Are we just going to ignore the pretty good season Trevor Ariza is having?

if that is true then that was a very pragmatic signing. I like it. Just shows Morey is constantly thinking on a multitude of levels for success

 

Uh, who?

 

I agree. This is definitely a benefit of "treating his players like assets." It allows Morey to make much more objective assessment of his players than a typical GM. And he doesn't let sunk cost affect his decisions.

 

Yes, we're going to just ignore Trevor Ariza's pretty good season.

 

Why are people dogging Morey for signing Ariza to that contract? It might have been a mistake if Morey hadn't traded him while he still had good trade value, but he got Courtney Lee out of it. Any time you can trade a recent free agent signing for anything of value, you've done a good job. Also, a lot was expected of Ariza, but don't forget he was signed for the MLE. He didn't become the star we hoped he would, but he wasn't paid like one anyway.

 

Bingo.

Ariza was always a defender who could shoot if left open. He has weak handles but he has the athleticism to get to the basket in one dribble if you close out too hard on him. He was paid fairly for a young two way player that we hoped could grow into a role. You usually have to pay a little extra to get guys to leave their team. He would've been great for us if we still had Yao at the time. Obviously it didn't work out but that situation was remedied very quickly. I still like him as a player.

 

This.


In the first 4 seasons after signing his current contract, Trevor Ariza shot 40.3% from the field and 33.2% from 3.

Now in the last season of his deal he's shooting 46.7% from the field and 42.3% from the field.

This is a typical contract year situation. He basically blew off the previous 4 years, not working on his shot in the off season, etc. And then contract year comes around and he puts in a summer of work. The numbers reflect it.

Anybody that gives Ariza a long-term deal this summer is stupid.

But I'd trade for him as an expiring contract if he would agree to a non-guaranteed extension. But Ariza won't do that. He's looking to get paid again. And as such he's got to be free come July 1 to maximize his chances of getting a bigger deal.

 

Ariza wasn't a good move by Morey's standard. But he is definitely not the worst mistake. Terence Williams was by far Morey's worst trade. And Royce White was his biggest draft bust. A distance second would be Joey Dorsey.

 

Dorsey was a 2nd round pick, you can't really call him a bust.

 

lol it's been 4 years, Rockets dont have that kind of time to wait.

 

Contract year is a motivation to play harder, but something happened to his 3pt shot. It's not like he only takes 2 a game and waits for high quality shots. He's chucking like crazy and hitting a much higher percentage. I don't watch enough Wiz games, but my guess is that Wall is just playing better and the team is just playing better, leading to higher quality shots + Ariza must have changed something about his stroke.

Anyhow, my fantasy team hasn't ignored him. It did take awhile to believe the stats though, bc I kept thinking his 3pt% has to fall...but it hasn't yet.

 

:grin:

 

Ummmmmm, yeah.

 

Don't 'advanced stats' take contract years into account?

 

i hate ariza one of the most frustrating rocket ive watched

 

What about Scottie Quitten 2.0?

 

I do think there are lots of decisions that came about because Les isn't willing to pay, isn't willing to tank, isn't willing to do this that.

But Morey is the dummy for all the criticism that otherwise would be directed at the owner but that is the fact.

Folks do usually blame someone for the mistakes.

 

Wait, what? Ariza wasn't exactly an old faded star, he was just coming off a stellar performance in the playoffs where he shot 40% from round 1 till the end and played really, really good defense. Considering he was 26 at the time I think it wasn't that big a stretch to think he would keep up that production. More importantly we didn't give up anything to get him except cap space, and the contract we signed him for wasn't that large either (around MLE range). Even if he didn't pan out, we shipped him out and then no blood no foul.

I agree with the other poster T-Will was a much bigger mistake because the upside wasn't that great to begin with (due to character concerns), and we gave up a lottery pick for him. For me though Morey's biggest mistake was passing on Batum. IIRC we had the pick and got him...but traded him for pieces that ultimately became Greene and Dorsey. LOL what a horrible move that was.

 

15 points
11 rebounds
6 steals
...in a W over Detroit tonight

 

Ding ding ding!
I was about to say that.