guard position. However, they won a championship without it, so this may not be much of a concern for them at this point.

So with every night of drinking, you never know what the night has in store for you, and frankly, neither do the Lakers. But one thing's for sure, this ongoing party in Los Angeles is going to be a thing of sheer primetime entertainment. One that can even be enjoyed and appreciated in a sober state.

Is this signing going to bring the Lakers the night of their lives, or have them praying to the porcelain gods? What's your verdict?

Artest, Ariza Signings Should Not Have Cavs Fans on Suicide Watch

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:43:40 -0500

Cavaliers introduce Shaquille O'Neal

All Cavs fans wanted Ron Artest in the wine and gold. Unfortunately for them, Ron-Ron's heart bled purple and gold, and in the end, the Cavs couldn't compete with the bright lights of Los Angeles -- Shaq and LeBron or no Shaq and LeBron.

And while a player like Trevor Ariza would have been a great fit for the Cavs, at what expense? The midlevel exception at $33 million for five years (which is what the Rockets reportedly gave him)?

Ariza's a nice player, and he has a fan in me after how he played in the postseason. But it's easy to look good when you are option #5 behind Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher. And if Ariza wants to go to a Houston team that is being gutted by the minute, then more power to him. He has his ring already, and although I don't know what his intentions are (or how serious the Cavs really were about signing the guy in the first place), he got the money he was looking for.

But one thing has become clear as this free agency season really began to take shape on Thursday: The Cavs plan to be big players in the 2010 spending spree. And if you didn't think that Chris Bosh is option #1, 2, and 3 at the Cavaliers' headquarters in suburban Independence, then it's time to get with the program.

Many fans will wonder why the Cavs are once again banking on free agency to build their team -- did they not learn their lesson in 2005 when Michael Redd and Ray Allen turned them down and they had to settle for Larry Hughes? And free agency is never a guarantee. While Cavs fans like to toot their horns about how their team can offer LeBron more money than anyone in the market next season, Raptors fans are sitting at home saying the same thing about their guy Bosh.

Still, unlike 2005, a guy like Bosh certainly won't be one of a few options out there. Amare Stoudemire will be available. Carlos Boozer will be back on the market, as will Joe Johnson. Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Steve Nash, and Mehmet Okur will also all be unrestricted. And teams with cap space will have a lot of options.

It hurts to think about it as a Cavs fan, because Cavs fans are running out of patience right now (at least if your objective for this team is to add young athletic pieces around LeBron James). But although a guy like Tyson Chandler is only 26-years old, the Cavs took Shaq because of his expiring contract for 2010. In the end, that -- not even Chandler's health issues -- was the ultimate trump card. So you tell me what that means.

We will get further proof of Danny Ferry's 2010 intentions based not only on how he eventually ends up using the midlevel exception (or even using it at all), but how he deals with his own free agent, Anderson Varejao.

In a perfect world, Varejao would have picked up his player option for $6.2 million this summer and gone unrestricted next summer. It would have made sense for him, too, because with money tight this summer and teams looking to spend at will next summer, will Varejao even match that $6.2 million that he was promised in his original contract? What does it say about him when Marcin Gortat is off the market before he is?

Regardless, don't be surprised if Ferry lets Varejao walk and brings in a guy like Antonio McDyess on a one-year deal, maybe even for the full midlevel exception (or preferably the biannual exception). A move like that should make it clear that the Cavs intend to put on the fullcourt press for Bosh and prepare a max offer to him next summer.

It's not a game I'd like to play, but at this point, only a guy like Artest is worth sacrificing 2010 cap space. In the end, according to multiple team sources, he was never really a realistic option for the Cavs compared to what the opportunity of playing with the Lakers gave him. A guy like Ariza, however appealing, isn't worth 2010 cap space. And the Cavs never had cap space this summer to give Charlie Villanueva his apparent market value, anyways.

So like it or not, that's going to be the course of action for the Cavs. You will hear names like Shawn Marion, McDyess, and Anthony Parker out there. But realize that the Cavs will not, under any circumstances, give any of these guys more than a one year deal. Passing up on Chandler for Shaq should have made that clear initially. Letting Ariza ride off into the sunset to Houston reinforced that.

There is no need to panic as a Cavaliers fan. The team still got Shaq pretty much for free, just like they got Mo Williams for free last summer. They're still a 66-win team with a depth chart at center that includes Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and even if Varejao leaves, McDyess may be an upgrade, anyways.

Just remember, Danny Ferry has bigger fish to fry. And while the Cavs were never really equipped to be major players in this summer's free agency, the pieces are being set to make sure that they are when free agency really matters: 2010.

Artest > Ariza

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:25:00 -0800

So, yeah, Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest swapped teams. Ariza is going to be saddled with more responsibilities in a team that MIGHT have trouble making the playoffs while Artest is going to be asked (and probably willing) to be a #2, 3, 4, 5, or even #6 option in a championship team.

Last we heard, Ariza (or rather Ariza's agent, David Lee... no, not the New York Knicks player) wanted $8-9 million. I think Mitch Kupchak knew what he was doing. He knew that Ariza wasn't going to get much more than the mid-level exception (projected to be around slightly less than $6 million per year). The only ones that could've paid him more were Detroit, Portland, and Toronto. Detroit already spent their dough on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. Portland and Toronto are busy wrestling over Hedo Turkoglu's services.

So Ariza explored his options. But when Ron Artest is roaming around freely, what were the Lakers supposed to do? Sit on their asses and watch another team snatch him up? Of course, I'd take Artest at a bargain. Especially since Artest actually WANTS to go to L.A. In a bizarre twist, Trevor went to Ron's former team, the Rockets. For essentially the same money L.A. put on the table. Way to go, Agent Assface.

Let's talk about the comparisons here. Do we seriously think that Trevor Ariza is as good as Ron Artest? Artest is more talented offensively than Ariza. He can post up, take it to the hole better, and make his perimeter shots. Sure, Ron takes wild shots... but in a better system and team, I think he'll be fine. Ariza became a dead-eye shooter, yes, but will he get those same looks in Houston?

Defensively, Artest is more physical and will get under the opponent's skin. Ariza is a very good defender but I don't think he's shutdown material. He's very good at anticipating the shot and the pass, yes (right, Denver?), but Artest is the better one-on-one guy.

And you've got to be kidding me when people say that Ariza has a higher ceiling. No disrespect to Trevor Ariza; I love his game. But I don't expect to see any Tracy McGrady breakout seasons from this guy. I'm willing to eat my words if he averages 25-6-7 next season because he now has room to do that with Houston not really having a go-to scorer aside from Aaron Brooks. But I just don't see Ariza getting much better than what he did in L.A. We already know what Ron Artest can do. He always brings it. Again, I understand that Ron Artest's shot selection has been porous but I don't think he'll be asked to chuck that many shots in L.A. And I don't think he'll complain about it, either.

But Ariza is younger, right? Of course. But you already know what I think of his ceiling. Was he supposed to be the next guy to step in when Kobe retires? Was Ariza going to be Kobe five years from now? I don't think age is a factor. Artest will probably retire, too, to resume his music career when Kobe retires. Maybe Ron and Kobe will do a song together. With Tyra Banks. Or Allure. If that's the concern, then the Lakers have to get their next superstar-in-waiting. But that's five years down the line. Let's talk about now.

I know what the Lakers are getting in Ron. Yes, he's a potential headache but I'd bank on him behaving. At the very least, I know Ron Artest will get suspended a few games next season. But it's not like Phil Jackson hasn't dealt with egos and nutcases in his coaching career. I'm sure y'all remember Dennis Rodman. Phil will just let Artest do his thang. And Kobe is definitely much more manageable now than when he was 25. There's no doubt that Ariza fit like a glove in L.A. but the Lakers look that much more dangerous if Artest fits in as well. And I think he will.

What are the Rockets getting with Ariza? Well, Ariza's only had one good year (and that was with L.A.). At his best, I can see him defend his man, make open threes (if there are any open threes), and hmmmmm... I guess, not much else. I just see him more as a complimentary player. Kinda like one they have now (Shane Battier). Ariza was more replaceable than, say, Lamar Odom (who is as versatile as you can get). But geez. I think Ariza really lost out in this deal (yes, I know... he's getting money but if you're a good NBA player, of course, you'll make millions).

What really gets me is the dealings between this Lee creature and Kupchak (who, by the way, has done a fantastic job recently as general manager).

"I can tell you definitively Trevor had an offer that was nine million more than what the Rockets offered and he decided to go with Houston."

So was that signing a way of sticking it to the Lakers? Oh, whoopee. He signed with Houston. Yay. TAKE THAT, L.A.

"It's like I told (Lakers General Manager) Mitch Kupchak. It was never about the money. It was about being at a place where he felt wanted and appreciated."

The Lakers resurrected his career and gave him a raise. Kupchak knew his market value. They traded for him. And if it wasn't about the money... how come they didn't sign with the Lakers then? It doesn't make sense to me at all. It was about respect? So why did Lee put him in a troubled situation? If he was going to place Ariza in a troubled situation then you might as well get him more money, right? There's also the potential that we might have already seen Ariza's ceiling. Ouch.

Agent Assface tried to play hardball and lost. I don't exactly blame Ariza for wanting to explore his options for more money (it's the first, and maybe only, big contract he's getting) but they should've known the marketplace better. I think if Artest wasn't free, negotiations would've gone longer and Ariza may still be a Laker today. Good luck in H-Town, Trevor. You played your role very well. I'm sure you're gonna be knockin' da boots.

Welcome the Tru Warier to L.A. I've always liked Ron Artest. And I'm happy that we have a nutcase in the Lakers. I don't think the Lakers will be bored in the regular season with Artest around. I know I won't be.

MORE OFFSEASON COVERAGE
My take on the initial wave of free agents agreeing verbally.
David Diep covers another "miracle on Figueroa St."
My reaction on the trades made thus far.

Follow me on Twitter. The name is @TheNoLookPass. I promise that my account's pretty sexy. Ha ha.

BREAKING: Artest a Laker

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:43:00 -0500

Ron Artest signs with the Lakers:

CBSsports.com is reporting Ron Artest is saying that he will sign with the Lakers and leave the Houston Rockets. The latest rumor was that LeBron was recruiting Artest. Artest had texted ESPN.com saying "I'm happy to say I'm going to L.A"
Artest's decision to leave Houston was made when Yao Ming's injury status was announced. Artest had realized that he would be the only scoring option on a average Rockets team, and you thought it couldn't get worse in Houston.

Insight: Looks like the Ariza to Cleveland rumors will soon become a reality.

2009 Offseason Whirlwind Continued

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:45:16 -0800

All right. The whirlwind offseason continues. These are just verbal deals and they can't officially sign until July 8. People might still pull a Carlos Boozer. Anyway...

***Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to Detroit***
The signing of Ben Gordon, I think, effectively ends Richard Hamilton's stint as a Piston. I don't know what to make of this team as everyone seems to be going their separate ways. Rasheed Wallace is going somewhere for sure and Tayshaun Prince seems to be on the trading block.

As for Charlie Villanueva, he's a great scoring option... but it's really hard to gauge this team until the offseason is over. Plus they still don't have a coach.

***Marcin Gortat to Dallas***
Erick Dampier seems to be on his way out... and Gortat earned his contract by playing well in the postseason. I guess, in the meantime, Dallas is just hoping that they don't get the Jerome James effect here (play well in the playoffs and then be an absolute bust after the huge contract signing). But they do get some depth in the frontline, if nothing else.

***Ron Artest to the L.A. Lakers***
Wow.

I've heard all the concerns already. He's not going to fit in the triangle. He'll hold on to the ball too long. Kobe and Artest don't get along, blah blah blah.

Remember when Dennis Rodman went to the Chicago Bulls? Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen supposedly wouldn't get along with Rodman, right? Since he was part of the Bad Boys? Well, those Bulls turned out some of the greatest teams in NBA history. Rodman respected the hell out of Jordan, Pippen, and Phil Jackson. I mean, for Christ's sake, they're all basketball players. Artest is going to be asked to play basketball, not rhythmic gymnastics. He'll be fine.

Well, same case here. Artest respects the hell out of Kobe Bryant. He also goes way back with Lamar Odom (if re-signed). And Phil is coaching this team. In the end, it should be fine. And I think this is an upgrade over Trevor Ariza. If Artest has his head in place, that is. Ron seemed like a Top 10 player in the league before that infamous brawl at the Palace. I don't think Trevor Ariza can get to that level.

***Trevor Ariza to Houston***
He lost. That's all I have to say.

Laker fans SHOULD be excited but that doesn't mean it's a title win for L.A. Every top team is stacking up at the moment. And Dwyane Wade and Steve Nash are probably smashing furniture at their homes this minute.

MORE OFFSEASON COVERAGE
David Diep covers another "miracle on Figueroa St."
My reaction on the trades made thus far

Follow me on Twitter. I am @TheNoLookPass. I'm a nice guy. Really.

Spurscast Special: Interview with Alex of NBA Tipoff

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:53:19 +0000

A few weeks ago, before the draft, Jeff Garcia had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Curtis-Slep of the NBA Tipoff.

Jeff and Alex discuss everything from favorites going into next season, the Lakers and Fabricio Oberto. It's a quick listen, but be sure to listen all the way through as this is not likely the last time you hear Alex's name and be sure to checkout NBA Tipoff for some great NBA coverage.

Lakers 3 On 3 Basketball Tournament Presented by Nike and Fan Fest -- Aug. 14 - Aug. 16

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:02:53 -0800

INAUGURAL LAKERS 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY NIKE AND FAN FEST TO TAKE PLACE

FRIDAY, AUG. 14 - SUNDAY, AUG. 16 AT L.A. LIVE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

Team registration is currently open to all participants and closes Friday, July 31

LOS ANGELES - Ever fantasized about being a basketball world champion? Here is your opportunity. The 2009 World Champion Los Angeles Lakers will play host to the first-ever Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament presented by Nike and Fan Fest, Friday, Aug. 14- Sunday, Aug. 16 at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.

The spectacular event will be spread across multiple city blocks with approximately 70 outdoor basketball courts in and around L.A. Live to accommodate the thousands of athletes who will compete for bragging rights, prizes and chance to be named champion.

Players young and old, men and women, elite and beginner are able to participate in the Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament presented by Nike. Brackets will be divided into appropriate divisions based on a combination of skill, age, gender and height. Teams may consist of a maximum of four (4) players and a minimum of three (3) players. A unique element of the event is the ability to build your own bracket. Players may sign up to play in brackets of eight (8) or 16 teams amongst friends, family, colleagues, etc.

There are four main divisions of play: Standard, Nike Elite, Special Olympics and Wheelchair. The Standard division includes three categories of participants: adult, high school (oldest player's next grade will be 9-12) and youth (oldest player's next grade will be 3-8). The Nike Elite Division also consists of three categories of players: Women, Men's 6 Foot and Under, and Men's Over 6 Foot. Players will then choose between Recreational and Competitive levels of competition at which time brackets will be formed based upon these criteria and those delineated above. Special Olympics and Wheelchair divisions are open to athletes of all ages and abilities, and are free of charge. Participants can register their teams online at www.Lakers3on3.com or mail in the registration forms to the designated address on the Web site. Registration closes on Friday, July 31.

Fan Fest, beginning Friday, Aug. 14, will be open to the general public and will be free for all fans to attend. The three-day experience will feature a variety of events at the Nike Center Court, including the Nike Slam Dunk Contest, appearances by members of the Lakers and special guests, live music, food and beverage areas, and basketball-themed activities and competitions.

"We are very excited to introduce this new event in Los Angeles, a city with a storied basketball history," said Scott Hanley, Vice President of AEG Sports. "The Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament presented by Nike will be a truly special event that will be here for years to come providing all participants a chance to compete in a unique outdoor venue constructed at L.A. Live."

Nike will serve as presenting partner of the Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament. Their name and logo will adorn at both the Nike Center Court in L.A. Live plaza and the Nike Elite Division.

Complete information about registration, eligibility, rules and bracketing can be found at the official Lakers 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament Web site, www.Lakers3on3.com.

Today's Rumors and More: A Run-Through

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:54:35 -0500

NEW RUMOR: Gary Tanguay reporting from Twitter -- Garnett, Danny Ainge, and Wyc Grousbeck will all make the trek to Michigan to meet with Rasheed Wallace. It's unknown whether or not Paul and Ray make the trip too. If they do, then I'd say Ray Allen will be a Celtic next year. Why would the Celtics bring him along if they were planning on trading him anyway?

Cavs very interested in Artest, Ariza.

According to several league sources, the Cavs are attempting to land Houston Rockets free-agent forward Ron Artest, and the pitch included a meeting with LeBron James on Tuesday night in Los Angeles as both were in Southern California for various events.
In addition, a league source indicated the team is trying to attract Los Angeles Lakers swingman Trevor Ariza, who appears to be disgruntled with the Lakers' early attempts to re-sign him.
Ariza's agent, David Lee, told the Riverside, Calif., Press-Enterprise Wednesday, "I think I'm being optimistic when I say it's not going anywhere." He added that Ariza might be ready to sign elsewhere.
ESPN reported Ariza had been in contact with the Cavs coaching staff.

Both players are unrestricted free agents and are being courted by several teams. Without a sign-and-trade deal, the most the Cavs could sign a player to is a salary starting at around $5.6 million with their midlevel exception. Artest made $7.4 million last season, Ariza $3.1 million.
Artest is believed to prefer to play for a championship contender and is thought to be considering the Lakers and Celtics in addition to the Cavs. With the Rockets facing the uncertain injury status of stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, it is unclear how hard they will try to push to re-sign Artest.

The Rockets have had interest in Cavs free agent Anderson Varejao in the past, which opens up some possibilities of a sign-and-trade scenario. The Cavs, however, have said they want to re-sign Varejao.

Insight: This scenario has been discussed by both sides for quite some time now. The Cavs need a guy to take the load off LeBron on defense, and take on the role of guarding guys like Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Hedo Turkoglu, Vince Carter, and Paul Pierce. With a starting line-up of Mo Williams, Ron Artest, LeBron James, a free agent/Anderson Varejao, and Shaq, they'd impose both a threat on defense and on offense.

However, what catches my eye is "Artest is believed to prefer to play for a championship contender and is thought to be considering the Lakers and Celtics in addition to the Cavs." The Celtics too, need a player who can share some of the burden with their star small forward, Paul Pierce, on defense and offense. If the Danny Ainge can steal Artest away, we'd be looking at a more impressive Celtics team than we've ever seen since Garnett arrived in Boston.

With the vast improvement of Glen Davis, -- who seems to be leaning more towards coming back to the C's after they made a qualifying offer to him -- Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics have a whole new look. Ainge may look to make a big splash this year to give the team a revamped roster heading into 2009-10.

However, if the C's do manage to work something out with Artest, I doubt they'd make a move for Rasheed Wallace. While a big man is a team need, I'm hoping Artest would take less money in exchange for a better shot at the title, as the C's would then have the opportunity to sign a solid big man in the free agent market.

Trevor Ariza has also been rumored to go to the Celtics, along with teams such as the Cavs and Lakers. I'm not sure why he wouldn't return to LA, as he just won a title with them, but then again, the more effective players leaving the Lakers the better. Ariza offers some flexibility in terms of positions and roles. He is able to come off the bench and start, and is capable of playing both the small forward position and shooting guard.

It's a controversial rumor for sure. All I know is that whatever team succeeds in bidding for one of the two players automatically becomes favorites for the championship.

Celtics still looking hard at Rasheed Wallace.

The Celtics' interest in Wallace is not for the long term, though. Wallace, 34, might be the most intriguing of free agent candidates, his relationship with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett a possible advantage.
Strickland confirmed the Celtics' contact with Wallace with a text message: "The interest is mutual.''
Asked if Wallace, who earned $13 million with the Pistons last season, could join the Celtics as a mid-level exception, Strickland said: "We will see how things work out.''
Charlotte, Cleveland, Orlando, and San Antonio have also shown interest in Wallace.
Ainge said he did not contact any players directly, nor has he made contract offers. Ainge said he has been on the receiving end of many more inquiries from agents in recent days than he has proferred.
"We'll just continue to stay in contact with free agents to see if there is something we can do,'' Ainge said. "That could take some time. Free agents are talking to several teams. I don't anticipate anything dramatic happening any time soon. We have plenty of time left.
"We have an interest in a lot of free agents, on different levels. We have different needs. I think everybody's trying to get a feel to where the market is. I think a lot of players start on July 1st with big dollar signs in their eyes, and then some of them get it, and some of them don't. And some of them come looking for anything later in the summer.

Insight: Danny Ainge is one tricky fella. Rasheed Wallace, Ron Artest, and Trevor Ariza are all on the Celtics radar among others. They need a big man, and a guy to back up Paul Pierce. But wait! They want to get Bill Walker some minutes as well. But, if they don't sign a free agent to back up Pierce and make Walker the second string small forward, we can't be sure that Walker will come through. After all, he didn't get too many minutes in his first year.

I can only tell you guys one thing I'm 100% positive about: Danny Ainge sure brews up a lot of questions.

Chris Broussard is telling us on ESPN that Rip Hamilton will not be traded by the Pistons, Avery Johnson most targeted to replace vacant coaching position.

Insight: Interesting. Detroit feels that a backcourt of Stuckey, Gordon, and Rip Hamilton could be one explosive scoring machine. They'd have Gordon coming off the bench, something that he did for some time when playing for Chicago.

Avery Johnson is a primary target for the Pistons in their search for a new coach, as they fired Michael Curry just days ago. It has also been reported that Bill Laimbeer is not a candidate. Surprise, surprise.

Clippers sending Zach Randolph to the Grizz.

The team [the Clips] agreed to trade power forward Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies for swingman Quentin Richardson, sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford. The deal was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The trade can't be finalized until the league establishes the salary cap July 8 and lifts the moratorium on player movement.

Insight: Zach Randolph is on the move again, this time to the Grizz. That's it. It's final. Chris Wallace is officially one of the league's worst executives. On a team which includes Hakim Warrick, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley Jr., and Marc Gasol, why the heck would you want to trade for Zach Randolph?

I understand that they get rid of another locker room cancer in return for Randolph, Quentin Richardson, but after Randolph's stint with the Clippers, I'm convinced he won't find a city he can truly call home. He's just too much of a loudmouth -- loves to get involved in altercations, loves to make a fuss.

Is that really the direction Memphis is heading?

Quick Rumor Post

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:02:00 -0500

Just wanted to get these out quick. I'll be sure to give you guys a deeper look into these rumors like I did yesterday in a full post later.

Clippers sending Zach Randolph to the Grizz.

Knicks enter bidding for Jason Kidd.

Ariza leaning towards an LA departure.

Cavs very interested in Artest, Ariza.

Cavaliers Hot For Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:29:08 -0500

So the previously unsubstantiated speculation regarding the Cavs as a possible destination for unrestricted free agent swingman Ron Artest were not so far off, after all.

It's definitely not a done deal, by any stretch, but Artest may have emerged as the no. 1 target for Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry as free agency opened its doors on Wednesday morning. From the Plain Dealer's Brian Windhorst:

According to several league sources, the Cavs have been in contact with Houston Rockets free agent forward Ron Artest. It even included a face-to-face pitch from LeBron James Tuesday night in Los Angeles as both were in Southern California for various events.
Artest, who is an unrestricted free agent after a contract that paid him $7.4 million with the Rockets expired, is being courted by several teams. Artest is believed to prefer to play for a championship contender. In addition to the Rockets, the Cavs may be getting competition from the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers for his services.
With the Rockets facing the uncertain injury status of stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, it is unclear how hard they will try to push to re-sign Artest. They are pursuing Orlando Magic free agent center Marcin Gortat.

If the market is not there for Artest, he can definitely use the Cavs to have another career year on a team that will be on national TV all the time. He could also get infinite exposure for his game if the Cavs make another deep playoff run and even win their first-ever championship next spring.

But Artest isn't the only lockdown swingman defender that Ferry is pursuing.

From ESPN.com's Chris Broussard:

With at least five teams pursuing 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.

The Rockets, Clippers, Raptors and Blazers are also showing interest in Ariza. Portland and Toronto could each offer more than the mid-level exception.

Finally. Two players that have been on my radar as perfect fits for the Cavs have finally emerged as the two players that Ferry wants the most. Not a "stretch big" like Charlie Villanueva or Rasheed Wallace. But Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza.

And with Orlando looking likely to lose Hedo Turkoglu to the Western Conference's Blazers pretty soon, the Magic's mismatch problems will be a thing of the past. But if they do resurface, a guy like Artest or Ariza is the perfect panacea for a team that really doesn't need many more parts to become an NBA champion.

At 24, Ariza would definitely be a long-term solution on the wing in Cleveland. Some sources on Tuesday night even speculated that the Cavs are in the hunt for a wing player who can slide LeBron to the power forward spot next season, and the 6'8" Ariza -- a small forward by trade -- fits the bill.

He can even play some shooting guard, and he's definitely quick enough to cover other two's. Regardless, he makes the Cavs deeper, better on the perimeter on both ends, and a little bit more athletic. Add him with other young pieces like Delonte West, Mo Williams, and a hopefully re-signed Anderson Varejao, and you're finally talking about Ferry building a nice core around LeBron.

Something tells me Thursday's going to be a big day. Stay tuned.