The Ariza/Artest Switch: Why It Benefits ALL Involved

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Some people may say that “Ariza needs LA” or visa versa but the truth is they are better off without each other.

Ariza is a young talented player. Last season he completed a goal that not many players get the chance to do, win a championship. Now that he has done that he has to fulfill the personal goal that all players have, that is to improve. Ariza will develop much faster in Houston than he would in La. Why?

Because after losing their first option on offense Yao Ming to a possible career ending injury the Rockets need a young core of players like Ariza and Scola to build a team for the future around, and with Yao gone Ariza will be one of the go to guys unlike when he was on the star studded Lakers. Players who have added responsibility and playing time develop far faster than ones who don’t (see Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard). So Ariza gets what he needs and the Rockets get what they need. Everything works out great.

Artest is a 30 year old veteran who is hungry for a ring, and he sure wasn’t gonna win one with the Rockets. Artest was willing to take a pay cut to play on the best team in the world and have a crack at winning a championship. This was the best thing he could of done for himself.

This move to LA unites him with Kobe Bryant who might have seemed like his worst enemy during the Lakers-Rockets series but in reality they are friends who hang out in the off-season and have great respect for one another. But it isn’t just Ariza, the Rockets, Artest and Kobe that benefit from this trade, the Lakers benefit greatly from it too. With Ariza and Odom to resign the Lakers had to cash to get them both back, however Ariza who is an older but upgraded and tougher version of Ariza was willing to sign for less money so they Lakers could resign Odom and still improve their roster.

The Lakers getting Artest does nothing but help them. Their championship window is open and they wish to contend now. With Kobe and Fisher in their 30’s the Lakers may only be contenders for the next 5 or so years so getting the 30 year old Artest is no problem. With Artest the Lakers can have a crack at the title every year with the roster they have and Artest's toughness and veteran experience will aid them greatly to winning another championship in the near future.

I guess only the other 28 teams in the NBA don't benefit from this switch.

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