The Miami Heat are finalizing a trade with Oklahoma City for veteran small forward Trevor Ariza, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
In exchange, the Thunder will receive center Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick.
“Leonard must still waive his no-trade clause because of the one-year Bird restriction on his deal, which he’s expected to do for Miami,” Wojnarowski reported.
Leonard is currently serving a suspension for making an anti-Semetic slur. He remains out for the season with a shoulder injury, so there’s a good chance the Thunder will release him.
“Leonard is signing his trade consent and the trade will go through,” added Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Ariza, 35, hasn’t played all season because of personal matters, though he is expected to take the court for the defending Eastern Conference champion Heat.
He has made a name for himself as a solid 3-point shooter and strong defender on the wing. Including the Thunder, the Heat will become Ariza’s 10th team.
He spent last with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 11.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. He did not join the team for its eight seeding games and playoff appearance inside the Orlando bubble at the end of 2019-20.
