Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 at 9:30 am  |  32 responses

Trevor Ariza: Ready to Play Hardball

Or, at the very least, his agent is: “While Ariza has maintained that he hopes to wear purple and gold again next season, agent David Lee said Monday that the Lakers won’t receive any hometown discount from his client. Lee declined to reveal how much of a raise Ariza will seek when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Tuesday night at 9:01 p.m., but he said the young forward’s upside should make him the most coveted wing player on the market…’It’s a question of how committed the Lakers are to competing again,’ [agent David Lee] said. ‘If everyone else stood still, you could see what happens when a piece is missing, but the reality is teams out there are positioning themselves to be competitive. When other teams are getting better, you can’t afford to rest on your laurels.’”

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  • Marco Posted: Jun.30 at 9:33 am
    1st

  • Moose Posted: Jun.30 at 9:43 am
    HEAR THAT, DANNY AINGE???

  • jumpman3224 Posted: Jun.30 at 9:52 am
    I hope that they can keep him…I think right now it is def. a buyers market so something should work out.

  • jumpman3224 Posted: Jun.30 at 9:53 am
    Also shouldnt David Lee be worried about his own stuff this offseason…double double center and agent – impressive

  • Z Posted: Jun.30 at 10:23 am
    can’t be mad at that. he didn’t get a big contract yet, you never know when those legs will fail you. lamar can afford to give them a hometown discount, he’s been getting paid for a decade.

  • Dagga Posted: Jun.30 at 10:52 am
    jumpman is an idiot same name different perdson

  • TADOne Posted: Jun.30 at 11:01 am
    Ariza is worth the $5 mil a year that Posey got, not much more.

  • Allenp Posted: Jun.30 at 11:03 am
    Somebody might be a Cavalier soon.

  • Z Posted: Jun.30 at 11:13 am
    Allen, I’m not sure the Cavs can afford him. How much is the MLE? 5-6 mil per?

  • Z Posted: Jun.30 at 11:13 am
    TAD, there’s always inflation after a good playoffs run. If anything, I think CV is a better player AND will be cheaper.

  • rainman10 Posted: Jun.30 at 11:20 am
    As a Magic fan, I would rather see the Cavs get Ariza than Charlie V.

  • Roy Posted: Jun.30 at 11:23 am
    Moose, I’m pretty sure Danny Ainge wants Trevor Ariza in a Celtics uni. :D

  • Cheryl Posted: Jun.30 at 11:41 am
    I wish the Heat would do something, anything at this point. and no, not because I fear DWade bolting, but because I have season tix and I want to see competitive basketball in the MIA.

  • Fat Lever Posted: Jun.30 at 11:58 am
    Z, when you said MLE, I thought you were referring to Shaq’s new moniker, Most Lethargic Ever.

  • so fresh n so clean Posted: Jun.30 at 12:13 pm
    come on Colangelo…work your magic.

  • Trevor Ariza is not Giving Mitch Kupchak a Coupon | Lake Show Life | A Los Angeles Lakers Blog Posted: Jun.30 at 12:56 pm
    [...] to various outlets, including Slam Online, Lee has stated that his client is not going to drop his asking price despite Ariza’s desire [...]

  • Michael Posted: Jun.30 at 1:04 pm
    There are only two places where Ariza can flourish. LA or Cleveland. He will not get all those open threes anywhere else.

  • Quail Posted: Jun.30 at 1:41 pm
    I think the cavs will let Andy V go so they can get Charlie V. And does anyone know if the rumors of the rockets signing Mehmet Okur is true?

  • Quail Posted: Jun.30 at 1:42 pm
    @Michael: wut about Miami? If Moon is let go, they could use Ariza alot. I would like it.

  • Luke Posted: Jun.30 at 2:54 pm
    David Lee is his agent?!Shouldnt he be more worried with HIS situation?

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.30 at 4:07 pm
    @ Quail: Wow, that’s awesome. When Yao gets healthy, imagine that front court: Yao, Okur, Scola, and Landry. Not to mention Chuck Hayes. Goodness. Okur will be great to relieve Yao of minutes, too. DO THIS ROCKETS. DO IT NOW!

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Jun.30 at 4:13 pm
    Trevor Ariza… To the Rockets. Stack up some players Houston!

  • . Posted: Jun.30 at 4:18 pm
    Well I hope the Lakers panic and overpay Ariza. That would be bad. He should get 8mill a year AT MOST.

  • swift from compton Posted: Jun.30 at 6:08 pm
    i really really hope that trevor goes somewhere else, just for the simple fact that the lakers got gasol for nothing. kobe should opt out also and go to the cavs for the minimum and rule the league with krazy championships. you would think that players would do that since they’ve been in the L for years and have millions already, but obviously championships arn’t everything.”money is”…….

  • Godzilla Posted: Jun.30 at 7:11 pm
    Yao is done. he ain’t ever comin back, if he does he’ll break it again.

  • Dacre Posted: Jun.30 at 7:35 pm
    If cleveland resign their own guys first they can still get charlie V under contract right?
    I think PHX should really try for Charlie V or Trevor too…

  • wayno Posted: Jul.1 at 12:34 pm
    Charlie V will be in Detroit. He wants a paycheck and Cleveland can only offer him thier full MLE worth 5.6 million. Detroit would likely offer him 7 or 8 million.

  • jetfree Posted: Jul.1 at 2:05 pm
    trevor will remain with the lakers because both are good for one another, How ever if one put’s the blink of the eye money on the table it’s just became busniess nothing personal he’sstaying put!!!!

  • DG Posted: Jul.2 at 1:52 am
    trevor to nj
    repace vc with the new model

  • tindore Posted: Jul.2 at 4:55 am
    reports are saying Trevor’s camp is playing hardball and claiming the MLE Mitch offered was “a slap in the face”… R U freakin kidding me if Trevor signs somewhere else he isnt going to prosper like in LA, what does he want 7mil, dont they realize its a dry market, dont they remember Ronny Turiaf left for G.S. and LA won a championship, we’re primed for another run with or without Ariza… I hear Ron-Ron has intrest in LA, LA…

  • tindore Posted: Jul.2 at 5:03 am
    if trevor jumps ship we might as well pursue the other young Bruin, Matt Barnes, he would essentially replace T.A.’s production save the steals, i also think Matt’s a better passer and shooter…i think we can get Matt for a much cheaper price and Ariza can take his 7mil and underachieve in DET or wherever David Lee decides…

  • ElSteevO Posted: Jul.3 at 9:59 am
    Ariza is making the same mistake that other young ballers do, he’s letting his agent do what the agent thinks is best instead of what the player really wants. There’s no doubt TA wants to stay in LA and win more rings, he also wants to get paid. He earned a raise and was offered one by Kupchak, Lee turned it down and TA was never heard from. Now he’s in Houston, he got his $$$, but will not win another ring – at least in the near future. The Lakers made the right choice in signing Artest, while at the same time flipping off David Lee. The Lakers will repeat this next year and David Lee will never again be able to sign one of his players with the Lakers. I think this is a fair trade-off. TA, good luck in Houston we’ll miss you – but not that much.

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