Having whiffed on free agent superstars Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh, and electing not to splurge for Chandler Parsons, the Rockets settled on Trevor Ariza. The veteran swingman is on his way to Houston following a solid year with the Washington Wizards. Per the Houston Chronicle:
Stunned by Friday’s sudden change of direction in their pursuit of Bosh, the Rockets came to an agreement on a four-year, $32 million contract with Wizards free agent Trevor Ariza, returning Ariza to Houston five years after they signed him when they lost Metta World Peace, then Ron Artest, in free agency.
Ariza is coming off his best (of 10) NBA season, and unlike his move from the Lakers to the Rockets in 2009 when he was trying to expand his game on a rebuilding team, he has become even more adept in his role defending small forwards and working off star players.
The Wizards had made an offer similar to the Rockets and seemed stunned by Ariza’s decision, but the Rockets had cap room to offer more had the Wizards’ upped their offer and benefited from Texas’ lack of a state income tax. […] “We’re disappointed,” Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld told the Washington Post. “We made our very best offer. He elected to go elsewhere. We wish him the best.”
