Trevor Ariza: Daryl Morey’s First Big Miss?

I remember the day I first heard the reports that Houston had basically done a swap of Ron Artest for Trevor Ariza. I wouldn’t go as far as to say I was under whelmed. I just kind of had that “Meh” feeling.

Sure, Ariza had just won an NBA title off of Kobe Bryant’s coattails. He had played well in the playoffs and perhaps a new situation with more opportunities would help him to blossom. Let’s be honest, Rockets GM Daryl Morey has pretty much hit nothing but homeruns since taking over for Carroll Dawson in 2006. So I am inclined to trust his decisions.

Ariza started off the season for Houston looking pretty sharp by scoring 33 & 25 in two of the first three games of the season. He would have games where he looked primed to breakout and then the next night he would be invisible. Unfortunately, his season has pretty much spiraled downward since. He is still averaging 16 points per game, but his field goal percentage is awful and it only appears to be getting worse. 38% from the floor, 30% from three and a dismal 65% from the charity stripe.

I'll still take the younger Ariza over the antics of Artest on my team.

This kind of play has made him the new Rockets fan whipping boy now that Tracy McGrady is out of the picture. Many are calling him the first bad signing by Daryl Morey. Me? Well, I still trust in Daryl Morey. I am also inclined to give Ariza more than 38 games in a Rockets uniform before I try to run him out of town.

Trevor is never going to be that 20/10 guy every night. He is never going to be a go to guy in the clutch either. The reason he worked out so well in L.A. was because he was, at best, a 4^th or 5^th option on the floor. He is also guilty sometimes of trying too hard to prove he deserved the contract he got from Houston (which, stop saying he has a bad contract. The dude got the Mid Level Exception. MID LEVEL.). Especially when he plays against The Lakers.

He is also only 24. Lots of time for improvement. And the tutelage of one of the all-time greats in Rick Adelman coaching him up is only going to make him better. When this team gets the McGrady albatross contract off the books, be it in a trade or expiration, Morey will get someone that will not only help this team, but help Trevor. Yao Ming comes back next season and will be a huge option. Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry have proved to be reliable offensive players. Luis Scola (if he is still here after Free Agency this summer) is also good in a pinch. So there will be plenty of options on offense that will allow Ariza to get back into his comfort zone. Combine all this with a potential star player this offseason or in a trade and I believe Trevor will be fine.

I say give the guy more than a half of a season before you talk about dumping him for leftover practice gear and a pair of sneakers. He’s young. He’ll figure his role out.

Tags: Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Luis Scola, Rick Adelman, Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady, Trevor Ariza, Yao Ming