Trevor Ariza says he would love to return to the Los Angeles Lakers next season.

The fifth-year forward is a free agent, along with teammate Lamar Odom.

Ariza averaged 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the Lakers’ run to their 15th NBA championship. He raised his stock considerably in the postseason, including shutting down Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu in the Game 5 clincher on Sunday.

Ariza had his season-ending interview with coach Phil Jackson and general manager Mitch Kupchak on Tuesday.

“I definitely felt a lot of love,” Ariza said about the atmosphere at the meeting. “They definitely told me I improved a lot and they’re happy with the way that I played and how much I was able to help our team.

“I’d love to come back. Money is important, this is our job here, but I built a bond with my coaches and my teammates. We have a really good team and I think we’ll be good for a long time.”

(nba.com)

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