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Sooooo, Ariza's looking for a bigger pay day. Anyone who watched him play throughout the last two series of the playoffs can agree he's really been a key factor for the team, and deserves the money he's looking for. But $5.6M, which the Lakers are reportedly offering him (and which happens to be the mid-level exception) is nothing to sneeze at either. The Lakers organization is under a lot of financial pressure; is looking to get out for more money really the right thing for Ariza to do in the long term? Sure, he will get $1.4M more per year, at least in the first year. But unless he gets signed by Cleveland, he's likely not to make an encore appearance at the NBA Finals.
I mean, who knows, maybe his agent has the sense of timing that Robert Horry's agent has. But in a time of belt-tightening, is it really too much to ask him to take less of a raise? Is there any merit to the claim being made by some that Ariza's pulling a James Posey? (naughty240, can you weigh in?)
Of course, the Kobe bashers can also note that Kobe could have opted out of his contract and renewed at a much lower rate to make room for both Lamar and Trevor. There's a certain point of justice to that: why should Lamar and/or Ariza be the only ones asked to make a sacrifice?
Finally, if you ran the Lakers, would you have done the same thing (basically stick to Lamar and hope Ariza comes back even at $5.6M instead of $7M)?
Sooooo, Ariza's looking for a bigger pay day. Anyone who watched him play throughout the last two series of the playoffs can agree he's really been a key factor for the team, and deserves the money he's looking for. But $5.6M, which the Lakers are reportedly offering him (and which happens to be the mid-level exception) is nothing to sneeze at either. The Lakers organization is under a lot of financial pressure; is looking to get out for more money really the right thing for Ariza to do in the long term? Sure, he will get $1.4M more per year, at least in the first year. But unless he gets signed by Cleveland, he's likely not to make an encore appearance at the NBA Finals.
I mean, who knows, maybe his agent has the sense of timing that Robert Horry's agent has. But in a time of belt-tightening, is it really too much to ask him to take less of a raise? Is there any merit to the claim being made by some that Ariza's pulling a James Posey? (naughty240, can you weigh in?)
Of course, the Kobe bashers can also note that Kobe could have opted out of his contract and renewed at a much lower rate to make room for both Lamar and Trevor. There's a certain point of justice to that: why should Lamar and/or Ariza be the only ones asked to make a sacrifice?
Finally, if you ran the Lakers, would you have done the same thing (basically stick to Lamar and hope Ariza comes back even at $5.6M instead of $7M)?
That's true... Kobe could have taken a few mil less. I wonder if he thought about that or if they approached him about it. Seems to me Kobe would do it but... who knows.
I doubt Ariza is willing to take a 'pay cut' for the Lakers. He's young so he still has time to get to the Finals again. I just hope he doesn't sign with one of the competitors. That will suck so bad. Same with LO. Worst case scenario: we lose both Trev and Odom. Starting lineup would be Fisher, Kobe, Walton, Pau and Bynum. I don't see us getting past the 1st round with that team.
Quote:
Originally Posted by longbowe
It's like going to the Finals: hard to do it two years in a row!
Ahah... true true.
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Kobe should opted out and taken a bit less or restructured so he could keep this core intact for a few more years.
That being said, conventional wisdom says you resign the younger guy, but I like that LA is doing the "right thing". Odom sacrificed big time in his contract year for the sake of the team.
Cavs with Artest is going to be pretty fun though. Shaq, Bron and RonRon all on the same team? That sounds like too much fun. I hope Brown learns another play besides the "LeIso" so he could actually use these pieces properly.
Ariza after a "contract" year won't be the same, the thing I like with Artest is that he is always "hungry". Should be fun if not interesting for us Laker fans next season!!! No more 40 point games by Melo against the Lakers!
Official NBA 2009-10 Season Thread
