With the trade deadline approaching, the Oklahoma City Thunder are starting to get some buzz from other teams about forward Trevor Ariza. They are working on a deal with the Miami Heat, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
While Ariza has not played this season, he is a 17-year veteran with nine years of playoff experience. His 3-and-D abilities could conceivably help a contender, particularly one like the Heat, who need some help at the power forward position.
The Thunder would likely receive a second-round pick and salary filler in return from whichever team can strike a deal.
Miami owns the rights to a 2022 second-rounder from the Philadelphia 76ers or Denver Nuggets, whichever is less favorable, and its own 2027 second-rounder.
The Heat player could be Meyers Leonard, who has a $9.4 million contract. Leonard played three games this season before suffering a shoulder injury and receiving surgery that was expected to be season-ending. He was then suspended indefinitely by the team for using an anti-Semitic slur.
Ironically enough, the Heat could use the trade exception of James Johnson to help match the salary of Trevor Ariza, owed $12.8 million.
The Thunder acquired Ariza from the Detroit Pistons by trading away Johnson.
Last offseason, Oklahoma City was part of a three-team trade that shipped Johnson to the Dallas Mavericks, Delon Wright to the Pistons, and Ariza, Justin Jackson, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick to the Thunder.
With Ariza not part of the Thunder rotation, he could be a buyout candidate if he is not traded. With reports of several teams interested, though, Miami would like to control its own destiny in the Ariza sweepstakes.
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