The Miami Heat acquired veteran forward, Trevor Ariza, at the 2021 trade deadline in mid-March. And as it’s now safe to say, the 16-year NBA journeyman has wasted zero time delivering significant production for the Heat, now suiting up for the 10th NBA franchise in his career.
After all, for a player who’s encountered a slew of different motion sets at those previous nine stops or teams, Trevor’s role with the Heat is much-needed for a team hoping to capture an NBA title this summer, as he provides ravenous defensive abilities, hustle, and a still-capable shooting stroke.
Ariza brings a familiar, yet abstract definition to the Heat Culture and even at 36 years old, he’s already been pinned by Head Coach Erik Spoelstra as the team’s starting power forward for the foreseeable future. This was something that became evidently clear almost immediately following the Heat’s decision to trade Kelly Olynyk to the Houston Rockets.
Here’s a fun fact.
While being three inches shorter than Olynyk (Ariza 6’9”, Olynyk 7’0”), Ariza holds a 7’2” wingspan in comparison to Olynyk at 6’10”. So, there’s something to think about.