Veteran striker Trevor Ariza is being headed to his fourth team this week as part of a three-team deal with the Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, sources said Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Ariza is diverted from Detroit to Oklahoma City to send Justin Jackson to Oklahoma City, James Johnson to the Mavericks, and Delon Wright to the Pistons.
It’s the third trade this week involving Ariza, who has played for nine teams in his 16-year NBA career. The Portland Trail Blazers sent Ariza to the Houston Rockets for forward Robert Covington along with two picks from the first round. The Rockets rerouted Ariza and a first-round election to Detroit, which turned into a sign-and-trade deal that allowed Houston to add Christian Wood as a center / power forward as well as a protected future first-class. Then the Pistons gave Ariza (expiring $ 12.8 million contract) to the Thunder.
Wright and Jackson’s move in return for Johnson opens up a roster for the Mavs, which sources say was Dallas’ main motivation for the deal. The Mavericks also appreciate the tenacity of the 6-foot-7,240-pound Johnson, whose expiring $ 16 million contract could come in handy for future trade discussions.
The Thunder received an undisclosed draft pick from the Pistons as part of the deal, along with Jackson, who averaged 5.5 points per game as Mavs reserve last season and won $ 5 million this season in the final year of his contract Dollar is due.
Wright, 28, who has $ 17.5 million worth of two years left, has averaged 7.3 points and 2.9 assists for three teams over his career.
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