not a championship level move. why would they bother?
Keep him away from Houston (and other West contenders).
There's been rumors since Ariza signed in the summer that he'd be bought out and return to Houston.
Hate to wake up that sleeping giant.
Ariza is the big winner here. Sign a $15 million contract and then get traded to or bought out + signed by a mini-contender.
Sounds like the new handbook from the NBPA where the inmates run the asylum.
Good team doesn’t have the money to resign quality vet, so let them go get paid by a scrub team and after a few months be disgruntled and demand to be bought out. Give up a couple mil to get it back from new team.
Gotta love the new NBA.
I never understand the ownership take vs the player take. Yeah, we should try to pick on young guys that may have come from a poor upbringing versus the Wyc Grousbeck/ Jeannie Buss types- people that inherited a ton of money. I will never understand why people would rather favor Goliath over David. I guess it helps to have a diversity of opinions though...
RE: Ariza- I don't think this will move the needle. I do, however, see the Lakers as a top 5 team in the West, which is different than my pre-season prediction. If I'm Magic, I'd also look to improve the team as quickly as possible. While Lebron may hold his value like Tom Brady, I'm guessing its a long shot. I'd trade Brandon Ingram as soon as possible. I'm sure the Wolves wish they did the same with Wiggins.
It’s pretty simple to me. Ownership gives players guaranteed contracts. They agree to pay them every penny regardless of how they perform. Does Philly get a refund on Fultz? Can they cut him and not owe him over $9 million next season?
But players feel they don’t have to uphold their end of the contract, for whatever reason. Jimmy Butler refusing to report to camp, missing all of preseason, then deciding when he would play/sit just proves players can do whatever they want, and then get rewarded.
In football, it’s different. I’m much more understanding of what Le’Veon Bell did with Pittsburgh than anything that transpires in the NBA nowadays.
What reason should Phoenix buy out Ariza? Didn’t he agree to $15M (more than any good team could possibly offer) to join them? Did he expect to contend?