WASHINGTON—After a three-way trade fell apart over mistaken identity, the Wizards are getting Trevor Ariza after all.
Washington agreed in principle on Saturday to acquire Ariza from the Phoenix Suns for Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been announced by either team.
This Ariza trade came together hours after a potential three-way deal involving the Grizzlies fell apart late Friday night over whether Memphis was including Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks. The saga included general managers informing players they’d been traded, awkward conversations to explain they weren’t and finally the talks coming to an end.
Wizards players went through the emotional roller coaster of the failed trade after their loss at Brooklyn as Oubre and Rivers were still on the team bus to the airport and the flight home.
“We all understand it’s a business,” guard John Wall said after practice on Saturday. “You never know what’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen. The first time I’ve ever seen a trade go dead and guys are on a bus talking about it. Kind of devastating for those guys.”
Ariza, 33, returns to Washington, where he played the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. The 6-foot-8, 215-pound swingman is averaging 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26 games with the Suns this season, the last remaining on his contract.
Phoenix forward Josh Jackson called Ariza “the ultimate veteran” and the ideal guy to have on a young team.
“He was always constantly teaching us,” Jackson said. “He’s been in the league a long time, been on a lot of winning teams, and whenever he saw something, even if it was the smallest thing, whenever he saw something that wasn’t right or something that we weren’t doing right all the way, he would take the time, even stop practice, and just talk and tell us the right way to do it and why.”
Until the trade can be finalized, Oubre and Rivers weren’t at Wizards practice, and Ariza wasn’t with the Suns. But Wall and Bradley Beal said they’ve each texted with Ariza since word of the trade got out.