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3 Reasons why the Miami Heat need to sign Trevor Ariza

By Brandon Johnson

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 16: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets talks to the media after the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 16, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 16: Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets talks to the media after the game against the Golden State Warriors in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 16, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Miami Heat guard Wayne Ellington passes the ball against Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at AmericanAirlines Arena Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 in Miami, Fla. The Heat won 109-103. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Miami Heat guard Wayne Ellington passes the ball against Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game at AmericanAirlines Arena Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 in Miami, Fla. The Heat won 109-103. (David Santiago/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /

A Great Fit

Ariza, a soon to be unrestricted free agent, is the perfect fit for this Miami Heat team.

With Wayne Ellington potentially on his way out considering his presumably high asking price (and rightly so), Ariza could bring the savvy, on-court veteran leadership Miami could use moving forward.

Of course, Miami has plenty of victory-minded leaders. Goran Dragic is an international basketball champion and Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem’s resumes speak for themselves. But as Wade and Haslem each inch towards the end of their careers, Ariza could offer a brand of high-volume management to Miami’s core.

Less of a playmaker than Iguodala, Ariza is every bit the hardnosed defensive stalwart Iguodala was for the Warriors’ title runs. The 13-year veteran is accompanied by a championship state of mind he honed playing alongside Kobe Bryant, while mastering his 3-and-D profession.

While Ariza is set to turn 33 at the end of the week, his age has hardly slowed his grind.

For the Houston Rockets this season, he was regularly assigned the toughest defensive marks. Through the regular season that meant guarding any of Paul George, Donovan Mitchell, Lou Williams, Damian Lillard and more. In the playoffs that coverage shifted to guarding Jimmy Butler, Curry and the NBA’s greatest scorer, Kevin Durant.

Miami was seventh in the NBA in defensive rating this season (104 points per 100 posessions), a hair behind the sixth place Rockets (103.8). Adding Ariza is consistent with head coach Erik Spoesltra’s defensive focus. And, where Ariza at times had to cover for James Harden’s absentmindedness, Miami can offer him a supporting cast to share his defensive responsibilities.

With Miami, Ariza can stand in on defense where Johnson and Ellington had trouble. His height advantage and knack for jumping passing lanes fits Miami’s positionless goals. Shooting 36.8 percent from 3 is a step down from Ellington’s 39.2, but Ariza’s defensive capabilities will pay off in more ways than one.

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