So Ron, But it Feels So Right

Ron Artest to the Lakers, Trevor Ariza to the Rockets.

Wow.

If you asked me yesterday to list out the 100 most likely scenarios for Ariza's signing and the Lakers' subsequent signing of a replacement for him, this would not have cracked that list.

It makes sense and it absolutely doesn't.

What makes sense:
- The only advantage Ariza has over Artest is his age - 24 and 29, respectively. Artest is more physical. Though Ariza improved, Artest shoots the 3 point shot much better. Ariza is a solid defender, but there are few defenders in NBA history better than Artest.
- Artest comes DIRT CHEAP. 3 years, $6 million a year! Here are some other players making between $6 million and $7 million next year:
Vlad Radmanovic
Nazr Mohammed
DeSagana Diop
Jeff Foster
Dan Gadzuric
Tony Battie
Morris Peterson
Chris Duhon
Earl Watson
Jason Kapono
- Who was the last "crazy NBA guy" before Ron Artest? Who did Ron Artest wear 91 in honor of, when he was in Indiana? Dennis Rodman. Who was the one man able to tame said "crazy NBA guy"? Phil Jackson.

What doesn't make sense:
- Artest is good, but he's somewhat reached his peak. Ariza can get much better...AND HE DOESN'T DO THINGS THAT WOULD LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE HE'S CRAZY!!!
- Phil Jackson is most likely going to come back, but you would think that after this year, the Lakers are Kurt Rambis's team. Can Kurt Rambis handle Ron Artest? I suppose having Kobe there could help, much like having Jordan helped reel in Rodman, but I don't know. The next coach is going to have his hands full.
- Why would Trevor Ariza turn down the Lakers' $5.8 million, only to accept Houston's $5.8 million? To spite them? I suppose it makes sense. He could have signed with Cleveland, but then he wouldn't get to play the Lakers two more times. Someone (his agent, friends, media, me) got it in his head that he was going to get a raise more to the tune of $7- or $8-million a year, rather than the midlevel exception of $5.8 million, and his pride was hurt when the Lakers didn't offer a generous raise.
**by the way, the midlevel exception means that any team can use a set amount of money (the average salary of all NBA players, this year $5.8 million) to sign free agents even if the team is over the salary cap, or if signing that free agent would have put the team over the salary cap.**

An alternative explanation is that the Lakers never really made an offer to Ariza, only hinting that they would only offer a mid-level deal to gauge his interest, and went for Artest as soon as he became available. This would hurt my feelings too, if I was Trevor Ariza. You are an essential cog in a team's championship run, and they spurn you for someone who does things to lead people to believe he's crazy.

All in all, I think this move will prove to be a positive one for the Lakers ONLY IF they can re-sign Lamar Odom. This gives the Lakers a solid option in the off chance that Ron Artest somehow gets himself into trouble and is unable to play or suspended from playing.

This NBA offseason is ridiculous so far. A lot of teams are going to look so different. I love it.