Heat trade Meyers Leonard to Thunder for Trevor Ariza
FILE - Miami Heat forward Meyers Leonard, center, greets his teammates before an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)MIAMI โ The Miami Heat have turned Meyers Leonard's contract into an opportunity to see if Trevor Ariza can help them for the rest of this season. AdThe Heat also said they wish Leonard and his wife Elle โthe best of luck in the future.โโHe's going to do everything that he possibly can to grow and get better from everything this week," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Ariza has not played an NBA game since March 10, 2020, but the Heat clearly felt he was worth the low-risk gamble. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver fined Leonard $50,000 and barred him from being around the Heat for one week.
Rockets flip Ariza and 16th pick for picks, cap room
HOUSTON โ The Houston Rockets traded Trevor Ariza and the 16th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to the Detroit Pistons for a future protected 1st round pick, according to ESPNโs Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets received the pick and Ariza earlier in the week after trading Robert Covington to Portland. The Rockets later purchased the Pistonsโ 2021 second-round pick for $4.6 million. In the short term, the trade deprives Houston of a first-round pick and Ariza, a useful two-way player who is very familiar with Houston. Trading Ariza also gives the Rockets a Traded Player Exception, allowing them to sign another player.
AP Sources: Ariza to Pistons, Horford to OKC, Rubio to Minn.
The Houston Rockets agreed to trade Trevor Ariza and the 16th pick in Wednesday night's NBA draft to the Detroit Pistons for a future first-round pick, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been announced. The Philadelphia 76ers sent Al Horford and a protected future first-round pick to Oklahoma City, and the Minnesota Timberwolves reacquired point guard Ricky Rubio in a separate trade with the Thunder. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade had not yet been announced. The Timberwolves obtained the 17th pick, which originally belonged to Brooklyn, from Atlanta in a four-team, 12-player, three-pick trade in February.
Rockets finalizing trade of Covington to Blazers, Harden asking for trade to Nets
HOUSTON โ The clock is officially ticking down towards Wednesdayโs NBA draft and finally, the Rockets will have a draft pick after being left out the last three years. The initial pick will come on Wednesday when the Rockets use the Blazers slot at #16 overall. Meanwhile, the future of James Harden continues to earn national headlines. KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy confirmed that the Rockets offered Harden a two-year extension worth $103 million, but Harden quickly turned it down. That team, according to sources, is the Brooklyn Nets, where he would be paired alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Lillard scores 34 and Blazers beat Lakers 100-93 in Game 1
James' layup gave Los Angeles the lead, and Kuzma added a pair of free throws and another layup to extend it to 84-78. After Danny Green's layup tied it again for Los Angeles, Lillard nailed a 3-pointer. The Blazers were able to stay in front throughout the third quarter, but the Lakers kept it close. The game was delayed for a time in the first half when the Lakers' rim got tilted and had to be adjusted. TIP INSTrail Blazers: Lillard had 48 points in Portland's 127-119 victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Jan. 31.
Damian Lillard emerges from shutdown ready for playoff push
Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard marches alongside protesters towards downtown Portland on the Morrison Bridge, on June 4, 2020. Im going to have my PS3, my PS4. Im going to have my studio equipment, my mike, my laptop. Im going to have all my books. Im going to be in the room, chillin'.
Xfinity Sports Desk: What to Watch
Here are some of the things were watching at the Xfinity Sports Desk:MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON WILL SET -- EVENTUALLYThe players have rejected the final offer from the league, and now its up to commissioner Rob Manfred to impose a season. NBA CONTINUES WITH PLAYERS SITTING OUTFormer Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza is among the players who have decided not to participate in the NBA seasons restart. This comes after several players, including Kyrie Irving, Dwight Howard and Lou Williams expressed concerns that an NBA season would distract from social justice actions in the wake of George Floyds death. The PGA now moves to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship where theres another impressive field featuring the best players in the world, excluding Tiger Woods. Woods is projected to re-join the tour at the Memorial, one of his favorite tournaments.
Reports: Rockets lose starting forward Trevor Ariza to Phoenix Suns
HOUSTON โ Veteran swingman Trevor Ariza is leaving the Houston Rockets for a one-year, $15 million deal with Phoenix Suns, per various media reports. Ariza -- who just turned 33-years-old on Saturday -- had been a starter for the Rockets each of the past four seasons. Ariza made $7.8 million this past season with Houston, and is now nearly doubling that total by joining Phoenix. With Houston already committing big money to their All-Star backcourt of James Harden and Chris Paul, the Rockets could not match the Suns' offer for Ariza. As the only Rocket with a championship ring (won with the 2009 Los Angeles Lakers), Ariza's veteran presence and locker room leadership will certainly be missed.