Umm, that is exactly what he was in LA as well. I don't get it, why is Ariza getting so much hate. Do you guys seriously thought he was going to be able handle a higher offensive load? I would not be opposed to Budinger starting with Ariza at the small forward for the season. I say we throw Budinger into the fire he appears to be ready. He is a joy to watch.
I don't get why people don't want Ariza to keep shooting and be an integral part of this offense. Scenario where we try to develop Ariza's offensive game Possible outcome A: Ariza develops Iggy style and becomes a solid #3 or even #2 scoring option on this team Possible outcome B: Ariza doesn't develop and goes back to being a role player when Yao and T-Mac(or FA that replaces T-Mac) comes back the following season. Scenario where we just keep Ariza as a role player Only outcome: Ariza doesn't develop, broods about how he never ever gets a chance, and goes back to being a role player when Yao and T-Mac(or FA that replaces T-Mac) comes back the following season. Am I the only one who sees absolutely no harm in trying to develop Ariza, as opposed to just keep him in the same role as he was with the Lakers?
I see Ariza as the next Robert Horry, by the end of his career he'll have multiple rings and lets hope at least one is with the ROCKETS. Ariza is the only reason the Lakers snuck by the Rockets last season. He helped them be a half step ahead and thats the difference from the winners and the loosers.
It's not 2 games. It's 6 years and I watched him at UCLA where he was the third or fourth option at best on a bad team. He will NOT be carrying this team in the fourth quarter is no way a "go to" guy. He couldn't start on some pretty bad NBA teams and has been in the league for a while now. Be satisfied with good defense, hitting some open shots, and baskets in transition. A very important role player on a contending team.
gotta admit ariza's been dissapointing. the way he's playing now in preseason will most likely be how he looks during the season.
It's ok guys. Artest went 2-7 today, including 0-4 from downtown. At least he's been consistent with his form following on from the Lakers series in the playoffs.
This thread reminds me of the Stomile Swift thread years ago when yall thought he was going to be the next Kenyon Martin. This guy might end up being some salary dump with a pick again for another player when the lottery roles around. Remind you Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift for Shane Battier deja-vu. no just kidding who knows give it time.
Ok everyone needs to take a chill pill. First of all, this is just the preseason. Who cares if Ariza shoots 1-100? Let him take a million shots it'll help him become more familiar in Adelman's system. Secondly, people who are accusing him of not becoming a star are missing the point. We are paying him mid-level, and that's the kind of money you give to elite roleplayers. As Morey already said, Ariza is worth his contract just on defense alone. If he can give us anything on offense that is gravy. Finally, people who are saying we could just save the money don't know what they're talking about. We essentially used the mid-level to sign Ariza. IIRC the mid-level is given every year so we'll still have it again next year. I'm not 100% positive but I think you can't combine it with capspace, so we can't use it to increase he offer to a free agent next season as well.
I think your right. MLE is an exception that a team can use up every other season, we did not use it last season i do not think. Is this correct i could be wrong.
You can use the mid level every off season... It is available to every team over the salary cap. The midlevel can be spent on multiple players. Last year, we signed Dorsey and matched Landry's offer with most of it. The season before that Scola and Francis. This offseason, Andersen, Budinger, and Taylor were signed. The bi-annual exception can only be used every other year. This is the $1.9 million exception or the "low" level exception (we signed Barry with this last year, hence why we didn't use it this offseason). It will be available once again next offseason
I don't think it's anything against Ariza. He is a limited player and that should be well known. He was overhyped though, on THIS board. A lot of people were mentioning things like "second option" on offense and him being the second best player on a good team, etc. There's a Robert Horry comparison right here in this thread - claiming he was the reason Lakers got by the Rockets last year. That is just ridiculous.
In listening to Daryl Morey, he says in a couple different interviews that the players he expects to really step up for us on offense are Brooks and Lowry. Ariza might have an increased role, but the Rockets aren't counting on him to make a big leap in offensive productivity.
Exactly. Some people here talk like Morey brought him in as a go to guy. I never had this impression from Morey.
