L.A. Lakers: Why L.A. Needs Ariza as Much as Ariza needs L.A.

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The Lakers need Ariza back.

Currently, the Lakers do not have another quick, young forward like Ariza that could fill his role if he leaves the team.

The other forwards on the 2008-09 Lakers roster include Josh Powell and Luke Walton. Both players saw time during the playoffs, but neither had the impact that Ariza did.

Odom is closest to Ariza in style of play and ability, which could explain why the Lakers think they can keep one and not the other.

However, there are problems with Odom. He will turn 30 this November, and he does not have Ariza's speed and agility. Keeping Odom over Ariza also seems strange when you consider that Odom was benched in favor of Andrew Bynum earlier in the 2008-09 season.

Point guard Derek Fisher stated in an interview that he would like to see the Lakers keep both men; losing just one player can dramatically change the chemistry of a team.

The Lakers won the NBA Finals because they played well together as a team. L.A. is not the Kobe Bryant Show—every player has an important role on the team. Disrupting this team chemistry could damage L.A.’s ability to win games.

Maybe it’s just not in the cards for Ariza to stay in L.A., maybe there just isn’t enough money.

But it does seem strange that this deal is not getting done.

Ariza has said that he would love to remain in L.A.; he also said that money is important but not the only thing he would take in to consideration. Ariza is a California native who went to college at UCLA and has been extremely pleased with the opportunity to play in his home state.

In addition to forming close bonds with the coaching staff and his teammates, Ariza has become a fan favorite.

All this considered, it seems strange that the Lakers cannot find a way to keep the promising player.

The Lakers are not a team who needs to free up money in order to gain missing pieces.

They have veterans and young guards like Bryant, Fisher, Shannon Brown, and Sasha Vujacic.

They also have the veteran forward/center Pau Gasol and an up-and-coming center in Bynum.

This means they have talent as well as insurance for the future.

Ariza is 24, which means he has a long career ahead of him and could play a big role in the future of the franchise. Keeping him would mean that the Lakers would not only have a championship-caliber team for next season but also for years to come.

Losing Ariza will not destroy the Lakers, but it will certainly hurt. Throughout the regular season and postseason, Ariza proved he can make shots and play clutch defense. He is also well-liked in L.A. by fans and players.

The Lakers should think twice before they say good-bye to Trevor Ariza.   

On the other hand, considering the team he would get to be a part of and how he has thrived in L.A. while struggling elsewhere, Ariza should be cautious before he leaves L.A.

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