The Suns – still several steps, including finding a serviceable point guard, from competing – signed 33-year-old forward Trevor Ariza to a one-year, $15 million contract last offseason.
Predictably, that hasn’t gone well. Phoenix is an NBA-worst 4-19. Ariza is having maybe the worst season of his career.
The Suns might even trade him once they can, Dec. 15.
Marc Stein of The New York Times:
The Suns' Trevor Ariza is seen by rival teams at the top of the list of players who will be made available via trade after Dec. 15, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 4, 2018
Ariza is on a one-year, $15 million deal with Phoenix. Interested teams have been hoping the Suns would just buy Ariza out like they did with Tyson Chandler, but they are expected to pursue trades to try to get at least one asset in return
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 4, 2018
Trading Ariza won’t be easy. Because his salary is so high, it could be difficult for other teams to match it without including more-valuable players. And his performance this season is hardly inspiring.
Surely, some teams will hope Ariza would be rejuvenated on a winner and playing with teammates he better complements – just like Tyson Chandler with the Lakers. Everyone needs more players like Ariza, durable 3-and-D wings who do all the little things.
But there must be some concern he’s simply declining with age. A new environment might not fix all his woes.
Still, he’s playing OK-ish in Phoenix. Even as is, he could help teams before his contract expires at the end of the season.
Just probably not the cellar-dwelling Suns.
