NBA Trade Grades: Suns sending Trevor Ariza to Wizards

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to send Trevor Ariza to the Washington Wizards. Here are NBA Trade Grades for both sides.

The Phoenix Suns wasted no time cutting their losses from free agency. After signing veteran wing Trevor Ariza to a one-year, $15 million deal over the summer, they agreed to move him at the soonest possible date when Dec. 15 — the day recently signed free agents could be traded — rolled around.

As first reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns will send Ariza to the Washington Wizards in exchange for combo guard Austin Rivers and young wing Kelly Oubre Jr.

On the surface, this deal makes some sense for both sides. The 5-24 Suns clearly weren’t going anywhere and Ariza’s “veteran presence” had turned into a “keep gettin’ dem checks” situation. They needed help in the backcourt, and both Rivers and Oubre will provide some much-needed depth to one of the league’s worst benches.

The Wizards, on the other hand, have been one of the most disappointing teams in the Eastern Conference and needed 3-point shooting, defense, playoff experience and veteran leadership — all of which Ariza can provide now that he’s heading back to a better team that, despite all its early turmoil, is only 2.5 games out of a playoff spot.

However, there’s more to this deal for both sides than meets the eye, so in order to sort it out, here are NBA Trade Grades for both teams.