Trevor Ariza: What Kid From LA Would Wanna Leave LA?
July 8, 2009 – 10:00 am by Tas Melas
It seemed like a story designed only in the movies. Trevor Ariza was finally given the playing time to shine by the Lakers – everyone believed his future years would be riding as sidekick to Kobe and Pau, riding off on their horses with multiple gold trophies, side, by side, by side. Instead, something peculiar happened. Apparently Ariza’s camp didn’t like what was offered by LA, they started looking elsewhere and before they knew it, Ron Artest took Ariza’s role in the film. Many blame Ariza’s agent, David Lee, for not handling negotiations properly. In a previous interview, Ariza said he simply wanted to feel the love from the team he would ultimately sign a contract with. Love lost in LA, but found in Houston. Ariza joined KLAC to discuss if he would change anything about the negotiation process, what happened exactly, why Houston, and if he would have rather stayed in California.
Can you tell us what happened in these negotiations?
“Well, it was kind of a complicated thing… It was one of those things, I don’t know, it’s kind of hard to explain, man. From my understanding was that, they told me that my worth was like the mid-level (approx. 5.8 million) or whatever, and to go find an offer or whatever, they would match it or whatever the situation was. But, then the next day or whatever, I heard that Artest had dinner with (Jerry) Buss and they came to an agreement.”
Would you have done anything different in retrospect?
“I don’t think so; I don’t think I did anything wrong. I really don’t think I did anything wrong in this situation. They signed Ron Artest on the 1st, or the 2nd or whatever, and free agency opened up on the 1st, so I don’t think there was very much I could do.”
Why Houston and what do you expect your role to be?
“Houston is because it’ll be, for me, to be closer to my son or whatever the situation is with that, and closer to my family. They were gonna give me an opportunity to do more on the court and expand my game as a player. And, for me to understand what it’s like where I’m playing in a situation where I’m getting more opportunity.”
Did you choose to go to Houston or would you rather have stayed?
“What kid from LA would wanna leave LA? I had no control with that. The business side isn’t always the pleasant side – you’re not always gonna hear what you wanna hear in the side of the business, and that’s just something you gotta deal with. Like you said, I turn 24 on the 30th, I have to learn early and I’m fine with this.”
Were you in the room for the negotiations?
“That’s what I’m trying to say. I don’t think there was any negotiation – we wasn’t in the room, we wasn’t in anything. There wasn’t any negotiation.”
Listen to Trevor Ariza on KLAC
Tags: Basketball, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza
