Ariza verbally commits to sign with the Houston Rockets

I don't really get it, it's essentially the same amount of money. Why walk away from a possible second ring, to a team whose future seems uncertain? Normally money would be the option, but...this just seems odd.

Well good for him I guess, I hope he enjoys himself over there.

Edit: After I wrote this, it made no sense...so I re-read the article, it still makes no sense. Houston will be giving him the full mid level exception, he refused to re-sign with LA basically because they didn't want to offer him more than the mid level exception. Wtf?

Besides, you non-believers aint got faith. I do. He'll be back.

That's it Modifly, that's it. He will really be back.

About the move, I really liked it. If T-Mac does return, will Ariza still start in the 3 spot?

If T-Mac does return, will Ariza still start in the 3 spot?

If T-Mac return, well, that's not happening anywhere soon so why dont we drop it for now and talk about it again when he returns?


Latest from NBA.com: http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/d ... index.html

It's funny how Rockets.com haven't put up anything regarding both Ariza and Artest yet. I guess they're waiting for the deal to become official first so that things are handled "professionally".

It's funny how Rockets.com haven't put up anything regarding both Ariza and Artest yet. I guess they're waiting for the deal to become official first so that things are handled "professionally".

I think the club sites can't write anything until the deal becomes official (July 8, if I'm correct). In NBA homepage you will only see the news by analysts like David Aldridge...

Kinda surprised he signed for the same money he would have made rejoining the Lakers.

why didn't ariza rejoined with the lakers? it's almost the same offer.

I don't really get it, it's essentially the same amount of money. Why walk away from a possible second ring, to a team whose future seems uncertain? Normally money would be the option, but...this just seems odd.

it made no sense...so I re-read the article, it still makes no sense. Houston will be giving him the full mid level exception, he refused to re-sign with LA basically because they didn't want to offer him more than the mid level exception. Wtf?

Because he wants more money.

Then why did he sign with a different team for the same amount of money he was being offered?

Because he's pissed.
Maybe he thought that the LAL can give him more than the MLE, but they didn't. He got pissed and bolted even if it means accepting the same amount from a different team. A second ring probably doesn't mean much to him at this point in his career. He's young, he wants a good contract $$$, but was unable to so he bolted. Maybe the Lakers only offered him 3 years as compared to the Rockets' 5 years, who knows.

I like Ariza, works hard, plays well, but we must not forget that deep inside every NBA player is the desire to feed their family.


EDIT: I read the article, the Raptors did offer Ariza more $$$ than the MLE but he agreed to sign with Houston. So it's more about being pissed at the Lakers for refusing to feed his family and he fell in to Morey's charms.

We had a substantially larger offer above the mid-level from Toronto," Lee said. "Trevor decided to go to Houston. I told Mitch (Kupchak, the Lakers' general manager) that it was never about the money; it was about respect."

Ariza was looking for a significant raise from the $3.1 million he made this season, and wanted a deal in excess of the mid-level exception

Obviously, Daryl made a good impression on him," Lee said

We came to an understanding with Houston," said Ariza's agent, David Lee - lol

Presumably a deal with Artest was reached first, which would have left Ariza on the outside looking in and with significantly less playing time up for grabs if he returned to the Lakers.

why didn't ariza rejoined with the lakers? it's almost the same offer.

playing behind lamar odom and ron artest isn't really so appealing to a young emerging player who has the chance to really make a name for himself in the next few years.

And Houston gives Ariza something the Lakers couldn't - a chance to improve his game and lead the team.

We had a substantially larger offer above the mid-level from Toronto," Lee said. "Trevor decided to go to Houston. I told Mitch (Kupchak, the Lakers' general manager) that it was never about the money; it was about respect."

Lakers: Hey Trevor, here's 5 million to keep playing for us. Thanks.

Houston: OMG ARE YOU TREVOR ARIZA??? You are better than Kobe, no really I mean it, there is NO ONE in the history of basketball as good as you. I can't believe i'm in your presence. Will you sign my paper? What? OHHH I must have replaced my autograph book with a contract! Silly me. I love you Trevor Ariza.

Raptors: You're tall eh, what's all that aboot? Not as tall as Chris Bosh though, we'll give you 8 million a season to lick his shoes clean after every game. Good deal?

I'm assuming talks went along those lines.

That was gold Jae.

Between this and my description of the Carter trade, I smell feature.

Rockets formally introduce Ariza

Trevor Ariza liked what he saw in Houston enough to leave the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets formally introduced the versatile forward on Wednesday after he signed a multiyear contract.

The 24-year-old free agent agreed to join the Rockets last Thursday night, switching places with free agent Ron Artest, who left Houston to play for the Lakers.

"I think this was the best place for me," Ariza said. "I think I have more of an opportunity here."

Wow, he liked Houston so much!

Ariza and the Lakers needed seven games to eliminate the Rockets in the second round of the playoffs. He admired the way the Rockets played in the series and that factored into his decision to come here.

"This is a great, young team that has a lot of potential," Ariza said. "They're very, very scrappy and they never give up, and that's the type of player I am. No matter what the situation is, I'm still fighting. That's the kind of players they have here and I'm happy to be a part of that."

I didn't expect that he will say this to us.

Ariza said that because the Rockets were the only team to pushed the Lakers to 7 games in the playoffs. Obviously that series really had an impact on his decision. As a Rockets fan I'm just glad that Ariza thinks this way.

This is all planned by the Rockets and Ron-Ron . . .
Ron Artest will destroy the L.A. Lakers inside and then the next year Ron-Ron will be forced to be traded year back to the Rockets . . .

What are you saying?! Are you nuts?!

Houston planned all this . . .
Ron Artest will cause Locker Room Problems for the Lakers and when the problem is then too big the Lakers will eventually trade him to Houston . . .

Get It Now ?

I like it when monkeys throw their excrement at each other.

This is a great, young team that has a lot of potential," Ariza said. "They're very, very scrappy and they never give up, and that's the type of player I am. No matter what the situation is, I'm still fighting. That's the kind of players they have here and I'm happy to be a part of that

I wonder if Ariza will still feel the same way when they are 10-31 in the middle of the season.

This is a great, young team that has a lot of potential

Reminds me of Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder ,
Kevin Martin and the Sacramento Kings ,
Emeka Okafor and the Charlotte Bobcats ,
OJ Mayo and the Memphis Grizzlies ,
Al Jefferson and the Minnesota Timberwolves and
Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors . . .

I wonder if Ariza will still feel the same way when they are 10-31 in the middle of the season.

I dont think he will feel that way because we will be 31-10 half way through the season.

Kevin Martin and the Sacramento Kings

Sacramento is Kevin Martin and that's it. They do have some talented young players with potential like Thompson or Evans*, but apart from that, all the other guys on the team are just mediocre. So, even if these players develop into all star caliber players, Sacramento is going to need help.


*Actually, every player has "potential" Every player can be better.

OKC will be A LOT better this season, so it shouldn't be mentioned at all. With Green, Durant, Harden and Westbrook in the lineup they can pass Portland in couple of years.

And if you haven't forgot, T-Wolves had the best record in the league in January (correct me if I'm wrong) before Jefferson went down.

Houston planned all this . . .
Ron Artest will cause Locker Room Problems for the Lakers and when the problem is then too big the Lakers will eventually trade him to Houston . . .

Get It Now ?

I love your theories. If ESPN needs a writer, you'd get the job.

He'd fit right in with Jemele Hill, Scoop Jackson, and the entertaining Stephen A. Smith.

I notice you only listed black people...

And Stephen A. Smith was "released" from ESPN.

And Stephen A. Smith was "released" from ESPN.

Talk about insulting, to be let go while Mark Jackson is not only retained but also on the call for the NBA Finals.