Chapter 427 Ariza

Just like the trade market, this year's buyout market is also very lively.

Jeff Teague of the Timberwolves, Andre Roberson of the Thunder, Chandler Parsons of the Grizzlies, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marvin Williams of the Hornets, Tristan Thompson of the Celtics... are all popular candidates in the buyout market.

None of these names attracted the Pelicans' interest. The one that really piqued their interest was Trevor Ariza of the Kings.

After Ariza's age increased, he has been signing short-term contracts, but because of his high-quality 3-and-D attributes, the contract amount of the short-term contracts is not low.

Including the one-year, 15 million contract he signed with the Suns before, and the one-year, 13 million contract he signed with the Kings last summer.

It's just that neither of these short-term contracts have achieved his deserved role.

The Suns did not make the playoffs last season, and the Kings are also very hanging this season.

Moreover, the situation for Ariza is worse than last season, because of Nemanja Bjelica's excellent performance, he was squeezed out of the rotation.

If he continues to play at this pace, after his contract is over, there is a high probability that he will only be able to get a minimum salary next season, and may even be directly eliminated by the NBA.

In recent years, due to the increase in the salary cap, the living space for role players is very small, especially for veterans like them.

So he took the initiative to propose a buyout invitation to the Kings, hoping that he could go to a championship-contending team.

The Kings also agreed, they can't give Ariza playing time now.

Rather than staying on the team and occupying a spot, it is better to find a veteran who can play in the buyout market, which is also an improvement to the team's strength.

What's more, Ariza took the initiative to propose the buyout, and he must have lost a lot of money when he was bought out.

As the buyout deadline approached, Teague, Parsons, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Thompson completed their buyouts one after another.

Except for Parsons, who was completely ignored, the others attracted the attention of championship-contending teams.

Still that sentence, the performance of these players this season does not match their existing contracts, but the minimum salary is definitely worth it.

The competition in the market is also very fierce.

The good news is that the buyout deadline is different from the trade deadline. There is a time limit for players' buyouts, but there is no time limit for signing.

As long as they complete the signing before the end of the season, they can represent the new team in the playoffs.

But the more this is the case, the more intense the competition among the teams is in private.

Just before the deadline, Ariza officially reached a buyout agreement with the Kings.

According to Woj's report, Ariza gave up about 3 million in salary.

Ariza entered the buyout market and immediately attracted the attention of many championship-contending teams.

Although Ariza is old and his state is not as good as his peak, this kind of high-quality 3-and-D has always been a puzzle piece for the championship.

Not to mention the 3, his D, the ability to defend from the two to the four, is far more valuable than a minimum salary.

Among a crowd of competitors, the Trail Blazers are in the leading position of all teams.

It's very simple, the Trail Blazers are willing to provide Ariza with a starting position.

With a starting position, there is playing time, with playing time, there is data, and with data, there is a chance to get a new contract when the contract expires.

For Ariza, this is definitely a huge temptation.

"Signing Trevor back is the best choice for us, but it's hard for us to compete with Portland."

After learning about the market information, Dell Demps reported to Tang Tian as soon as possible.

What he said is also the truth, after the Pelicans traded for Holiday, the starting lineup has been stable, and it is impossible to give a starting promise like the Trail Blazers.

Compared with the sentiment of going home, the competitiveness is not a little bit worse.

"Is our mid-level exception still there?"

Tang Tian suddenly asked back.

Demps nodded.

During the summer, the players signed were all using space, because there were enough people, the mid-level exception has not been used.

"It's no use wasting it, and this is our biggest advantage."

Tang Tian said with a smile.

After Tang Tian finished speaking, Demps quickly understood.

Money and starting, this is actually a multiple-choice question.

The former represents the real money in the pocket, while the latter represents opportunity and possibility.

It is possible that Ariza will adapt very well in the Trail Blazers, perform well, help the Trail Blazers return to the playoffs, and get a big contract next summer.

It is also possible that Ariza's performance in the Trail Blazers is average, and the Trail Blazers also miss the playoffs, and his NBA career will come to an end at the end of the season.

It depends on how Ariza chooses.

"I think he's worth 5 million."

Tang Tian gave Demps an upper limit.

This year's full mid-level is 8.7 million, 5 million is more than half, and it is also twice the minimum salary that Ariza can get.

This will be very competitive.

After the Pelicans joined the battle for Ariza and were willing to provide a mid-level contract, they quickly became the leaders.

At Ariza's age, it is almost unrealistic to expect him to kill the Quartet again, and the Trail Blazers are currently ranked eleventh, and it is also very difficult to return to the top eight.

Of course, the biggest reason Tang Tian did this to Demps is because he had been with Ariza for a long time, and he knew that the latter was not a person who liked to take risks.

As expected, on the third day after the buyout deadline ended, the battle for Ariza was declared over.

According to Shams, the Pelicans signed Ariza to a two-year, 8 million full guarantee contract.

Demps showed his negotiation skills, and this contract was not a loss at all.

Regardless of ability or experience, Ariza is fully capable of taking on the role of Durant's substitute.

The Pelicans then officially announced the news.

After the news was announced, it also aroused a burst of cheers from the Pelicans fans on social media.

"He's back! Holiday, Ariza, the original Pelicans are back!"

"This contract is a steal, Ariza's value is far more than 4 million!"

"The Godfather is the Godfather, when the management also crushes everything, digs Durant, exchanges Holiday, signs Ariza, one magical operation after another!"

"By the way, when will Tang come back! Looking at your old teammates, aren't you tempted? Don't you want to go on the court and fight together?!"

"Ten thousand people blood book for Tang Tian to come back!"

"It is impossible for Tang to come back this season, but even if he doesn't come back, I think this lineup is not afraid of any opponent!"

"Agreed, we have added Holiday to the backcourt, Kuzma returned to the fourth position as a substitute, plus Ariza as a substitute for the third position, it is perfect!"

……

The day after the signing was completed, Tang Tian went to the training hall and met Ariza.

After he became the boss, he had less contact with these old teammates, and this was the first time he had seen him in a year.

Compared with the last time they met, Ariza looked obviously much older.

Calculated, Ariza is also 35 years old this year, and he is already a serious veteran.

The two met without speaking, after smiling at each other, there was a burst of hugs and head touches.

Time is really the fastest thing, it has been 6 years since they first met in the Pelicans.