Trevor Ariza is viewed as one of the most appealing options on the trade market this year. Ariza joined the Phoenix Suns in free agency this summer, but as it’s become obvious that Phoenix should have an eye on the future, the veteran 3-and-D wing has been a name that’s popped up amid trade rumors for weeks.
While it has appeared as though the Los Angeles Lakers were hell-bent on acquiring the L.A. native and former UCLA product, a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN says that Magic Johnson and company are going to lose out on Ariza. That’s because the Washington Wizards are set to swoop in and make a deal for Ariza in a multi-team trade.
The Washington Wizards are in advanced talks on a deal to acquire Phoenix forward Trevor Ariza, league sources tell ESPN. Teams trying to finalize a multi-team trade tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018
Ariza cannot be traded until midnight, when players who signed free agent deals in the offseason are eligible to get moved. It would be a major win for Washington to get Ariza, as he would help in a few areas — the team is 27th in three-point field goal shooting percentage and 15th in adjusted defensive efficiency, and Ariza would bring aptitude from behind the arc and on the perimeter defensively.
In addition to these two teams, Wojnarowski reports the Memphis Grizzlies will get in on the action. Phoenix will acquire Austin Rivers and a few players from Memphis, while the Grizzlies will get Kelly Oubre.
As part of a three-team deal nearing completion: Ariza to the Wizards, Kelly Oubre to the Memphis Grizzlies and Austin Rivers and two Grizzlies role players to Suns, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/1EmRCHrjOP
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018
Deal is expected to include second-round draft compensation too, league sources said. https://t.co/zkGAy2p58u
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018
According to @Gambo987, Wayne Selden and Dillon Brooks are the two other Grizzlies headed to Phoenix in the reported three-team Trevor Ariza deal that can be swung after midnight https://t.co/5eLcs3XBlY
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 15, 2018
There were conflicting reports, however, about whether it was MarShon Brooks or Dillon Brooks who was part of the deal.
Clarification: MarShon Brooks on his way to Suns, not Dillon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 15, 2018
It is Dillon Brooks coming back to Suns. Reports of it being MarShon are wrong.
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) December 15, 2018
We’ll provide updates on that once that information becomes available.
The rest of this deal may still need to take shape, but this gives the Wizards a veteran piece as they try to climb up the Eastern Conference standings, the Grizzlies an intriguing young player who just turned 23, and the Suns a veteran on an expiring contract. We’ll see if anyone 0r anything else is added to the deal, but for now, Washington has seemingly come out of nowhere to steal Ariza from under the nose of several other teams.
