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posted By Justen, 2 July 2009 3:15:09 PM
As a lifetime Lakers fan, it is distubing that we may lose Ariza and end up with Artest. While Artest is certainly a good defender, he is an attention whore, and is like a black hole on offense; not exactly triangle-esk. Moreover, one of the things that was so great about Arize is that he was humble, quiet, and played incredibly hard (an underlying theme of UCLA players no less). Im glad he is going to get a big raise, but eeesh, Kobe and Phil going to have to have a long chat w/ Ron Ron for a repeat to be achieved.
posted By PerthKid, 2 July 2009 3:16:38 PM
Seeing Carlos Delfino come back from Europe, it made me think: other than Josh Childress, who I've heard about talking to the Milwaukee Bucks, is there any news onanyone else potentially coming back from Europe to the NBA this off-season? Such as Bostjan Nachbar, Earl Boykins, Primoz Brezec, Jannero Pargo, Dan jerkau, etc.
posted By Joel, 2 July 2009 3:17:45 PM
You mean the Suns aren't still trading Amare for Tyrus Thomas and junk?
posted By KB, 2 July 2009 3:17:46 PM
Its a miracle that some team was able to take on Z-bos contract. Good luck Memphis
posted By PerthKid, 2 July 2009 3:19:00 PM
@ Justen - Not sure if or how they'd pull it off financially, but I had a bad vision of the Cleveland Cavaliers somehow ending up with both Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza for next season, teaming up with Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James. Being an Orlando Magic fan myself, that turned into a nightmare VERY quickly! LOL!
posted By PerthKid, 2 July 2009 3:28:01 PM
@ KB - I'm hoping it's going to lead to another deal to dump him again somewhere else and make a run at a big-name free agent with cap space. I have a hunch that somehow their draft night trade of Darko Milicic to the New York Knicks for Quentin Richardson was to make room for Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young and not creat a logjam with Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur and Hakim Warrick (should they re-sign him) there, only they needed to get rid of Quentin Richardson again so as not to cause a logjam at the wing spots where Mayo, Gay, and Warrick would be playing. It's a no-brainer that the LA Clippers unloaded Zach Randolph and his toxic locker-room presence to make room for Blake Griffin with Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman already there. Brian Skinner opting out only helps Griffin gain more minutes. But I'm thinking that the Grizzlies try and off-load Randolph again fairly soon for maybe a decent veteran with an expiring contract with draft picks or a young player or something along those lines. Randolph would obliterate the Grizzlies young, inexperienced team chemistry because he's a poisonous ocker-room guy. He'd be no good for Gay, Mayo, Arthur, Gasol, Conley Jr., Warrick, Thabeet, Young an Carroll.
posted By derek, 2 July 2009 3:31:38 PM
Ron Artest talking with Dwight Howard?
posted By derek, 2 July 2009 3:52:19 PM
I dont see Sheed going to Boston.. They will start Sheed over KG or Perks? What about Big Baby's min.s?
I see him startin in SA, Orl, and Cle.
posted By Jason, 2 July 2009 4:18:59 PM
I think it's clear that raptors are going to build around Andrea Bargnani, in that case, they need a rebouding three, which Marion will fit that well. Jose Calderon is one of the best passing point guard in the league. Which mean they don't really need Hedo as much as Blazer. If they decide to trade Bosh, marion is going to be the key, because Marion can play in power forward for some mintues.
I think Raptors should just re-sign Marion, and get Defino and Parker back. Defino and Parker can combine contribute 20 point per night. With Marion and rookie DeRozan play in small forward, now they just need a back up point guard. They got Bargnani, Bosh, Evan, O'Bryant, Humprines in the big, which should be good enough. Now the question is can they stay healthy.
But anyway, with that line up, they are way better than last year, when they only got Jermain O'Neal, a half leg, half O'Neal.
posted By Frank, 2 July 2009 4:41:20 PM
As a long time laker fan and ones who goes to as many games as possible, if the lkaers do not keep both ariza and odom and san antonio gets wallace etc, then buss will be a financial lose because the money the lakers lose by not getting to the finals will be a lot more than if they increase their offer from where they are now. Hopefully someone in the laker organization will realize this unless they just live in a dream world where they think they can lose one or both and still get to NBA finals.
posted By proemb, 2 July 2009 4:42:42 PM
Ron Artest is EXACTLY what the Lakers need, I thought they should have traded for him last year. As it turned out, the Lakers did not have to face Boston (Pierce) nor Cleveland (James) in the playoffs or else Ariza would have been exposed a little bit. The Laker Nation needs to remember that eventhough this Laker team won a Championship, they are still a little soft. The Lakers did not have to face any tough, physical teams except for Houston, and the Rockets gave the Lakers a scare even with an injured Yao. In the Finals, they faced a jump shooting soft team. If the Lakers played Boston at full strength instead of Orlando, would the series have gone 7? Would the Lakers have won? Remember what you were saying after the Boston series Laker fans, "The team is soft, they need to get tougher and more physical, etc." Ron Artest will bring to this Laker team exactly what they need: someone who will play and teach "tough and physical" to a squad who tends to back away from contact. Winning a Championship requires that you get a little lucky along the way. The Lakers got lucky that their softness was not tested to the max this year. But Boston will be back strong next year, LeBron has added a piece and Duncan is ready to go. Let's just hope the Lakers get lucky again in the off-season, lucky enough to get Ron Artest.
posted By derek, 2 July 2009 4:50:06 PM
... And then Dwight Howard and Vince Carter make the poster above me look stupid when Magic beat Lakers in a remath Finals.
posted By dean, 2 July 2009 4:54:09 PM
^u forgot roko is developping i still think htey need a veteran pg and also they got pops back n i think trade humph n patty obryant im still not completely sold on he cud be a project
posted By CTran, 2 July 2009 5:00:37 PM
If indeed Ariza leaves the Lakers for the same money the Lakers offered, he is then such a small person doing that to punish the Lakers for not offering more (it is a business decision after all); a team who rescued him out of Orlando and gave hime a chance to showcase his talent.
posted By braveheart09, 2 July 2009 6:28:27 PM
detroit just don't get it. even gordon's own team didn't thing highly to overpay an one dimensional wonder and draft better fowards than the pistons despite picking directly after the p's. chicago wins again.
posted By proemb, 2 July 2009 7:02:59 PM
derek, if you think that your Magic got better by bringing in another soft player in Vince Carter, you're in for a disappointment. I like Howard alot and think he will dominate in this league at some point but that's about it for me. Rashard Lewis is NOT a POWER forward and Hedo is another soft euro. I don't think the Magic will make it to the Finals next year, but if they do, it will be because of Howard and Nelson. Trust me derek, the "honey moon" period with Carter will go away a few games into the season when you see for yourself what a cupcake he is. He does not have a consistent shot, his athleticism has passed him by and the second somebody puts a hard body/hit on him, he'll be grimissing like a colicky baby down the court. If anybody is going to "make me look stupid", it will be Tim Duncan and the Spurs when/if they spank the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The Magic won't because they will get beat by either Boston (at full strength) or Cleveland. Go ahead and order your Vinsanity jersey, you'll be using it as a rag in about one year.
posted By Jeff T., 2 July 2009 7:21:27 PM
How the heck does Joe Dumars offer such a massive deal to Ben Gordon when nobody else is even competing to sign BG?! Way to bid against yourself, Joe D...
So all the Pistons drama of this season was to clear cap room for... an overpaid, undersized, streaky shooter and a Charmin-soft "power" forward?!
posted By derek, 2 July 2009 8:19:26 PM
Gratz on getting Artest proemb, but Carter's stats say otherwise :/ So try other opinions that dont date back to a player's toronto days. I was unfair to say Magic would win in a rematch, but no one knows how Artest and Carter will fit in. I just think its very likely both will end up being incredible fits for their teams, and my Magic look the part of a title contender. You cant say otherwise after Magic beating Cavs and Celtics (- KG) with no Nelson. Well you did, but it doesnt hold much weight from a Lakers fan.
posted By Detroits done, 2 July 2009 8:48:39 PM
wow Ben gordon is a nice player and all ...but they should have just kept allen iverson instead of over paying BG
posted By Toolatecrew, 2 July 2009 10:28:17 PM
The Bulls did persue Gordon. They twice offered him contracts in the 50 M plus for 5 year range. He truned them down twice. Why offer it a third time? Gordon didn't get substantually more than he'd beeen offered before. He just got lucky that one team was dumb enough to offer it this time .
posted By lol, 2 July 2009 10:35:29 PM
Detroit Pistons = lottery team for the next 3 years
posted By Neil T., 2 July 2009 11:03:07 PM
Seeing as both Boston and Cleveland are inquiring in a sign and trade for Anthony Parker... Why not try to obtain a Big Baby(Celts) or Varejao (Cavs)?
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