Cook, Evans traded for Ariza
November 20th, 2007, 3:30 pm · 3 Comments · posted by KEVIN DING, OCREGISTER.COM
INDIANAPOLIS — The Lakers know they can score. The still-evolving defense got a gift Tuesday that ideally isn’t just for the future.
Los Angeles native Trevor Ariza – a 6-foot-8, 210-pound small forward who played one season at UCLA – was acquired in trade for what the Lakers believe are expendable, offensive-minded parts in shooting guard Maurice Evans and power forward Brian Cook.
“He gives us a dimension we don’t have, which is a defensively player at that position,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said of Ariza, 22.
The trade allows the Lakers to get out from under the contract extension they gave Cook, who has remained a woeful defensive liability, with still three years and $10.5 million due. The net result for the Lakers is that they save about $2 million salary for this season — which is really $4 million because they are over the NBA luxury-tax threshold of $67.865 million. The trade – which works salary-wise because Cook was a base-year compensation player and Orlando held a $2.6 million trade exception — leaves the Lakers paying just $1 million in luxury tax.
“I’m excited,” Ariza told The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m going home.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson envisions Ariza, a limited shooter, as a defensive helper who can relieve Kobe Bryant against some bigger perimeter scorers such as Tracy McGrady.
Jackson said Sasha Vujacic, who had an outstanding training camp, is “perfectly capable” of playing Evans’ normal backup minutes to Bryant. Rookie Javaris Crittenton will also get occasional looks in that spot.
“I’m ready, and they know that I’m ready,” Vujacic said.
The relatively young Lakers wind up even younger with Ariza, but their hope is that Ariza – in his fourth NBA season – is ready to offer, in Jackson’s words, “a little bit something different” on a roster with pretty much everyone else fully literate in the triangle offense.
“I’m not going to go out there and say he’s going to be our lockdown defender,” Kupchak said. “He might not play. It might take him a while to get acclimated to what we do.”
November 20th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
I want to believe this is a good move, but is it just the Buss family trying to save money? Cook hasn’t seem like he’s been on board for a while, but I will miss Mo Evans.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:14 am
Great move buss family!!!!!! Ariza brings defense, great shooting stroke, and also creating his own shot. Brian Cook and Mo Evans weren’t doing anything on offense and were a little shaky on defense. Yeah you feel bad when someone that has been there for more than 4 years leaves, but hey this is business and you fo to move on. Ariza will be a great contributor for this now laker explosive offense, just give him time to adjust to this new system. Again Great Move!!!!!!!!management!
November 21st, 2007 at 10:19 am
Well what can I say….other than this is an awesome trade and the lakers get the better of this trade. They get an explosive forward out of UCLA who wasn’t getting a lot of minutes in Orlando because of the trade for rashard lewis….don’t be surprise if he gets the award of most improve player if he gets the minutes with phil jackson.