Rockets forward Trevor Ariza will reach unrestricted free agency on Sunday, and he plans to schedule meetings with interested teams starting on July 1, reports Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).
Ariza, who turns 33 on Saturday, averaged 11.7 PPG and 4.4 RPG with a .368 3PT% in 67 regular-season games for the Rockets. While his season ended on a low note following an 0-for-12 shooting performance in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the veteran played a key role in Houston, knocking down corner threes and playing excellent perimeter defense.
The Rockets will have to make a number of decisions in free agency in the coming days, as Chris Paul and Clint Capela are up for lucrative new deals. General manager Daryl Morey also figures to explore ways to upgrade the roster further, with LeBron James atop the club’s list of targets.
With so many moving parts in play, the Rockets will have to be careful not to overlook Ariza, who figures to draw interest from a number of contending teams in need of a three-and-D wing.
According to Charania, there’s no truth to a report that Ariza will demand a $50-60MM payday as a free agent. However, I expect the 14-year veteran to do well on the open market — his free agency could resemble Andre Iguodala‘s a year ago, when several teams tried to pry Iguodala away from Golden State and the swingman leveraged that interest into a lucrative new deal.
Sign and trade….
Ariza and Anderson for Melo.
Move PG13 to the 2guard (assuming Robersons out for a longer period)
WB/PG/Ariza/Anderson/Adams
3 players sitting on the perimeters, a monster PNR ability with WB and Adams. Be the perfect scenario for WB
What makes you think the Rockets would make that move? Melo’s value is super low and he’s owed a ton of money. Including the Anderson contract helps, but not that much. I’d prefer us keep Ariza and leave Melo to OKC.
Rockets need him…effective on D. Coach needs to stop him from chucking up 3’s but that won’t happen in H……more 3’s is better.
That’s what happens when you play for D’Antoni. He’s a catch and shoot guy in that system.
a lot of teams could use him. He is a real difference maker
Until you miss 27 in a row
Houston’s defense would fall off without him.
Houston is done, they arent gonna be able to afford everyone. They are done.
Lol done. They are about as far away from done as you are from a NBA champ ring, skippy.
Ariza is very important for Houston, he does Harden’s defence, so they have to keep him