Lakers Sign Ron Ron, Ariza to the Rockets

Before I get to the Lakers addition of Ron Artest, I want to talk about the failed negotiations between Ariza's camp and the Lakers. Here is my best guess, and some reporters guess too, as to what happened. When the Free Agency period began at midnight on July 1st, the Lakers contacted Ariza's agent David Lee. Instead of making an offer over the midlevel exception, the Lakers told Lee to see what was out there with other teams, and then come back with an offer for the Lakers to match. This infuriated Ariza and Lee, who wanted the Lakers to show appreciation for Trevor's contributions to the title run by offering him a contract over the midlevel exception of 5.6 million. The reason for the Lakers stance in my opinion: They knew they had a shot at Ron Artest, who himself was going through failed negotiations with the Houston Rockets. When Artest became available, the Lakers jumped at the chance to add one of the best two-way players in the NBA. I'm sure the Lakers would have loved to retain Ariza, but the addition of Artest was just too tempting. And I completely agree. Here's why...

• For starters, Bill Plaschke thinks the Lakers made a mistake. That's a great sign for Lakers fans as Plaschke is almost always wrong.
• It pretty much assures everyone that Phil Jackson is coming back next season. The Lakers wouldn't add a character like Artest without being sure of the Zen Master's presence on the bench (or in his throne).
• Many championship teams get complacent during the following offseason. GM's become nervous to break up any piece of the team due to the fear of fan reaction. But the truth is that retaining status quo after a championship run can be a bad decision. When everyone else in the league is getting better (see: Spurs, Celtics, Magic, and Cavs), it's important not to assume what you currently have is enough to win it again. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchap is taking a chance on Artest, but it is undeniable that Artest makes the Lakers significantly better than Ariza would.
• Artest is a lock-d0wn defender. He isn't nearly as quick as he was in his younger years (although he isn't exactly old, he'll be 30 in November), but he won't have to guard the quick 2-guards with Kobe by his side. If the Lakers make it to the Finals, and face either the Cavs or Celtics, they now have a defender that can match LeBron James and Paul Pierce physically. As much havoc as Ariza wreaks on defense, most of his great defense comes from the off-ball position. He isn't strong enough to lock down the stronger wings in the league (Carmelo lit the Lakers up in a few games in the Conference Finals). Artest is a great on-ball defender. So there is an immense upgrade.
• Toughness will no longer be an issue. If anyone messes with Kobe or Pau, they will have Artest to deal with. Artest is enormous (6'7" and 260 pounds) and is one of the more physical players in the league. I expect the Lakers to have a nasty side now that they added Ron-Ron. I like it. The Celtics won a title with this attitude and it's a big reason why they will compete again if KG comes back healthy. If the Lakers can match their attitude, Ron Artest will be a big reason why
• The Lakers have a five year title window. Kobe is 30. Pau is 28. Lamar is 29. Yes Bynum and Farmar are young, but the core of this team is in their prime. Maximizing the talent around them is essential during the next few years. The Lakers are adding a star in Ron Artest. Yes, Ariza is only 24. But youth doesn't completely matter in the Lakers case. They are trying to win multiple titles in the next five years, and after that they will pay their dues. Honestly, if the Lakers win a couple more titles in the next five to six years, will anyone care if they have a down period afterwards? I sure won't. That's why I love this signing.
• Ron Artest has been known to take some pretty bad shots. This fact is undeniable. Anyone who watched the Western Conference Semifinals was subject to seeing Artest hoisting some horrendous shots at the basket. I don' t think that will be a major issue in L.A. Artest will be, at best, the third option on the Lakers. In Houston, he was considered the number one perimeter guy once T-Mac went down. He was reponsible for initiating the offense, and as a result he constantly had to make plays and handle the ball. In L.A., I expect him to take better shots, and get a lot of easy looks playing alongside Kobe, Pau, and L.O. If he can space the floor and knock down open 3's, as well as make the hustle plays that Ariza did, he will fit in great. However, he can also initiate the offense if Kobe is on the bench. He is an underrated passer and I expect Laker fans to be pleasantly surprised by his offensive playmaking.

As you can probably infer, I am a big fan of this signing. From an emotional viewpoint, losing Ariza sucks. But the writing was on the wall after reports came out that he was upset. Trevor got his money with the Rockets (5 years, 33 million) and in exchange he will play with a mediocre team sans T-Mac and Yao. He made his own bed. The Lakers are moving on with a better player. Ariza had a memorable stint with the Lakers (it's crazy that it was only one full year), and he had become a fan favorite. It's sad that the he won't be able to fulfill his potential as a Laker. But this is the way the business of basketball works. And now the Lakers have improved their title chances over the next few years. That's nothing to get upset about. Instead, we should be celebrating.