RA for TA.  Ron Artest was virtually traded for Trevor Ariza.  What’s going on here???

It’s called “David Lee” (the agent, not the player).  I’m beginning to hate this agent.  I almost forgot how he handled Andrew Bynum‘s last contract negotiation with the Lakers.  I feel for Trevor.  Do you think he’s thinking of firing his agent later?

Here’s the story:   The Lakers were willing to pay the full MLE to Trevor Ariza up to five years, totalling  approximately $33.8 million.  The agent played hardball and asked for something in the $50 million range.  The Lakers told Lee to test the market first, obviously to see if that asking price is qualified.  Apparently, Lee was offended by this stance, looked somewhere else and found, surprise surprise, the Rockets with approximately the same MLE price!

How dumb is that?  Too bad Ariza had to play along.  David Lee played poker using Trevor Ariza‘s stock.  He bluffed and lost… lost Trevor’s luck playing for a great NBA franchise.

Let’s picture for a while how Ariza and his agent might be thinking during the negotiations.  Hmmm, play for the Lakers, a championship team and a storied franchise in an eventful city?  Or play for the Rockets, with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady‘s future uncertain because of injuries.  A chance to win multiple titles with the Lakers or a chance to lose in the playoffs with the Rockets?

I understand if Ariza signed to another team for a higher price, but for the same price?  David Lee said it’s about respect.  No, it’s not.  For them it was about pride.  Pay us or we would sign with team Pluto for the same price you offered us.  Proud.  Dumb.

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For the record, I like Ariza better than Artest.  In fact, I like Ariza for the Lakers better than anybody.  He fits like a glove in the Lakers rotation.  Artest is better offensively.  Defensively, they say Artest is also better but I still like Ariza.  He doesn’t have to bang to defend.  He steals.  He blocks.  He bangs a little, just enough to steal the ball.  Plus, Ariza is only 24 years old.

The Lakers did not pick Artest over Ariza.  They had to settle for Artest because Ariza was expensive.  Like I said, he probably deserves what he’s asking but “the economy” and the Lakers star-laden payroll will not cooperate.

I agree that Ron Artest is a big gamble but to say that it was a wrong move is extreme.  Who would’ve been close to replacing Ariza’s game?  Shawn Marion?  He’s even more expensive and prouder than Ariza.  Hedo Turkoglu? Same thing.

Bottom line, the Lakers correctly predicted Ariza’s market value and offered the same value.  When they couldn’t get Ariza (or David Lee) to agree, they chose plan B.

Plan B is Ron Artest, who is plan A for a lot of teams.  Not bad, not bad at all… but I’m sure the other 29 teams feel they have a better shot at the Lakers with Artest on board rather than Ariza.