Indians Destroy A’s, Sign of Things to Come?
July 4, 2009Independence Day Open Thread
July 4, 2009
When the rumors came flying around just two days ago that the Cavaliers were pushing hard after SF Trevor Ariza, I was absolutely ecstatic. Watching Ariza over the past few years, I have taking a liking to his game and I thought he would be the absolutely perfect swingman for Mike Brown’s rotation. He would slide Daniel Gibson a little farther back down the line, enable the Cavs to play big with an all-Defensive team of Delonte, Ariza, LeBron and Andy, and would provide some clutch shooting whenever needed. Considering the fact the Rockets signed him to the same MLE we had to offer, this one stings pretty badly as I know that he will only get better in the years to come.
A one and done player with UCLA, the Knicks made him the 14th selection in the second round of the 2004 Draft, and coming into the league everyone knew that Ariza would be an athletic wingman and he was just filled with offensive potential. In his first season with the Knicks, he found himself plenty of opportunities, playing in 80 games while average 17.3 minutes per contest and starting 12 games as well. But that was before Larry Brown described him as “delusional” in a more than dysfunctional season for the Knickerbockers that led to Ariza playing in only 36 games before being shipped to Orlando along with Penny Hardaway for the once talented Steve Francis.
Over the next two full calendar years with the Magic, Ariza played in only 89 contests while averaging about 19 minutes per game. It was during this time that I finally started noticing his improved play, as per 48 minutes of playing time with Orlando he averaged about 2.2 steals, showing how as a 6-8, 200 pound forward he could defend some of the top guys in the league. The recently turned 24-year-old never got his big break however, until another trade just a year and a half ago to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans.
He played every single game for the champion Lakers this regular season, as well as 24 games last year. Off the bench or as a starter, he is a rare breed in the NBA: a young wingman with the ability to guard four positions on the court along with his athletic prowess as a dunker. He is arguably most famous for his success this year in the playoffs, and in 35 career playoff games he is now shooting 46.6% from threes along with averaging 8.2 points and 3.3 rebounds a game. The per game numbers throughout his career have not been the most stunning, but he still clearly has the potential to improve his offensive game given more opportunities.
This season, he will join a Houston Rockets team that has Yao Ming out for the season, and Tracy McGrady without a role in the franchise’s long-term plans. Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Shane Battier, and Carl Landry will be the main minute-eaters for them this season, meaning that Ariza will have plenty of opportunities to shine in his new role offensively. Unlike Ron Artest, who commonly takes and misses a ton of bad shots, especially from threes, Ariza does not need the ball in his hands in order to be effective. In his time with LA he averaged 8.4 points on 6.6 field goal attempts per game, but now you can expect him to get plenty of more shots for the Rockets as they hope to compete for one of the last playoff spots in the West.
I sincerely think that Ariza will be in the running for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in 2009-2010 as he takes on a much larger role with the Rockets. He would have been a perfect signing for the Cavaliers this season, but the aspirations of a starting role on a middle-of-the-order playoff team were obviously just what he was looking for. I hope that Danny Ferry was at least offering Ariza the exact same contract and although he won’t be a Cavalier, here is to you Trevor Ariza in hopes that you prove me right and the others wrong on yourfat payday.
16 Comments
Windy is reporting that the Cavs offered the exact same thing as the Rockets – 5 years at the MLE and that Ariza went with Houston. Now, granted, that could be just Ferry (or his people) trying to make themselves look better, but if the story is true, then you can’t blame the Cavs.
Glad the Cavs didnt get him for five years. Role player. I think Barnes can do the same things for half the price/years. Very happy about this.
This article doesn’t have much of a point.
Ariza was exactly what the Lakers needed this year: a guy to take less than 8 shots a game, space the floor (not drive/not create his own shot), and knock down open threes. Ariza and Pietrus had very similar seasons (Pietrus’ though was obviously much shorter due to injury), and they are almost identical players. Neither of course is worthy of a 5 YEAR DEAL. While obviously his defense is a big benefit, he’s not the difference between us winning the ring and not. No one in this FA class is, and that’s why its great that Detroit just threw 80 million at two guys who won’t get them any closer to competing in the East.
Here’s to going after Millsap, Parker, or Barnes. At this point we need defensive help down low (especially if we lose Andy) WAY MORE than anything else, or next year we’ll spend the two months after the season freaking out about how we couldn’t defend the pick-and-roll just like we are about how we couldn’t guard Rashard.
Go Cavs. Here’s to one more great year from the King before he rides off to the big leagues
I agree with the first line of #3/shotgun’s comment.
First of all, there is absolutely no way the Cavaliers will sign Paul Millsap. Between the Thunder, Blazers and other teams that actually have cap room, someone will give him a substantial deal that will be way more than the MLE. Anthony Parker at 33 is declining fast while Barnes is an up-and-down player with no real defensive talent.
I was just saying that Trevor Ariza will be very good and at 24 years old, has the potential to be the best player emerging from this free agent class. He would have been a great sign for the Cavs and I am upset that he took the exact same money to sign with Houston instead.
Sasha > Ariza
There is no way any sane team would give Ariza that kind of money. He is a 6th-8th man and if the Cavs want him that bad they can wait 2-3 years when the Rockets are trying to dump the salary.
The reason Ariza signed with Houston instead of Cleveland is simple. His good playoff run gave him a big head and big ego. He wants to be The Man of a team to earn a bigger contract in 5 years. Being a role player again in Cleveland does not help him reach this goal. Being a main player on a fiddling-maybe-playoff team does. Now – lets see if he can deliver……
Can I have a link where Windy said the Cavs offered him same deal?
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2009/07/even_with_lebron_and_shaq_cava.html
A source said the Cavs presented the exact same offer to Ariza as the Houston Rockets, five years at the mid-level, which is expected to be around $33 million total.
David Lee, his agent, told NBA.com that Ariza turned down more money than that from the Toronto Raptors, who potentially had the cap space to exceed the mid-level exception. So Ariza apparently liked the fit in Houston even though the Rockets may be without stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady for much of next season.
Sheesh, what is the big deal with Ariza? The dude is on his FOURTH team at age 24, doesn’t that tell you that at his core he is viewed as slightly better than a journeyman? If this guy was all that, why did the Lakers not even break a sweat in letting him walk? How much of his contribution was due to his ROLE on an extremely talent laden Lakers team?
The Lakers will replace him without problem, and let the Rockets have him at a five year deal-he just might be their five year Ira Newble contract. We can and will do better.
What the heck is the big deal over Trevor Ariza? Cmon…….get over this one, it’s not significant. And…….the CAVS made their play and cannot be faulted for that. For my money, I’d prefer Linus Kleiza-he’s 6’8″, rugged, and can knock down shots with three point range; a role player that can be had for far less commitment.
Keep the faith with Gilbert and Ferry, ok? Let them compete this offseason before you pass judgement. Trevor Ariza………cmon man, get serious.
@ nicko – twitter.com/pdcavsinsider
Seriously, if you want the best Cavs inside reporting you can get, Windy’s Twitter account is about as good as one can get. Other NBA sources are good as well but for Cavs specific news, that’s where it be.
hey guys i dont understand why we (almost) never talk about theses guys :brandon bass, drew gooden(as a back up PF he’d b nice) grant hill, linas kleiza(this talk has started a lil) and i dont know why but the talk around matt barnes has died away! Those are FA that i wouldnt mind seeing in a cavs uniform and for instance i’d rather have matt barnes instead of shawn marion and his ego!
Thanks Denny. Yeah I do the twitter but nothing is being sent to my phone or anything so I miss some.
I can’t believe Ferry would give this guy 33 mil for five years…
Isis, the Lakers actually gave Ariza first dip in the Artest deal. Ariza turned down the Lakers, the Cavs, and even the Raptors that offered him more money. He obviously thinks that the Rocs is a better fit for him. The Rocs are in defacto rebuilding, and locking up a young player with a lot of upside for the MLE is a sound approach. Ariza is probably getting what he is worth, and even if he stops improving his games, is still a good role players. Too bad the Rocs lost Artest. He is obviously joining a greener pasture.
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