Wolves Seeking Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker From Wolves For Jimmy Butler

[SFrush]

You are correct that there is no restriction on a possible return to Houston.

However, the problem with your suggestion that good teams will line up to trade for Ariza if he's available is that any interested team would have to sacrifice $15M in assets to trade for him.
How many playoff teams would be willing, capable, or interested in doing that?

By the trade deadline it will be around 7-8 mil left on that contract and yes a playoff team would give up assets. Just off the top of my head Philly would be a great fit for Ariza.

That's not really how it works. They would still have to match the whole contract value.
The prorated value is only meaningful regarding what the receiving team would actually pay to Ariza for the remainder of the season.

Furthermore, a half-season rental of a guy like Ariza is likely something that would only be of interest to teams that believe they have a legitimate shot at going all the way and he could help put them over the top.
That's likely an extremely short list. It gets even shorter when you consider which of those few teams would have assets they are willing to ship out for an Ariza rental.

I agree he would probably fit well with the Sixers but who would Philly trade for Ariza?
Wilson Chandler whom they just acquired? Because you know they're not giving up Covington or Redick.
They would probably have to add a pick to convince Phoenix to take someone like Bayless.

Trading Ariza to a contender on that contract is not as easy as you seem to think. In all likelihood he just plays the season out with Phoenix.
Unless of course things go worse than expected and the Suns decide to do him the favor of a buyout.
If that happened, would it surprise you at all if Houston was at the top of his list of preferred destinations?

Yes. You don't think they wouldn't prefer to swap Ariza for Chandler plus an asset? I think they would jump on that opportunity. Trading Ariza to a PO team on that contract is not going to be as hard as you make it sound.

[Fresh360Waves]

Had Houston re-signed Mbah a Moute, then I'd say for them to go for it. But if they trade away Tucker, their defense will really fall off. It'll probably fall off a bit this season anyways since Ariza and Mbah a Moute are gone, but yeah tough decision in regards to sacrificing depth by trading for Butler or not going after Butler and keeping their depth with Gordon and Tucker. But then again Houston was one game away from beating GS with pretty much the same team they have now so.... *shrugs*

Butler is a better defender than any of those guys.

This should be a no brainer for Houston. Paul, Harden, Butler, Anthony and Capela can give GSW a run for their money.

I get that, but that team would have no depth either.

[BallerTalk]

By the trade deadline it will be around 7-8 mil left on that contract and yes a playoff team would give up assets. Just off the top of my head Philly would be a great fit for Ariza.

That's not really how it works. They would still have to match the whole contract value.
The prorated value is only meaningful regarding what the receiving team would actually pay to Ariza for the remainder of the season.

Furthermore, a half-season rental of a guy like Ariza is likely something that would only be of interest to teams that believe they have a legitimate shot at going all the way and he could help put them over the top.
That's likely an extremely short list. It gets even shorter when you consider which of those few teams would have assets they are willing to ship out for an Ariza rental.

I agree he would probably fit well with the Sixers but who would Philly trade for Ariza?
Wilson Chandler whom they just acquired? Because you know they're not giving up Covington or Redick.
They would probably have to add a pick to convince Phoenix to take someone like Bayless.

Trading Ariza to a contender on that contract is not as easy as you seem to think. In all likelihood he just plays the season out with Phoenix.
Unless of course things go worse than expected and the Suns decide to do him the favor of a buyout.
If that happened, would it surprise you at all if Houston was at the top of his list of preferred destinations?

Yes. You don't think they wouldn't prefer to swap Ariza for Chandler plus an asset? I think they would jump on that opportunity. Trading Ariza to a PO team on that contract is not going to be as hard as you make it sound.

The question there is whether swapping Chandler for Ariza moves the needle for Philly in any significant way. Much less enough to also attach an asset.
Especially when you consider Ariza would just be an older, less talented version of a player they already have in Covington.

[SFrush]

That's not really how it works. They would still have to match the whole contract value.
The prorated value is only meaningful regarding what the receiving team would actually pay to Ariza for the remainder of the season.

Furthermore, a half-season rental of a guy like Ariza is likely something that would only be of interest to teams that believe they have a legitimate shot at going all the way and he could help put them over the top.
That's likely an extremely short list. It gets even shorter when you consider which of those few teams would have assets they are willing to ship out for an Ariza rental.

I agree he would probably fit well with the Sixers but who would Philly trade for Ariza?
Wilson Chandler whom they just acquired? Because you know they're not giving up Covington or Redick.
They would probably have to add a pick to convince Phoenix to take someone like Bayless.

Trading Ariza to a contender on that contract is not as easy as you seem to think. In all likelihood he just plays the season out with Phoenix.
Unless of course things go worse than expected and the Suns decide to do him the favor of a buyout.
If that happened, would it surprise you at all if Houston was at the top of his list of preferred destinations?

Yes. You don't think they wouldn't prefer to swap Ariza for Chandler plus an asset? I think they would jump on that opportunity. Trading Ariza to a PO team on that contract is not going to be as hard as you make it sound.

The question there is whether swapping Chandler for Ariza moves the needle for Philly in any significant way. Much less enough to also attach an asset.
Especially when you consider Ariza would just be an older, less talented version of a player they already have in Covington.

It makes them even better defensively with him joining Covington&Embiid and puts another shooter around Simmons. Let's not overthink this because you're obviously hoping Ariza gets bought out and rejoins Houston which is certainly not a given.

[BallerTalk]

It makes them even better defensively with him joining Covington&Embiid and puts another shooter around Simmons. Let's not overthink this because you're obviously hoping Ariza gets bought out and rejoins Houston which is certainly not a given.

Honestly I think it's you who are overthinking it because you apparently hope a certain scenario doesn't play out.
I sincerely couldn't care less.
I've never promoted the "Ariza back to Houston" theory, but I do acknowledge that it is a remote possibility.

My point was that your suggestion that contenders would come clamoring to trade for Ariza was flawed in an obvious way.
I think I understand why you are clinging to that belief now.

Like I said, the most likely scenario is still that Ariza plays the season out with the Suns.
Failing that though, it is far more likely that he gets bought out than he gets traded to a contender given the size of his contract.

It's okay if you hope otherwise.

[Soca]

It makes them even better defensively with him joining Covington&Embiid and puts another shooter around Simmons. Let's not overthink this because you're obviously hoping Ariza gets bought out and rejoins Houston which is certainly not a given.

Honestly I think it's you who are overthinking it because you apparently hope a certain scenario doesn't play out.
I sincerely couldn't care less.
I've never promoted the "Ariza back to Houston" theory, but I do acknowledge that it is a remote possibility.

My point was that your suggestion that contenders would come clamoring to trade for Ariza was flawed in an obvious way.
I think I understand why you are clinging to that belief now.

Like I said, the most likely scenario is still that Ariza plays the season out with the Suns.
Failing that though, it is far more likely that he gets bought out than he gets traded to a contender given the size of his contract.

It's okay if you hope otherwise.

If Ariza was signed on a multi year deal I definitely would agree. But if the Suns do shop him before the trade deadline I do think they will get more offers than you believe.