No. 5: Trevor Ariza returns to the NBA and gets traded to the Miami Heat (Mar. 17, 2021)

Trevor Ariza did not play in the NBA Bubble last season and missed the start of this season due to some personal problems he was dealing with off-the-court, but around the trade deadline, several playoff-contending teams reached out to the Thunder about a potential Trevor Ariza trade. 

The Miami Heat ultimately struck a deal with Oklahoma City and were able to acquire Trevor Ariza for Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick. Leonard was going to be released by the Heat anyways and was released by the Thunder after this trade, so really, the Heat only gave up a 2027 second-round pick for a highly talented, veteran forward in Ariza. 

Since joining the Heat, Ariza has started in 9 of the 12 games he has played in and has averaged 6.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and has shot 32.1% from the floor. Last season, the Heat acquired veteran forward Jae Crowder ahead of their eventual run to the NBA Finals and this season, Miami is hoping Ariza can provide them with the same kind of jolt Crowder did last season. 

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Ariza has done a great job in his role with the Heat to this point and while he is not a high-level offensive threat, he is a great one-on-one defender and just has a great understanding for the game. Miami is not a really fast-paced team and they are very focused in the half-court offensively, which is why this addition of Ariza has panned out great. 

He is a terrific half-court player and in a slower-tempoed system like the Heat’s, Ariza is able to use his high basketball IQ to make those around him better. He has done that and then some for the Heat, putting them very much back in the picture to be championship-contenders in the Eastern Conference.