Lakers eyeing reunion with Trevor Ariza if Thunder release him

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in a reunion with Trevor Ariza.

Pau Gasol isn’t the only former Los Angeles Lakers player to keep an eye on for a potential reunion in La La Land.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Lakers are keeping tabs on Trevor Ariza in the event the Oklahoma City Thunder make him available.

While Charania reports Ariza will begin the season on OKC’s roster, that could quickly change for a tanking team run by a general manager known for turning his assets into whatever draft compensation he can get his hands on.

How could the Lakers get their hands on Trevor Ariza?

Because Ariza has $12.8 million on his contract for the 2020-21 NBA season and the Lakers don’t have the kind of cap space to absorb him outright, a trade feels unlikely. Now that this report has surfaced, Thunder GM Sam Presti would probably prefer to use that leverage and deal Ariza to a contender that can actually give him an asset in return — even if Ariza’s value these days is probably closer to a second-round pick or a flier on a young, unproven player.

The only way the Lakers will get their hands on the 35-year-old swingman to pad their wing depth is if OKC buys him out of his contract and he hits the open market.

Last year, Ariza started off the season on an uninspiring note, averaging 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 32 appearances for the Sacramento Kings while posting ugly .388/.352/.778 shooting splits.

However, as has been the case in recent years (just ask Phoenix Suns fans), Ariza looked far more energized after a change of environments. Upon being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, he came to life, averaging 11.0 points and 4.8 rebounds a night on .491/.400/.872 shooting splits in 21 games for Rip City.

Ariza got the Luke Ridnour treatment over the offseason, getting traded three times in week-long span, and when the dust finally settled, he was on a rebuilding team in Oklahoma City. Given his past lack of motivation playing for teams fitting that description, Presti won’t hesitate to deal him if he can get something out of it. But if nothing materializes and Ariza’s lackadaisical play isn’t helping the locker room culture, dumping him might be the only option.

And when that day arrives, the Lakers sound like they’ll be ready.