Heat's Updated Roster, Starting Lineup After Reported Trevor Ariza Trade

Timothy Rapp @@TRappaRTFeatured ColumnistMarch 17, 2021

Portland Trail Blazers forward Trevor Ariza drives to the basket as Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, March 10, 2020. The Blazers won 121-105. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

Steve Dykes/Associated Press

The Miami Heat are reportedly acquiring veteran forward Trevor Ariza from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

So, what does Miami's depth chart look like with Ariza heading to Miami?

PG: Kendrick Nunn / Goran Dragic / Gabe Vincent
SG: Duncan Robinson / Tyler Herro / Avery Bradley (injured) / Max Strus
SF: Jimmy Butler / Andre Iguodala / KZ Okpala
PF: Kelly Olynyk / Trevor Ariza / Precious Achiuwa / Maurice Harkless
C: Bam Adebayo / Chris Silva

The 35-year-old hasn't played in a year after opting out of the NBA's restart in Orlando during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Portland Trail Blazers last season. In November, he was acquired by Oklahoma City in a three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericks and, as Woj noted, "was traded from Portland to Houston to Detroit to Oklahoma City" in a single week over the offseason.

Ariza never reported to the Thunder.

In 53 games last season for the Sacramento Kings and Trail Blazers, the 6'8" forward averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 37.2 percent from the field. In 21 games with Portland (all as a starter), Ariza averaged 11.0 points in 33.4 minutes per game.

While no longer in his prime, Ariza is a nice three-and-D option for the Heat coming off the bench, providing experience, the ability to defend multiple positions and floor-spacing. It's fair to question how much defensive upside he has left at this point in his career, but it's unlikely he'll play major minutes for the Heat, allowing the team to keep him fresh.

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Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
Heat now with multiple options to play with Bam/Butler up front: Olynyk (very good recently), Iguodala (can play either F spot), Okpala (flashed in past week), Harkless (hasn't worked out) & now Ariza. Precious, Silva options when Bam rests. Cost for PJ Tucker reportedly too high

If nothing else, he should be an upgrade over Harkless, who has larger fallen out of the rotation.

This move perhaps isn't the splash that Heat fans would have wanted, and it doesn't address the team's biggest needs (another star player and center depth). But Ariza is a cheap addition and should carve out a reserve role for Miami.