As teams prepare to start getting things in order before going to Orlando, decisions on the rosters are now being made. Some guys are opting out of playing, while others are beginning to sign contracts.
Ariza’s Year Is Over
Rather than try and play in Orlando next month, Trevor Ariza is taking some personal time to spend with his son. This will effectively put an end to his 2019-20 season, which was split between Sacramento and Portland. And this is a significant blow to the Trail Blazers.
The depth chart in Portland, even with two starters coming back, is very thin. So many things will have to go right for them to have a true shot. And they are going to need to now slot Carmelo Anthony in at the small forward spot, where he hasn’t played in several years.
For Ariza, this move to spend time with his son is a no-brainer. But it is going to have a serious impact on his team.
Kings Make a Move
When the Kings acquired Alec Burks at the deadline last year, it was expected that he would be in the rotation. Then, they signed Corey Brewer. And with Burks now in Philadelphia, his playing time will not be altered as Brewer is a King once again after Sacramento signed him for the restart.
Brewer’s minutes will not be as high as they were last year, but he’ll have an opportunity to add veteran leadership and push his guys to play harder. His ability as a defender and occasional slashing threat will help them out, no question.
Given how many health concerns the Kings have had, picking up somebody that has been with them before, and contributed positively in this league is a no-brainer. We’ll see what his role is.
Mavericks Not Expected to Make Any Changes
With Courtney Lee expected to miss the rest of the season, there was a thought that he might be waived for Dallas to pick up another player. But that will not be the case.
Though Lee is done after calf surgery, the Mavs said that they value the leadership that he brings to the table. He was a starter for a championship runner-up during his first NBA season and has bounced around since. But his time as a player in this league has shown us many things.
And in his new role, he’s going to be a leader for the team. They value his off-the-floor impact too much to cut him loose.
Boogie Coming Back?
It’s been a tough last few years for DeMarcus Cousins, riddled with injury after injury. He suffered various ailments with the Warriors last year before shockingly coming back for the NBA Finals. And then he tore his ACL this past summer while going through workouts with the Lakers.
Currently a free agent, there is some optimism that a team could pick him up for the reboot. He adds veteran leadership and star power from the center spot. He would be playing minimal minutes if he did get picked up, but you never know.
Keep an eye on the Wizards as an option, as John Wall is trying to lobby for the move to happen.
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