The Washington Wizards, currently struggling with only a 12-18 record and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, made a move to boost their playoff hopes by completing a trade for forward Trevor Ariza from the Phoenix Suns.
Ariza, traded to the Wizards for forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers, will slot into the Wizards’ lineup as a good defender and a playmaking athlete. The 33-year-old is averaging a solid 10 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds er game this season.
For the Suns, who are mired in last place in the West with a dismal 7-24 record, this trade is all about the future.
Austin Rivers, the son of legendary NBA coach Doc Rivers, is a guard that could slot in as a starter for the Suns immediately. He’s had an up-and-down career but brings experience and talent to a team that desperately needs it.
For Phoenix, the key to this deal is 23-year-old small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. 2015’s 15th-overall pick is a talented young wing player that has averaged almost 13 points per game this season. The Suns hope that he will continue to grow and become a key piece for the team’s future.
The Wizards must hope that Ariza helps propel them to the playoffs, or else they might regret parting way with these two young talents.
