Ariza Feeling Love from the Lakers

During a press conference yesterday (June 16) Trevor Ariza told the media he had just met with Lakers Coach Phil Jackson and General Manager Mitch Kupchak for his exit interview, signaling that the dust from the Lakers Championship win has settled and now the team is all business. Ariza, Jackson and Kupchak spoke about Ariza’s contribution toward helping the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals and also about his upcoming status as a free-agent. After making $3.1 million this season Ariza will get a pay raise when he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.

While the Lakers can give Ariza the longest contract (up to six years) and pay him the most of any NBA team, the Detroit Pistons have expressed an interest in acquiring him. The Pistons are below the salary cap and would trade small forward Tayshaun Prince if they were to sign Ariza, who confirmed that he was aware of the rumor saying, “Wherever I can help a team or if I feel like I’m loved or wanted, I wouldn’t mind [playing there]. Definitely stability will mean the most. Money is important. This is our job here. I’ve built a bond with my coaches and my teammates. We have a really good team and I think that we could be really good for a long time.” Ariza turns 24 this month and was a major factor for the Lakers this season, starting in 20 games at small forward and playing in all 82 regular-season games. When asked if he got the sense that Jackson and Kupchak wanted him to stay with the Lakers Ariza said, “Yeah, I definitely felt love. I felt a lot of love.” Read the full article at the LATimes.com.

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