Will Trevor Ariza give the Wizards exactly what they need? It’s a big question mark that they’re confident he will answer in the positive — confident enough, at least, to give up two rotation players in Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers for him. Never mind that he’s a $15-million rental and, based on the little time that he toiled for the Suns, seemingly showing his age. As far as they’re concerned, he’s still capable of making at 33 as much of the on- and off-court impact that he did at 28, when he last played for them.
To be sure, the Wizards are driven by the need to institute change, and fast. With close to two-fifths of their 2018-19 campaign already done, they’re wallowing in 11th, closer to the bottom of East standings than to a top-four seed, where preseason projections had them pegged. Needless to say, they have positive thoughts of the two seasons Ariza burned rubber for them. And, from their vantage point, taking on a variable they already have a good gauge of is far better than any other option on the table.
Which, for all intents, was why the Wizards soldiered on despite the monumental misstep they made in closing their initial deal for Ariza. Acting as conduits for the Suns, they thought they succeeded in claiming Dillon Brooks from the Grizzlies. As it turns out, the latter actually peddled MarShon Brooks. Naturally, the arrangement was scuttled, compelling them to restart talks amid a social-media backlash that painted them as fools.
For the Wizards, though, all’s well that ends well — and to the point where they’re afforded a much rosier outlook. And so upbeat were they that they went on to school the surging Lakers yesterday despite their depleted lineup. It didn’t matter that Ariza had not yet been cleared, Oubre and Rivers were listed as “trade pending,” Otto Porter Jr. rested a bruised knee, and Markieff Morris suffered from a neck strain after the second quarter. Featuring an inspired John Wall and ample support from Bradley Beal, Jeff Green, Tomas Satoransky, and Sam Dekker, they wrested the lead after the first minute of the match and built on it with such purpose that the outcome QA effectively decided by halftime.
That the impending arrival of an aging wingman would spur the Wizards, who had hitherto lost their last four outings, into action speaks volumes of the systemic nature of their infirmities. On the other hand, they deserve praise for doing something — anything, really — in order to improve their plight. Did they give up too much? Is it too little too late? Only time will tell, but if yesterday is any indication, better days lie ahead.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
