Four free agents that likely won’t consider Utah Jazz, but probably should

Trevor Ariza

If Trevor Ariza is able to stay with the Houston Rockets next season and make the kind of money he’s aiming for, then that would probably be his best bet. He’s found a great home there and is fitting in well with a team that has a legitimate chance to win a championship this year.

However, the Rockets could easily find themselves in a crunch for money sooner rather than later. And especially if they find themselves falling short of a championship and aiming to make further moves this summer, there’s a good chance they’ll need to clear some space. Not to mention, Ariza will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so even if the Rockets do want to keep him, perhaps he’ll feel ready for a change of scenery.

As a player who’s won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and is now playing with a renowned Houston Rockets team, joining small market Utah probably isn’t where his offseason priorities lie. However, he could very well be a perfect fit.

Ariza has built a reputation as a trusty and formidable 3-and-D player. The Jazz mantra is based on defense and Ariza would fit right in with that. He’s a pesky wing defender known for locking down many of his opponents’ best players. While he’s reaching the back end of his career at 32 years old, he still brings plenty to the game that the Jazz could make use of.

His three-point shooting isn’t quite as high as the guys the Jazz may be looking to add this summer, but he’s still respected from deep and has been known to make big shots when his team has needed them the most. Ariza would likely enjoy a role similar to the one that Thabo Sefolosha had this past year of providing meaningful and valuable minutes, playing suffocating defense, but above all, serving as a crucial mentor for his young teammates.

Suiting up for the Jazz would give Ariza the opportunity to check all those boxes while putting him in a defense-first environment that he should be able to thrive in while still helping a team compete for contention in the Western Conference.

Nearing the end of his career, Ariza may want to simply stick with bona fide championship teams if he can, and if the Rockets want him back that’s likely the best option for him. Still, if the allure of going elsewhere or serving as a mentor in his mid 30s for a young, fun team, then the Jazz absolutely warrant his consideration.