Trevor Ariza an L.A. guy, but now at home with New Orleans Hornets

When he was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Lakers in 2007, Ariza couldn’t have been happier. Playing in front of his hometown fans, Ariza was an integral part of the Lakers’ 2009 title.

But not long after celebrating the championship, Ariza was in essence shown the door by Lakers management, which chose not to re-sign him.

A disappointed Ariza signed with the Houston Rockets after the Lakers decided to go with Ron Artest at small forward.

A year later, Ariza is with the Hornets and doing his best to make the Lakers second guess their decision.

“Of course I did (want to re-sign with the Lakers),” Ariza said after the Hornets’ 93-88 win over the Lakers on Sunday night to even the best-of-seven first-round Western Conference playoff series at two games apiece. “I would have been playing at home. But it’s something that didn’t happen. So I’m not going to complain about it. I’m still playing basketball. I’m still having a good time doing what I love to do, so I can’t complain.”"

After the Hornets’ win in Game 4, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson credited Ariza’s defense for limiting Kobe Bryant, who was scoreless in the first half and finished with 17 points on 5-of-18 shooting. It was the first time Bryant hadn’t scored in the first half of a playoff game in seven years.

“He’s going to be modest,” Hornets guard Chris Paul said of Ariza. “But I’ll tell you he was unbelievable. I told him after the game that I fed off of his energy.

“He was doing it all. He was guarding one of the toughest guys in the NBA to defend and scoring on the other end. That’s what gave us the opportunity.”