Don't Cry for me Trevor Ariza...

Don’t cry for me Trevor Ariza…we kept our promise..You kept your distance…

Trevor and his agent figured that with those two steals and hitting 39% of his 3’s in the NBA Finals, local boy Ariza had earned more than a paltry $6 million per year for the Laker’s mid-level exemption. They were publicly upset with the Lakers making an offer after such Trevor’s spectacular five games in the finals. He was brilliant in the playoffs but he was average during the 82 games to get there. He was not a starter and it is not certain he would be next year even if Lamar leaves. Trevor, public outrage in LA gets you five years in Houston and a chalupa to be named later. You might want to check with Yao and see if he is playing next year because the reports are not good. And good luck getting a pass back from Tracy McGrady.

People forget that on national television in the finals of any professional sport extraordinary performances are exponentially remembered. It is like all statistics get multiplied by Pi for all of history. Trevor should maximize his return but he is going to miss LA. Mitch went all in on the first hand, sorry TA. Your agent did not read the situation quite right. Playing for $6 million a year for three years below the radar as the 3rd option on offense, in the town you played high school and college basketball is priceless.

In 1996, Larry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys was the MVP of the Super Bowl. He intercepted two passes and became the first cornerback ever to win the MVP of this game. He was a free agent and signed a lucrative contract with the un-lucrative Oakland Raiders. He played 12 more NFL games. Aaron Boone has secured employment every season since his historic walk off home run in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox until this season.

Trevor, we thought you should have never left UCLA after your freshman year when you were injured, young and injured. You did play in all 82 games this season but started only 20. You are Bruin success story in the NBA and it would be nice to see you in the purple and gold. But Artest is an upgrade for less money, bro. For $18 million over three years, the Lakers get to see how many more championships Kobe can will them with the wingman he has never had. For $33 million over five years, the Rockets get to find out if your five games of fame this past June will be repeated nightly next season. Be careful about giving unproven 24 year olds huge five year guaranteed contracts in the NBA.

Ron Artest is the disaster that never happened. He is a tough NYC kid who went to Saint John’s and was 1st team All Big East. He played against Rip Hamilton and Lamar Odom in the NCAA tournament that year. While with the Pacers in 2004, he went into the stands to attack a drunk that threw a beer on him and a teammate. He has behaved since that infamous November night in Detroit, eccentricities notwithstanding. These days, he gets in more trouble with his mouth than his elbows. He is no saint but he is out of the news and down in the paint.

Compared to the sinewy Ariza, Artest is 6’7” and 260 pounds of inside out with an attitude. He averaged 16 points and 5 boards while shooting 40% from beyond the arc last season. He was a lock down defender and had fourteen games that he scored more than 24 points last year. Ariza averaged 9 points, 4.3 rebounds and scored over 20 points once all season. Ariza, Walton, and Fisher were all terrible for long stretches spotting up beyond the line for kick outs from Gasol, Odom and Kobe. Trevor hit his threes in the Finals but he would disappear for games at a stretch during the season. Grinders get you to the finals where heroes sometimes emerge.

Lamar, the Trevor deal was a clear shot across your Snickers bar. If you want to hang in LA, play the Ron Harper role for Phil, be a big dog in this great sports town while making solid Benjamins, have your agent pump the brakes a bit. You and Ronnie A. go way back to NY AAU ball together. This could be priceless and be careful, Mitch seems a little pissy and quick on the leverage. Sometimes you have to be careful in what you wish for in life.


"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Lou Gehrig July 4, 1939.