NBA Rumors: Toronto Raptors interested in Trevor Ariza
By Bryan Rose
Multiple teams are expected to show interest in signing free agent Trevor Ariza and it appears the Toronto Raptors are the newest team to throw their name in the proverbial hat. That’s the word from Kevin Rashidi who expects the Raptors to make a play for the small forward this Summer.
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Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri has stated on more than one occasion that he’s looking to acquire a athletic wing with a defensive minded mentality, a mold that Ariza fits. Of course, the knock on Ariza throughout his career has been his inability to stay within an offensive role, often thinking he can do more than he can or is required of him.
Still, Trevor Ariza is one of the better all around small forwards available on the free agent market and at just 28-years-old, still has plenty of solid years left in the NBA.
Of course, contractual demands become an issue and while the Raptors do have a significant backing financially, it remains to be seen if they want to waste some of their cap space on Ariza considering he’s more of a complimentary player than a franchise altering piece.
Trevor Ariza also plays a somewhat similar role to DeMar DeRozan and given their struggles to shoot from outside, teams could attempt to pack the paint on them defensively, forcing the Raptors to beat them over the top.
It should be a rather active offseason for the Raptors who have a multitude of free agent decisions to make on their own players like Kyle Lowry and Greivis Vasquez.