Where the Lakers should go next, if Ariza bids adieu
According to different on-line reports published yesterday …
Trevor Ariza is now actively looking for greener pastures in which to ply his trade next season.
According to yours truly THAT specific move would be a colossal mistake in judgment … should he land anywhere but in Cleveland, as the principal side-kick to King James.
At present, Mr. Ariza is in the perfect situation for himself … playing and developing his skills at the side of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Luke Walton, Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, et al., under the expert leadership of the ZenMaster.
Should he choose to give THAT up … in wanton pursuit of greed “more money” … and touch-down with a different team, other than the Cavaliers … there’s a more than fair chance he will play the remainder of his career without winning another NBA Title.
That said …
If you look at this list of current Free Agents [courtesy of the excellent blog nbaroundtable, operated by Dave]:
2009 NBA Free Agent List - Part Two
… and you’ve actually taken the time to read some or all of what’s been written on various web sites under the name of “khandor” … you should be able to identify those few names which the Lakers SHOULD actively pursue, as a cost-effective replacement for a highly serviceable Wing player like T-Ariza … who seems to be lacking a certain measure of humility and intelligence, at this most interesting stage of his still young career in the NBA … given the financial crunch that Los Angeles finds itself in at the present time.
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Q1. Can you guess those few names correctly?
A1. Methinks, at least, some of you have the ability to do just THAT.
[Hint: Who are the long, relatively athletic Wing players on that list that can defend multiple positions, rebound, run the floor, make occasional jump shots, pass and cut within the Triangle Offense and, perhaps most importantly, also assume a deferential role with the Lakers to the personalities of Black Mamba, et al., at a salary level which would allow LA to keep the rest of their team intact for the coming campaign, in pursuit of back-to-back championships? It really shouldn't be that difficult to figure out.]
PS. The irony involved in a situation like THAT … i.e. for Raptors fans … would simply be outrageous. 
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Answers [spelled in reverse]: semaJ, notelgniS; oiramaJ, nooM; tnarG, lliH; yeoJ, maharG; and, yendoR, yenraC.
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* PLEASE NOTE: On the other hand, should T-Ariza actually end up with an outfit like the Portland Trail Blazers, in place of, let’s say, Hedo Turkoglu … that would mean that both he and Kevin Pritchard are, in fact, as smart as this corner of the net had previously given them credit for being.
Tags: Andrew Bynum, Derek Fisher, Hedo Turkoglu, Jordan Farmar, Kevin Pritchard, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Lebron James, Luke Walton, Mitch Kupchak, Mystery Player I, Mystery Player II, Mystery Player III, Mystery Player IV, Mystery Player V, nbaroundtable, Pau Gasol, Phil Jackson, Sasha Vujacic, Trevor Ariza