OKC Thunder: Winners and losers of the Trevor Ariza trade

Winners from the Trevor Ariza trade

The OKC Thunder

First up on the list, we find the team in which Ariza is departing, the OKC Thunder, as a clear winner of this ordeal.

As we’re all aware, the franchise is in the midst of a full-out rebuild. In most cases, the lifeblood of a team in such a phase is draft capital and, while they’ve managed to attain quite a lot of it over the past several offseasons through clever wheeling and dealings from the front office, it never hurts to keep collecting.

While this move did bring back a contract for a contract, it also managed to nab Oklahoma City a future second-round pick for a guy who, frankly, many could have easily forgotten was even a member of the organization this year, as he was acquired via trade right before the season began and never wound up actually joining the squad, as he’s been away for “personal reasons.”

Trevor Ariza

Next, we see the man himself, Trevor Ariza, finding himself in the winner’s circle, as we now find him heading to a much more desirable franchise for someone of his ilk.

At this stage in his career, the wing’s specific attributes would best be served on a team vying for playoff contention or, in Miami’s case, a team with actual championship aspirations — let’s not forget, they are the reigning Eastern Conference champs.

With Miami, not only will Ariza once again be on a legitimate contender and, in turn, have the possibility of adding another ring to his collection, but he’ll also simply be of more use as a contributor in South Beach than he would have for the OKC Thunder who find themselves prioritizing getting their younger players more minutes.

Sam Presti

If you didn’t believe in Sam Presti before, you should now.

With the fact that Ariza had yet to play a lick of NBA basketball this season, many envisioned that he’d just wind up being bought out post the March 25th deadline and, in turn, be lost for nothing.

Instead, however, Presti wound up making something out of nothing once again and scored a pick in return.

We get it, this move is not necessarily anything to write home about, but there’s a bigger narrative at play here — if Presti can get something like draft capital for a 34-year-old who hasn’t even played a game this season, just imagine what he can get in return for two players in George Hill and Al Horford who have produced admirably this season for the Thunder.