Signing Trevor Ariza
Trevor Ariza turned 34 last month and is entering his 16th NBA season, but based on his play last season — split between the Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards — there’s still some game in those old legs.
Ariza signed a two-year, $25 million deal to come to the Sacramento Kings, with the second year guaranteed for just $1.8 million. In 69 games last season with the Suns and Wizards, the veteran put up 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.0 minutes per game.
He had one of his worst shooting seasons, however, hitting 39.9 percent overall and 33.4 percent on 6.3 3-point attempts per game, his lowest numbers since shooting 39.4 percent for the Houston Rockets in 2009-10 and hitting 33.3 percent from deep for the New Orleans Hornets in 2011-12.
Ariza was a key role player for a Los Angeles Lakers title-winning squad in 2009 — where he was a teammate of his new coach, Luke Walton — and after spending most of the last 10 years as a starter, Ariza will likely move into a bench role with Sacramento.
He’s still a quality defender and can stretch the floor and is at a point in his career where fewer minutes could equal more production.
Like Joseph, Ariza brings plenty of postseason experience — 102 games including 90 starts — and he’s a better 3-point shooter in the playoffs, 36.7 percent, than his regular-season career mark of 35.1 percent.
He’s also not afraid to call out teammates when necessary, as he did shortly after arriving with the Wizards last season.
Ariza brings another seasoned, professional voice to the locker room, as well, as the young Kings look to mature into a playoff club.
The only real issue is paying eight figures in this market for a 34-year-old reserve. That feels like a bit of an over-reach by Vlade Divac.