Worries About Trevor Ariza Dispelled

When Trevor Ariza arrived in a trade with Orlando last year there was some question as to how he would fit in with the Lakers, but by now he is fitting right in. Last year Brian Cook and Maurice Evans had just been traded to Orlando so the Lakers were concerned about the status of their second-unit chemistry. Add in the fact that no one really knew much about Ariza and you can see why the Lakers were worried. So here’s a little bio on Ariza: After excelling at Westchester High, he had a solid first season at UCLA before entering the 2004 draft (he was picked 44th overall by New York). In his fourth NBA season he was playing limited minutes after Orlando signed All-Star forward Rashard Lewis. When the Lakers acquired Ariza he was averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds but now the 23-year-old has been leading the Lakers with 1.95 steals per game and averaging 9.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in 24.2 minutes.

Lakers official Bill Bertka told the L.A. Times, “He’s something refreshing. He’s a lot like Michael Cooper was athletically.”  Ariza has been praised for his ability to create turnovers often capped with a dunk but has been inconsistent on his offense. Ariza told the Times, “It definitely helped me work on things that I wasn’t really [good] at doing–shooting the ball and trying to feel more confident on the court. I devoted all my [off-season] time to shooting. It was a seven-day-a-week thing.” Jackson didn’t start Ariza this season, but acknowledged his capability to play “heavier-type minutes than just bench minutes.” Ariza becomes an unrestricted free agent in July and it is unknown whether he will stay with the Lakers. The team will have the advantage of signing him for up to six years while other teams can only offer a max of five years, although Ariza is trying to focus on the present and not worry about the future, saying “When that time comes, it’ll be an exciting time. Hopefully things work out so I can stay home.”

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