NBA: The 7 best early-season buyout candidates

Trevor Ariza, Phoenix Suns

Possible Destinations: Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets

Best Fit: Houston Rockets

Trevor Ariza was able to spin a great showing in the 2017-18 season with the Rockets this off-season to a significant salary increase. Ariza doubled his pay this season after a great post-season run by the Houston Rockets. However, playing with the Suns this season hasn’t produced the same results, as the Rockets had the best record in the NBA last year and the Suns this season hold the NBA worst record currently.

Ariza has still performed up to his career averages and his typical expectations. Ariza is a 14-year NBA veteran that has extensive playoff experience, being in post-season play nine out of his first 14 NBA seasons and being a crucial member of the 2009 NBA championship winning Los Angeles Lakers. Ariza’s winner’s pedigree doesn’t match with the kind of season he’s having with the Suns and the caliber of season we can project for the Suns in the remainder of this season.

When we speak to the prototypical 3-and-D wing players of the NBA today, Trevor Ariza is one of the premier names that tops that list. There’s major value in players like Ariza for virtually all teams in the NBA. Each team has to have a few players like Ariza to be able to compete against the teams like the Warriors and the Celtics.

So for teams like the Denver Nuggets and the Philadelphia 76ers, adding a player like Trevor Ariza can push these young teams from being on the come up to legitimate contenders. The team that could use Ariza the most is probably the team that he most recently left in the Rockets.

The Rockets have had a tough start to their season and an unexpected decline in about all categories from last season. If the Suns are to buyout Ariza, a reunion with the Rockets could be a welcomed reality for both parties.