L.A. trade hasn't meant playing time for Trevor Ariza
Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
December 3, 2007
Trevor Ariza, the former Magic forward traded to the L.A. Lakers Nov. 20 for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans, said he isn't bitter and realizes he simply didn't fit into Orlando's plans any longer.
"It's not that I asked for it [a trade]," he said. "I wasn't playing. They were looking for different pieces . . . that's what kind of happened.
"That's business, I guess. . . .They had a different style. I guess I just didn't fit. I don't take it personally or nothing. I mean, what value do I bring to a team if I'm not playing?"
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Magic's Brian Cook saw Lakers' troubles firsthand
BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY
LOS ANGELES - If anyone knows what a dysfunctional mess the Los Angeles Lakers are because of Kobe Bryant's preseason trade demands and critical critiques of the roster and can talk freely about it, it's new Orlando Magic forward Brian Cook.
Cook, who was traded from the Lakers to the Magic on Nov. 20, got a firsthand look at how Bryant's negativism ripped at whatever chemistry the Lakers might have had. Cook says he is friends with Bryant, but also was one of the players hurt by the All-Star shooting guard openly demanding a trade to leave the Lakers.
"When training camp opened there were a lot of distractions because of the way Kobe talked about the team over the summer," Cook said. "But once the team came together, it was really humbling to Kobe. He's a good friend of mine and never did anything bad to me. And he certainly set me up a lot of times on the court. Kobe did kind of open up this season and hang out with the fellas some, so that did kind of help smooth things out some."
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Ariza misses old Magic teammates
BY JOHN DENTON
FLORIDA TODAY
LOS ANGELES - Not a day goes by that Trevor Ariza doesn't pick up the phone and talk to Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson or Keyon Dooling. The difference now, of course, is that he's usually doing it from 3,000 miles away.
Ariza was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 20., a transaction that he welcomed at the time because he thought it would offer him more playing time. But a slow transition to Phil Jackson's triangle offense and the frustration of a season gone horribly wrong has Ariza feeling reflective.
"Man, I miss those guys," Ariza said of his former Orlando teammates before facing the Magic Sunday night in Los Angeles. "I mean, that's this business. I guess I just didn't fit. I don't take it personally. I guess I just didn't fit."
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Cook, Evans return with some jabs
Traded Nov. 20 for Ariza, the former Lakers rave about their offensive freedom, with one even noting that there's less drama in Orlando.
By Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 3, 2007
Brian Cook and Maurice Evans were in the visitors' locker room at Staples Center, happy to be back in Los Angeles but also eager to be part of a less restrictive offense, they said.
Cook and Evans are feeling their way through a different team and new surroundings since being sent to the Orlando Magic for Trevor Ariza on Nov. 20. The Magic beat the Lakers on Sunday, 104-97.
"It's been great because I've got a lot more freedom here to play," Cook said. "We've got the motion offense and I've got the beast down low."
Orlando was seventh in the league in scoring before Sunday, which was two spots below the Lakers, although Evans reiterated what Cook said.
"We've got so much offensive freedom out there," Evans said. "We're just excited to be here."
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