NBA Rumors: Trevor Ariza Considered Top Player Most Likely to Get Traded
The Phoenix Suns are reportedly expected to explore trading Trevor Ariza when he becomes eligible Dec. 15.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reported Ariza is "at the top" of the list of players teams expect to be moved.
Ariza is not eligible to be traded until after Dec. 15 because he signed a free-agent contract with the Suns this offseason. In most seasons, that Dec. 15 date is important for trade movement because it opens up recently signed contracts to be used for matching purposes.
Ariza is making $15 million this season, so his pool of potential teams could be a little smaller than other veterans. He's averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game and shooting a career-low 37.2 percent for the struggling Suns.
Phoenix brought Ariza in as a veteran the team hoped would move the needle toward more on-court competency. It has not worked. The Suns are 6.5 games worse than any other team in the Western Conference and have the league's worst record at 4-19. Ariza's fit has not been as seamless as hoped with the Suns' group of young talent, and moving him would open more minutes for Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson.
The Suns could look to move Ariza and take on long-term salary in exchange for a draft pick. They don't have any real hopes at landing an elite free agent next summer and have a bevy of players on rookie contracts, so tying up some space for another year or two could be worth it in the long run.
