Lakers among teams interested in trade for Suns’ Trevor Ariza
Dec 9, 2018, 6:05 PM | Updated: Dec 10, 2018, 8:59 am
Phoenix Suns' Trevor Ariza, second from left, drives past Los Angeles Lakers' Tyson Chandler (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Los Angeles Lakers have spoken with the Phoenix Suns hoping to acquire forward Trevor Ariza via a trade, but no deal is imminent as Phoenix has fielded interest from at least eight teams in total, reports 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported on Sunday that the Lakers were pushing to get a deal done. The Suns are looking for a play-making guard and a draft asset in return for Ariza, Wojnarowski said.
Los Angeles could ship out guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in a deal for Ariza, but the two teams are searching for a third team to take on Caldwell-Pope’s $12 million expiring contract, Gambadoro confirmed.
Ariza, 33, signed a one-year deal with the Suns in the offseason.
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As a result, he cannot be traded until Dec. 15, the first day offseason signees are eligible to be traded.
Ariza has averaged 9.7 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game in 24 games with the Suns.
The Suns’ 4-22 record and Ariza’s expiring contract of $15 million make him an attractive trade option for contending teams.
The Lakers sit at 16-10 and in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference.
If Ariza, who has already played for the Lakers in his career, is dealt to Los Angeles, he won’t be the first Suns player to move west this season. The Suns bought out center Tyson Chandler earlier this season before he signed with the Lakers.
