Portland Trail Blazer striker Trevor Ariza has decided not to participate in the NBA’s restart of the season in Orlando, instead engaging in a one-month visit window with his young son, according to ESPN.
Ariza, an appetizer, was involved in a custody case for her 12-year-old son, and the mother’s decision to grant a court-ordered one-month visit period during the quarantine of the league teams in Orlando, in Florida led Ariza to choose his parenting responsibilities rather than competing with the Blazers in restarting 22 teams, sources said.
Ariza, 34, could lose between $ 1 million and $ 1.8 million in salaries, depending on whether the Blazers qualify for the playoffs, not to participate in the reboot. Ariza has a guaranteed minimum contract of $ 12.8 million for the 2020-21 season.
NBA players who decide not to restart the league have until Wednesday to inform the teams of their decisions. Franchises must present travel parties – including rosters – by July 1st. Once a team signs a replacement player, the original player cannot be added to the roster to play this season.
Portland will be able to sign a substitute player to replace Ariza.
The Blazers are 29-37, one of three teams in 3.5 Memphis matches eighth in the Western Conference. The teams will play eight seeding games in Orlando and the team with the best record outside the top eight in each conference that will arrive within four games of the playoff end point will compete in a play-in tournament.
Portland is expected to medically eliminate two major 7-footers – Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic – to rejoin the team after injuries have both kept them out for long periods.
Ariza arrived with the Blazers in February as part of an exchange with Sacramento and started each of his 21 games for Portland – averaging 11 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1 stealing one game. He fired 49% from the ground, including 40% on 3 pointers. For his career, Ariza has averaged 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 16 seasons.
.
