Trevor Ariza not likely to return to Lakers; leaning towards Cavs

July 1, 11:52 PMLos Angeles Lakers ExaminerColin Ward-Henninger

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This is how many teams want me.
(AP Photo/John Raoux)

Discouraging reports for Los Angeles Lakers fans tonight. It appears as if Trevor Ariza's brief stint with the Lakers may have come to an end.

According to ESPN.com, the Lakers are unwilling to pay Ariza more than the $5.6 million mid-level exception. This has apparently upset Ariza so much that he is willing to take the same amount of money to go to another team.

While the Toronto Raptors and the Portland Trail Blazers are the only teams that can offer Ariza more than the mid-level, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are going hard after Ariza, could be the front-runners.

That makes the break-up sting even more since Ariza's arrival would give LeBron James the extra weapon he so sorely missed in this year's playoffs.

Since the Cavs can only offer Ariza the same amount as the Lakers, I can't see him joining LeBron in Cleveland.

Ariza's already got his ring...now it's time to go for the money. I think he would be a great fit on the Blazers, but he'll probably end up simply going to the highest bidder. And I can't say I blame him.

As for the Lakers, I guess it's time to prepare for the much-anticipated return of the one and only Kwame Brown.

Or they can take a look at this list I wisely put together just in case something like this happened...