Trevor Ariza Wants To Feel Wanted
July 2, 2009 – 7:45 am by Tas Melas
NBA players are human too – queue the piano. Hours before rumors were released that Trevor Ariza is leaving the Lakers for the Cavs, Ariza joined ESPN 710 in Los Angeles to share his thoughts on what he’s after in contract negotiations. If the rumor is true, and no sign-and-trade is involved, Los Angeles is offering the same amount of money as the Cavs. That implies that Trevor feels slighted by the team he helped put over the top a few weeks ago. It appears as though LA is willing to let Ariza walk if he doesn’t want to accept $5.8 million (length of the contract is fuzzy). Below, it seems as though Ariza simply wants to be appreciated, and after a breakout season, LA ain’t got enough love for his liking.
The Lakers are in a tough spot because they have a better player, albeit a 6 year older player, to re-sign in Lamar Odom. Teams and fans alike are extremely high on the 24-year-old Ariza after he performed beautifully on the national stage for the first time this regular / postseason. Ariza joined ESPN Los Angeles to discuss how negotiations are going, the number one factor in his upcoming decision, and what he’s learned in his journeys around the NBA.
How are the contract negotiations going?
“Ah, well, things have started, and it’s a business, so I understand their business side of it, and I have to do what I have to do as far as the business side of things too. It’s exciting and it’s a good experience for me. I’m learning a lot as I go.”
What will be the number one factor that will influence your upcoming decision?
“Just knowing that I’m wanted – I’m a part of a team and a team feels I can help them get to the next level, or even stay at the level that we’re at with the team that I was currently with.”
Hosts: So, if we offered you $50 million today, would you stay with the Lakers?
“What? I’d jump on that in a heartbeat. (Host: You’d take that 50 right now?) What? In a heartbeat.”
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from your stops in the NBA?
“Probably that nothing is ever, ever, ever gonna be easy. You’re gonna have to fight for everything you ever want, everything you ever get. I’ve experienced that with everything that I’ve received – even from a little boy, having to fight for everything I wanted. It hasn’t changed now, so, that would probably be the biggest thing: just staying focused on your goals and don’t let nobody tell you that you’re not worthy of anything.”
Listen to Trevor Ariza on ESPN 710 in Los Angeles (starts at 19:00)
Tags: Basketball, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Trevor Ariza
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