The Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly found a trade destination for forward Trevor Ariza.
A day after reports broke that they were discussing a deal with the Miami Heat, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the deal had been agreed upon.
In exchange for Ariza, the Thunder will receive big Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round draft pick.
Leonard is not expected to join Oklahoma City. He suffered a shoulder injury that was expected to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season, and then he was suspended by the Heat for using an anti-Semitic slur. He has a team option on his contract for next year.
The 2027 pick is the fourth the Thunder own: They have their own, the Indiana Pacers’ and the Houston Rockets’.
Once the trade is completed, there’s no expectation that Leonard would be a part of the Thunder moving forward. Deal is expected to be completed today. https://t.co/OXW3dyYiUZ
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 17, 2021
Ariza never played for the Thunder. Oklahoma City received him from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade this offseason, but he did not join the team.
In that deal, the Thunder sent James Johnson, who also never played for the team, to the Dallas Mavericks for Ariza, Justin Jackson, a 2023 second-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick. That means that in total, OKC received Jackson and three draft picks for Johnson.
Ariza is in his 17th NBA season and is a playoff-experienced 3-and-D forward who can play the 3 and 4. As the Heat chase another deep playoff run, they expect he can be helpful the way he was with the Portland Trail Blazers last season.
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