NBA rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Spencer Hawes, Trevor Ariza
It should be a busy summer for the Los Angeles Clippers.
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The Clippers are expected to pursue both Miami Heat forward LeBron James and New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony and have made re-signing reserve point guard Darren Collison their number one priority.
Of course, there are also fallback options. According to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times, the Clippers could pursue Cleveland Cavalier’s big man Spencer Hawes and Washington Wizards’ swingman Trevor Ariza.
"They would like to get a “Stretch 4 or 5” to back up power forward Blake Griffin and center DeAndre Jordan.Free-agent center Spencer Hawes, who has three-point range, is interested in playing for the Clippers. But he made $6.5 million last season in Cleveland and may have to take a pay cut to join the Clippers.The Clippers will probably look at free-agent small forward Trevor Ariza, who played with Chris Paul in New Orleans, if the team can’t land James or Anthony. But Ariza also might have to take a pay cut to join the Clippers; he made $7.7 million last year in Washington."
Ariza averaged 14.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season. He shot 45.6% from the field, 40.7% from beyond the arc and 77.2% from the free throw line. The Wizards are probably the favorites to keep him, but the Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns will all be in hot pursuit.
Hawes was dealt from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Cavaliers just before the trad deadline. He put up 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, 41.6% from three and 78.3% from the free throw line. The Cavaliers want to re-sign Hawes and both the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks are reportedly interested in him.