Houston Rockets: A Trevor Ariza return may be sooner than you think

Although the Houston Rockets lost wing defender Trevor Ariza in free agency, he may return back to the team sooner than one thinks. How? Take a look.

The Houston Rockets are just about primed up to start the 2018-19 season with the ultimate goal of being at the top of the fray when the dust settles in the NBA Finals next June. It’s long, tough road ahead but this team feels that it’s just as competitive as it was last season.

And quite honestly, there’s no reason to refute that argument. The team re-signed Chris Paul, Clint Capela and Gerald Green back to the roster while adding guys like Carmelo Anthony, Michael Carter-Williams and James Ennis into the fold.

The subtractions include wing defenders Luc Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza, who signed respective one-year deals with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns respectively.

But is there a path for the latter of the aforementioned to return back to the Houston Rockets? There’s a strong possibility of that in a scenario that could actually happen within this season.

Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post has floated an interesting proposal that I’m on board with in regard to the future of Ariza with the Phoenix Suns, here’s what he said:

"“One other thing to consider: Ariza is on a large expiring contract on a team that is going to be, even with its improvements, among the worst in the West and should be nowhere near a playoff spot. That could lead to Ariza being a buyout candidate. And who could use him more than just about any other team? That would be Houston. That is one possibility to keep in mind for how the Rockets will solve their current deficit on the wings.”"

As we all know by now, Ariza signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Suns this past off season. It was absolutely not surprising that Ariza took the cash because he’s in that point of his career where getting as much paydays as possible matters.

As a man that has earned nearly $90 million over the course of his 15 seasons in the NBA, there’s nothing wrong with this assertion. But is Ariza going to be gone for good? Bontemps doesn’t think so and I totally agree.

Ariza provides a steady hand of leadership for a young Suns’ team but he’s not going to be there

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long-term as the man meanders into the twilight of his NBA career.

The notion that Bontemps proposed is totally feasible and by the time the midpoint of season rolls around, Ariza would be owed about $7.5 million which could easily be bought out and that would make him a free agent, being able to hook up with whatever team he chooses.

It was an amicable split between the Houston Rockets and Ariza but would he want to come back to this team? I honestly think he would because ultimately his signing with the Suns was a business decision and he knows good and well they won’t be contending for anything for awhile.

If he comes back to H-Town, he will solve a lot the uncertainty that this team has in regard having enough wing defenders to compete with the best. His addition in February would solidify that once again and the team could sign him back for cheap as he’ll still be getting paid the remainder of his contract with the Suns.

It wouldn’t make sense for the Suns to use the stretch provision his remaining $7.5 million or so as they’re one of the few teams in the NBA that are flush with cash, having $101.7 million committed to contracts this season, just slightly under this year’s salary cap of $101.9 million. The savings of stretch wouldn’t necessarily be beneficial with the meager savings that they’d get in return.

Just slightly ahead of Brandon Knight ($14.6M), Ariza is the highest-paid player on the Suns but if everything goes to plan, that won’t be for long and he’ll be back in Rocket Red sooner than we may all think. I would LOVE for this to happen. His durability and his versatility will be greatly appreciated in a potential second tour of duty with the team.

But the biggest question would be if Ariza were to regain his starting role if this crazy scenario were to happen?

Next. Three reasons why James Harden can repeat as the NBA MVP. dark

Let’s get to that bridge when we cross it.

Ariza, 33, averaged 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists with a shooting line of .412/.368/.854 through 67 games in 2017-18.

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