Trevor Ariza Wants $50MM To $60MM

Free agent forward Trevor Ariza doesn’t sound ready to give a discount to the Rockets or anyone one else this summer, according to Kelly Iko of Rockets Wire.

Ariza is reportedly hoping to land a four- or five-year deal valued at $50MM to $60MM, well above the $30MM to $40MM Iko expects the Rockets to offer. Ariza will turn 33 later this month, and this will likely be his last significant NBA contract.

Ariza has played on team-friendly deals throughout his career, with his highest salary of nearly $8.58MM coming in 2014/15, the year he arrived in Houston. He earned $7.42MM this season at the end of a four-year deal that was part of a sign-and trade with the Wizards in 2014.

His demands present one more complication for the Rockets, who are already concerned with keeping free agents Clint Capela (restricted) and Chris Paul (unrestricted). They also hope to find a way to add another major talent such as LeBron James or Paul George.

Ariza is known for his durability, defense and 3-point shooting, all of which helped the Rockets secure the best regular season record in the league. He changed his representation earlier this season, leaving Landmark Sports Group for CAA Sports, in preparation for free agency.

 The Warriors are interest in Ariza, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, but they are well over the cap and couldn’t come close to his asking price.
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