Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles working to deal for Trevor Ariza

You have to know that LeBron James is going to get blamed for this right?

Let’s go back about a month to the start of the season. The Lakers were 2-5 and the walls were closing in on Luke Walton, LeBron James and the Lakers. The LeBron James dropped the NBA quote heard around the world until Kevin Durant took the honor this past week…

Then after that, Magic Johnson had a “meeting” with Luke Walton about the direction of the team, that led to speculation by many (myself included) that Walton was on the hot seat. Soon after that episode low and behold, the Suns buy out Tyson Chandler in an uncommon move in NBA circles and the Lakers sign him immediately.

Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Reasons Tyson Chandler will be signed

The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to sign Tyson Chandler after his buyout from the Phoenix Suns. Ronald Agers probes why the LA is signing the veteran.

This move has the “Six Degrees of Separation” written all over it. You see the interim GM of the Phoenix Suns is James Jones, who currently resides over the dumpster fire that is the roster in Phoenix. Right now they are front-runners in the Zion Willamson sweepstakes.

Plus he is one of LeBron James’ closest friends in the NBA…

Dave McMenamin of ESPN…

"There’s one working theory of why the Suns granted Chandler the buyout now instead of in February or March when the traditional wave of buyouts occur: Phoenix interim GM James Jones was a longtime teammate of LeBron’s in Miami and Cleveland. “James did LeBron a solid,” a league source told ESPN. When presented with the claim, LeBron said it was really Chandler who benefited the most. “He deserves all the credit,” he told ESPN of Jones. “He was very instrumental. He did right by Tyson as a veteran.” He then added more praise on Jones, whom he once called his “favorite player of all time” by telling ESPN that whenever he owns an NBA team down the line, he is saving a spot for Jones in his front office. “I told him he needs an opt-out clause wherever he’s at,” James said with a smile."

Umm…hookup? You be the judge.

Let’s get over to Trevor Ariza who is possibly being dealt to the Lakers this Saturday. Take a wild guess who he is close to in the Lakers organization?

No…not LeBron James, but Rob Pelinka. Remember Pelinka used to be Trevor Ariza’s agent before becoming the front office sidekick of Magic Johnson. Like Tyson Chandler, Trevor Ariza probably is packing a U-Haul as of this writing getting ready to go to L.A.

Remember what LeBron James said after the signing of Tyson Chandler…

"We love the fact that we’re going to get another veteran,” Lakers star LeBron James said. “A guy who plays hard, a guy who’s very smart and another champion to add to the champions that we have in this system here today, and it adds depth in our frontcourt, which we have had trouble with at times."

Umm let’s just say LeBron James wasn’t lying. Especially after the Atlanta game!

It seemed Rob Pelinka was happy too. Remember him?

Guess what…with the potential trade for Trevor Ariza, the Lakers potentially may have made the same impact in the backcourt and wing position as they did with the Chandler signing.

This seems ideal for everyone. The Suns are happy because they  can gain some cap space to strike out on potential free-agents that matter. Trevor Ariza is happy. He can get out of Phoenix so he can keep the reputation he built in Houston. Finally, there’s  the Lakers, who will gain the defensive identity to get out of the first round of the playoffs and keep their cap flexibility. Everyone is happy…

EXCEPT…