NBA Trade Rumors: Trevor Ariza To Lakers Not A Done Deal

Talks between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns over a potential trade for forward Trevor Ariza are still ongoing.

It was reported earlier this week by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Lakers were working on an agreement for Ariza that would involve a third team taking on "Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as part of a potentially larger deal."

And in an appearance on “The Ringer NBA Show" on Tuesday, Kevin O’Connor revealed a handful of NBA executives believed the deal was done.

“I’ll tell you what, though, okay: In regards to Trevor Ariza going to the Lakers, I’ve had a handful of NBA executives tell me they’ve heard that’s going to happen," O'Connor said, as quoted on Silver Screen and Roll. "It’s done, it’s just a matter of everything else, like figuring out what the rest of that deal is.”

However, he would later clarify on Twitter that it's still not done yet and that anything could happen between now and Dec. 15.

"I wish I framed that comment differently while recording this morning," he replied to a tweet. "I meant it only as a response to Chris’ comment about Ariza/Jones/Lakers rumors not some definitive report. There’s more to figure out and other teams are in on Ariza. Also a lot of time between now and Dec 15."

An official trade cannot happen until Saturday because Ariza signed a one-year deal with the Suns earlier this summer, which is the same case for Caldwell-Pope and the Lakers.

The Suns have struggled this season with a current 4-24 record and with Ariza's $15 million contract expiring next summer, are looking to gain as much as they can by trading away the 33-year-old veteran.

According to Wojnarowski, they are hoping to land a playmaking guard, which would allow Devin Booker to play more off the ball, and a draft asset in exchange for offloading Ariza.

Meanwhile, the Lakers and their playoff hopes would be further strengthened with the arrival of an experienced forward who averages 9.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists over 25 games this season.

And with Ariza becoming a free agent in the summer, the Lakers will also have the cap space to sign a top free agent, should Ariza and the rest of the other one-year deal veterans not re-sign with the team. The Lakers are currently in fifth in the Western Conference with a 17-10 record and seven wins in their last 10 games.

But as O'Connor mentioned, there are other teams interested in Ariza and anything can happen. According to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro, there are no less than eight teams interested in acquiring the former Houston Rockets player.