If Trevor Ariza’s time in Phoenix is dwindling, the Philadelphia 76ers should pursue him.
The Phoenix Suns signed Trevor Ariza early in free agency, offering him $15 million in an effort to add veteran talent and begin winning games. Now the Suns are 3-13, sitting 15th in the Western Conference and struggling to churn out victories.
Ariza is averaging 10.2 points per game while shooting 34.6 percent from deep, a slight decrease from his numbers in Houston last season. He was recently away from the team for personal reasons, and the relationship might be approaching a dead end.
If the Suns and Ariza eventually part ways, a buyout is most likely. Even on a one-year deal, competitive teams would be hard-pressed to match his hefty salary. It would make more sense for the Suns to clear a roster spot and allow Ariza the freedom to choose.
The Philadelphia 76ers should be monitoring the situation, as Ariza would provide valuable depth to the rotation. They will have obvious competition on the open market — starting with Ariza’s former team in Houston — but the Sixers can make a compelling offer.
Ariza would probably become the first person off the Sixers’ bench, spending minutes at both the three and four behind Jimmy Butler and Wilson Chandler. He’s another versatile defender and spot-up shooter, fitting the Sixers’ needs on the perimeter.
In the playoffs , Philadelphia struggled to contain Boston’s bevy of isolation scorers. Adding more multi-positional defenders to the rotation was a must, and Ariza — alongside Butler, Chandler and Ben Simmons — accomplishes just that.
Introducing more flexible rotations will help the Sixers keep pace with the Eastern Conference elites. Ariza adds another starting-caliber player to one of the conference’s most talented teams.
In addition to his shooting, Ariza can attack closeouts and finish on straight-line drives. Similar to Chandler, that’s a dynamic the Sixers desperately lacked last season. Adding those skills to the rotation, along with an elite shot-creator in Butler, will make the Sixers far more dangerous come playoff time.
As for luring Ariza to Philadelphia, the Sixers need to offer more than the ability to compete — something Ariza’s former team, the Rockets, can also offer. That’s where the mid-level exception comes into play. The Sixers can give Ariza more money than Houston.
While Kyle Korver has received ample hype as a potential buyout candidate, Ariza would be the ideal match. It’s his defense and athleticism that will keep him useful in the playoffs, where Korver’s value takes a hit.
