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Should the Warriors Pursue Trevor Ariza in Free Agency?

By Andrew Ites

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors talks to Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets after Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 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 Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors talks to Trevor Ariza #1 of the Houston Rockets after Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 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 Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Warriors need to add depth on the wings this offseason, and Trevor Ariza is one of the names that has been connected to Golden State in free agency.

The Warriors still have at least one game remaining to close out the Cavs in their quest for three championships in four years, but it’s never too early to take a look ahead to the offseason.

Golden State’s biggest weakness this season was a lack of depth on the wing.

Injuries to Andre Iguodala and Patrick McCaw in the postseason revealed that the Warriors didn’t have many capable wing players behind them in the rotation. Worse yet, McCaw is a free agent this offseason and Golden State may be unable to give him the same money as some other wing-needy teams.

Golden State will have limited resources to address that need on the wing this offseason, but they may be able to convince a couple veterans to come to the Bay Area in search of a championship ring.

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ESPN’s Chris Haynes made an appearance on Tim Kawakami’s podcast for The Athletic, and floated Trevor Ariza as a player that the Warriors could pursue in free agency.

Ariza had a very solid season in Houston scoring 11.7 points per game with 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and he shot 36.8% from three. However, most Warriors fans remember him having the worst game of his life in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals going 0-for-12 from the floor.

That performance will certainly haunt Ariza for a long time, but that shouldn’t prevent the Warriors from attempting to convince him to come to Golden State on a minimum contract or their version of the mid-level exception.

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Ariza would have to take a pay cut to make that work, but he may be willing to risk a few extra dollars for a chance at winning another championship.

Three-and-D wings are hard to find on the open market, and Trevor Ariza may be the Warriors’ best option this offseason.

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