2019 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Trevor Ariza: 2 years, $25 million (Sacramento Kings)
Free agent Trevor Ariza has agreed to a two-year, $25M deal with the Sacramento Kings, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2019
The Sacramento Kings took care of the starting wing job by agreeing to re-sign Harrison Barnes, and addressed their needs at center with Dewayne Dedmon. They further bolstered their bench with the addition of veteran forward Trevor Ariza, who can play either the 3 or the 4 depending on how head coach Luke Walton prefers to deploy him.
That strategy didn’t work out so well when the Phoenix Suns, but that team was much worse, the organization was much more unstable and it was a one-year overpay. The Kings, conversely, will have him for two years, for a cheaper amount, with a more established young core to mentor.
Last year, Ariza posted 14.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 43 appearances with the Washington Wizards. Though he’s clearly past his prime at 34 years old, he’ll be able to help coming off the bench for a team that wants to end its league-worst playoff drought.
Grade: B-