Report: Various teams interested in Trevor Ariza, bidding to start at $9 million per year
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Unrestricted forward Trevor Ariza sure picked a good time to have a career year.
The Mavs, Cavs, Lakers and Heat are pursuing Wizards free agent Trevor Ariza, league sources say. Ariza seeking deal starting at $9-$11m.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 7, 2014
With Ariza, incumbent Wizards also in pursuit, sources say.
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 7, 2014
Given his price tag, it's unlikely that the Miami Heat could land Ariza. If the "Big three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh return, the Heat would be hard-pressed to find $10 million for Ariza.
The other teams implicated make sense. All four teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards have holes to fill on the wing. Ariza profiles as a smart, lengthy shut-down wing capable of sinking threes and chipping in on the glass.
The worry with Ariza is two-fold. First, he's injury prone, and has only successfully played a full season once in his career. Second, he posted his best season to date last season, scoring 14.4 points, and grabbing 6.2 rebounds per game, numbers that he has failed to consistently post throughout his career.
The 29-year-old was an important piece of the Wizards' squad last season.