| The Detroit News
Trevor Ariza is on the move for the third time this week, going from Detroit to Oklahoma City along with Dallas’ Justin Jackson in a three-team trade.
Also in the deal, the Mavericks sent Delon Wright to the Pistons for James Johnson, a person with knowledge of the details told the Associated Press early Saturday.
Ariza was sent from Portland to Houston two days before the draft, then shipped to the Pistons on draft night Wednesday. The 35-year-old has already played for 10 teams.
Wright is the only player in the trade not on an expiring contract. Wright has two years remaining on the three-year deal that was part of the sign-and-trade sending him to Dallas from Memphis.
The 6-foot-5 Wright, 28, is a combo guard who was drafted by Toronto in the first round in 2015 out of Utah. After signing with Memphis as a free agent, he was traded to Dallas in 2019. He is playing on a three-year, $28 million he signed with the Grizzlies.
Wright’s career averages are 7.3 points, 2.9 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 19.8 minutes.
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The Mavericks added Johnson to provide some toughness around young stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. Dallas was defensive-minded on draft night, taking Arizona’s Josh Green in the first round and trading for Philadelphia’s Josh Richardson.
Point guard Trey Burke (Michigan) and the Mavericks agreed on a $10 million, three-year contract for the free agent to return after a strong showing in the NBA bubble in Florida. Burke’s emergence as one of the Doncic’s backups made Wright more expendable. Dallas acquired Wright from Memphis during the 2019 offseason.
Jackson came to Dallas in a trade before the deadline in February 2019. His production dropped off during the pandemic-altered season after a strong finish to the previous season following the trade.
In addition to Ariza and Jackson, Oklahoma City will get draft compensation in the deal.
Johnson’s expiring contract was another attraction for the Mavericks, who don’t have the salary cap space for a big move in free agency this year but should be in position for one next summer.