T-Ariza heads to the Spoonful

Spoonful drops Landry for Ariza

Carl Landry is a hard working PF type in his second year out of Purdue. He racks up rebounds and other defensive stats, and gets garbage-type high PCT shots. However, he's a bit blocked behind Scola in HOU, and perhaps crowded further by Battier/Artest/Chuck Hayes. He will have value in case of an injury to Yao, but until then, he's a poor and inconsistent man's Paul Millsap.

Trevor Ariza has been discussed; his situation is not much changed (i.e., minutes questions remain), but he is quite talented.

Judgment: The Spoonful is hoping to trade some rebounds (already in short supply) for a more rounded contribution, and hopes that T-Ariz's upside lands him more minutes in the long run. They will need to add rebounding in some form (and Hakim Warrick ain't cuttin' it).

Mbah a beauty?

my$hkin drops ariza for mbah a moute

Trevor Ariza is only 23, and clearly has yet to fulfill his multi-cat potential - the question is whether he'll have a chance to do so on a deep Laker team - SF is not deep in LA, but nonetheless, minutes are at issue. He reminds me a little of A-Ig: he can't really shoot, but he's agile and high energy, and fills the rest of the stat sheet effectively. So far, he's averaging 10/4, with more than a steal and most of a block. It's not clear if that will improve, but it should certainly continue.

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute does have a terrific name, and my$hkin was not too drunk to realize it. He's known as a defensive specialist, and is a widebody, though he plays SF. He's getting quite a few minutes (35 on Sunday), and is averaging 6 and 5, with about a steal and a block, in 4 games. If Redd is injured, he should continue to see time, and gather boards.

Judgment: I'm not sure I'm in a position to judge, given my decisions of late, but I wouldn't have made this move. I might have dropped Jason Thompson for him, or taken a wait and see approach. T-Ariz has too high a ceiling to drop him at this point. Interestingly, both players are former UCLA Bruins.