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NBA Rumors: 5 potential buyout candidates after the trade deadline

By Larry Hammonds

Jan 20, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin practices before a game against the Detroit Pistons at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin practices before a game against the Detroit Pistons at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Potential buyout candidate No. 2: Trevor Ariza

Trevor Ariza is an NBA champion but will probably be remembered for being the first person to be traded ten times in his career. When free agency began on Nov. 20, Ariza was on the Portland Trail Blazers. One month and three teams later, he was officially a member of the OKC Thunder by the time the 2020-21 season began.

Unfortunately, Ariza hasn’t played an NBA game in nearly a year, having last played right before the league shut down in mid-March. Ariza has been embroiled in a custody battle for his son and elected not to join the Trail Blazers in the Orlando bubble so he can spend time with his child. He hasn’t been with the team all season and is out indefinitely as he continues to deal with this unfortunate situation.

With OKC in the middle of a rebuild, the Thunder have prioritized developing their young players over winning games this season. Ariza was never apart of the Thunder’s plans moving forward, but they haven’t been able to put him on the floor to play up his trade value. NBA teams don’t know what time of shape he is in or where he is at mentally with all that he’s dealing with off the court.

In the final year of a two-year $25 million contract, teams have no incentive to give up any assets for an aging veteran that hasn’t played a game in 11 months, making north of $10 million this season. Regardless of how much they can use a player of his skill set, it wouldn’t make sense for any team to trade for him.

With that being said, having little to no trade value at this point, Ariza will likely have to sit down with the Thunder brass and negotiate a buyout. Though he’s on the backend of his career, the 16-year veteran is still a quality player that can help almost any team.

Ariza is a versatile defender and a capable 3-point shooter. As we saw with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for the Los Angeles Lakers last season, there’s still vital importance for guys who can defend and shoot from the perimeter(even if that’s all they’re good at). He’s played for nine different teams in his NBA tenure and has seen almost every offensive and defensive scheme that’s out there.

The Thunder may not want him, and he may not have any trade value, but if Ariza decides to resume his career this season, he can help numerous title contenders if he clears waivers once the inevitable buyout takes place.

NBA teams that Trevor Ariza can help

Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks

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