Lakers F Ariza exercises contract option

Jun 21, 2008 - 12:18 AM EL SEGUNDO, California (Ticker) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Trevor Ariza on Friday exercised the $2.91 million player option in his contract for the 2008-09 season.

The move came just three days after the Lakers were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in Game Six of the NBA Finals.

The 22-year-old Ariza did not play a big role in the team's Western Conference championship after suffering a right foot fracture on January 20, forcing him to miss the remainder of the regular season and the first 11 contests in the playoffs.

Ariza, who was traded to Los Angeles from the Orlando Magic on November 20, averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24 games with the Lakers prior to his injury. He played limited minutes in eight postseason games.

A second-round pick of the New York Knicks in the 2004 draft, Ariza graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles and played one season at UCLA before entering the NBA.