Wizards to meet with Trevor Ariza in hopes of re-signing him
The Washington Wizards will meet with free-agent forward Trevor Ariza in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Wizards coach Randy Wittman and vice president of player programs Ed Tapscott are scheduled to meet Ariza in his native Los Angeles on Tuesday morning, sources told Yahoo Sports. Ariza averaged 14.4 points and a career-high 6.2 rebounds while shooting a career-high 40.7 percent from 3-point range for a Wizards team that advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season.
Ariza views the Wizards as the frontrunner, but is also expected to receive interest from Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix and Miami, sources said. The 10-year NBA veteran is expected to talk to the other interested teams over the phone.
"The message to Trevor will be that the Wizards strongly want him back," a source said.
Wittman and Wizards senior vice president Tommy Sheppard were in Poland last weekend to meet with free-agent center Marcin Gortat, a source said. Gortat averaged 13.2 points and 9.5 rebounds last season.
The Wizards will exercise veteran backup point guard Andre Miller's option for next season. Wizards free-agent forward Drew Gooden is expected to be re-signed at a minimum contract, sources said.
Wizards free-agent forward Al Harrington will be an assistant coach on the franchise's summer-league team and would like to continue playing after previously contemplating retirement, a source said.
