Report: Ariza traded to Hornets for C.Lee in 4-Teams Deal

[Modifly]

The New Orleans Hornets acquired Trevor Ariza(notes) Wednesday in a four-team, five-player trade that also sends point guard Darren Collison(notes) to the Indiana Pacers, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The deal also sends Pacers forward Troy Murphy(notes) to the New Jersey Nets and Nets guard Courtney Lee(notes) to the Houston Rockets. In addition to landing Collison – the young point guard they’ve been searching for all offseason – the Pacers also have to take on forward James Posey(notes), who has two years and $13.5 million remaining on his contract.

The Rockets signed Ariza to a five-year, $35 million contract a year ago, but have since acquired guard Kevin Martin(notes). Trading him should keep them from paying a substantial luxury-tax bill this season.

http://www.red94.net/houston-rockets-tr ... -lee/3442/

For the Rockets, aside from acquiring Lee, the move is largely a salary dump. This summer the Rockets spent a lot of cash signing Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry and Brad Miller to free agent contracts and their payroll ballooned to $81 million. Before the trade, the team was bracing for a $10 million-plus luxury tax hit. The deal would save them $28 million on the life of the contracts and $10 million this season, including luxury tax considerations.

I like it. I no longer have to tolerate watching Ariza dribble (which he can't) and try to create his own shot only to end up bricking it from beyond the arc. From what I've heard, Lee is also a tough defender and definitely a better offensive player than Ariza. Van Gundy called him the best wing defender the Magic had on the 09 Finalist squad so he must be okay. I had fun watching Ariza sometimes, but most of the time I was like .

[J@3]

Wow that's crazy. I would've thought Collison was worth more than Ariza and cap relief. Great pick-up for Indiana, I like their core.

[Modifly]

Here's a better, more detailed article.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/stor ... pn_5455472

[kibaxx7]

In a separate deal, the Hornets are also acquiring Belinelli from Toronto in exchange for J. Wright.

http://twitter.com/STEIN_LINE_HQ/status/20906179430

[shadowgrin]

Wow.

Pacers finally get their PG. It's no good when they depend on Earl Watson because TJ Ford is crap.

Hornets solve their swingman/SF position, Posey definitely wasn't the answer, Peja is crap on the defensive end, and Julian Wright is all crap, same with Mo Pete. As much as I like Collison, he'll get no significant burn behind Chris Paul. They still need to spruce up their bench.

Rockets still get a player similar to Ariza with better shooting less salary.

Nets get, whatever they are after.

[Lamrock]

Ariza was turrible, but the Hornets' swingman rotation has been so bad in the Paul era that he's a considerable improvement. They also get Posey off the books, and clear their logjam at the point guard position. I thought they would get more for the overrated Collison, but whatevs.

The Pacers finally get a decent starting PG. They get rid of a guy who, while good, is getting older, and isn't part of their future plans. They take on Posey's salary, but them's the brakes I guess.

Rockets save a shit-load of money on a player better than Trevor Ariza.

Nets... Prokhorov paid to improve in the team in the short term. I guess they really didn't want to see another 12 win season...

[Axel The Great]

I like the trade, for the Rockets that is. We get rid of brick shooting Ariza, and get a better shooter and defender. The only defense that Ariza ever played was gambling for steals. Pacers got a good end of the deal too, and they finally get a PG that's sure to deliver, but get a hideous contract in James Posey. Overall, this trade can probably benefit all teams.

[Martti.]

Like this for the Pacers, Collison gets to shine and maybe Ariza can play a bit more wisely with CP3 running the show.

Good deal for all, the Nets could afford to lose Lee with Williams and Morrow while adding frontcourt depth.

[Andrew]

Great trade for the Pacers, Posey's contract is a burden but it only runs two more years. New Orleans better hope that Ariza pans out as his deal runs longer than Posey's, I'm not sure it's a deal that will fully restore Paul's confidence in the team but it's got to be better than nothing.

[Lamrock]

Pacers and Rockets definitely won the trade. Ariza's garbage and Collison was arguably their second most valuable trade piece (next to Paul). I'd take 2 years of Posey over 4 years of Ariza. Troy Murphy's a nice player, but the Nets still don't be good enough to compete for an 8 seed. Basically a waste of money and could potentially cost them a star like Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones or Kyrie Irving in the draft.

[benji]

Murphy's contract expires after the season.

[Lamrock]

Sure, but he'll make far more than Lee will in the next two combined.

It also appears that the Rockets will be getting a $6 mil trade exception out of this trade. Daryl Morey is the fucking man.

[Modifly]

It also appears that the Rockets will be getting a $6 mil trade exception out of this trade. Daryl Morey is the fucking man.

Really? If that's really the case then Daryl Morey just did it again. In Morey We Trust.

[Fresh8]

I guess this means that Chris Paul is staying for longer because they've effectively traded away Paul's instant replacement if he had forced a trade... Will be bad for Nawlins if Paul forces a mid season deal and they have no starting 1-guard.

[Andrew]

The only way Paul forces a trade is if he pulls a Vince Carter. He can't opt out until after next season, he's got no leverage.

[Lamrock]

Picking Collison over Paul would have been retarded. While this deal looks pretty bad for the Hornets, Paul may be the biggest star the franchise will ever get, and will be their only (remote) chance at being relevant any time soon. They have two years to build a contender. This isn't the best start, but its doable and certainly worth the risk of losing him. (and being bad enough to tank for a new franchise player)

[The X]

Collison is overrated as Pacers will find out soon enough. Still an upgrade for them. I thought maybe Hornets could've got more than Ariza but I guess they were so desperate to dump Posey's contract.

[NovU]

Chris Paul should be content, having Ariza as a possible second best scoring option or close third after David West.

As a fan of Chris Paul, not the Hornets, I would love to see him playing for the contender. The Hornets aren't getting nowhere.

[air gordon]

more minutes for Psycho T!!!

[shadowgrin]

As a fan of Chris Paul, not the Hornets, I would love to see him playing for the contender. The Hornets aren't getting nowhere.

I thought of the same thing about Wade and the Heat before Bosh and James came along.

[Axel The Great]

Another signature for Jao now?

[NovU]

Oh my... Dunno how many times I set it up for him.

[Alpha_]

to bad! they traded Darren..