Report: Suns' Ariza a top candidate for trade to contender during season

This summer's crop of free-agent signees have the potential to be dealt starting Dec. 15, and it appears a certain Phoenix Suns forward could be changing teams.

Trevor Ariza, on a one-year contract with the Suns for a cool $15 million, is expected to be made available and attract interest on the trade market, sources told The New York Times' Marc Stein.

The 33-year-old wing has established a strong track record of contributing for winning teams. Prior to signing in Phoenix, Ariza made four straight playoff appearances with the Houston Rockets, averaging 36.6 minutes per game over 50 total games. In addition to playoff runs with the Orlando Magic, the then-New Orleans Hornets, and Washington Wizards, Ariza also started 23 games en route to the Los Angeles Lakers' 2009 title.

Evidently, the Suns do not possess such lofty aspirations. With an NBA-worst 4-19 record, they already sit 12 games out of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. As they careen toward yet another high draft pick, it appears there would be little use beyond providing leadership for Ariza, a high-priced veteran on an expiring deal.

Ariza has averaged 34.5 minutes per game with Phoenix. While he has ceded some scoring opportunities to young standouts Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, he has supplanted his scoring contributions (9.9 points per game) with rebound (5.6) and assist (3.3) numbers that exceed last year's averages with the Rockets. Even in Year 15, Ariza remains one of the better 3-and-D wings in the league today.