Lakers Rumors: Wing players to make this Cleveland Cavaliers west

Trevor Ariza left Houston for big money, I think he misses winning

Trevor Ariza was another player that the Lakers were very close to getting last year. Ariza cashed in his accomplishments in Houston and signed a one-year, $15 million dollar contract in Phoenix.

It didn’t take long after his name got in the computer system that things weren’t working out at all in the desert. After the Suns GM got fired literally five minutes before the season started and was replaced by James Jones, it seemed the mission statement of keeping veterans on the team was blotted out. When Tyson Chandler was bought out, the Lakers got him immediately.

The conspiracy theories around those circumstances came out immediately according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

"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."

That deal made the Suns look really bad around the NBA. The Lakers thought they had a deal done to acquire Ariza but…

Now that Trevor Ariza is an unrestricted free agent, Robert Sarver will not be interfering. Ariza is a perfect candidate who could possibly join the team for the veteran’s minimum. He would be perfect for a team that needs a wing defender that will play defense every single night.

After that nightmare in Phoenix, the Lakers can sell Ariza on playing for a championship that slipped by him in Houston. It bears mentioning that many of Houston’s issues started with replacing Ariza’s defensive prowess with Carmelo Anthony’s scoring abilities. The Rockets loss can definitely be the Lakers’ gain.

Plus, what gets lost in what Trevor Ariza brings is championship pedigree. Remember he was on the Lakers last title team in 2009.

Let’s take a look back before we move on.