If Ariza sticks to his guns he won’t be in Houston next year.
He is finally trying to cash out before his career is over, it seems like he has been around forever. Here is the breakdown via Rockets Wire.
Throughout his career, Ariza has signed relatively team-friendly deals, never earning more than $8.5 million per season. According to a person with knowledge of Ariza’s thinking, the veteran small forward will seek a larger deal once free agency arrives. Ariza is believed to want a contract in the range of $50-60 million over 4-5 years, more than $30-40 million Houston would likely offer. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the record about Ariza or the Rockets’ free agency plans.
The Rockets are looking to sign big-time free agents, so unless they strike out with everyone, don’t expect Ariza to be back. The Warriors have shown some interest, but not at the dollars he wants.