Trevor Ariza reportedly informed the Phoenix Suns he preferred to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Tania Ganguli of the L.A. Times.

The Suns and Lakers reportedly tried to work out a deal, but the trade was never materialized, as Ariza was sent to the Washington Wizards in exchange for small forward Kelly Oubre and guard Austin Rivers.

Ariza let the Suns know that the Lakers were his preferred destination, and the teams tried to work out a deal.

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David Aldridge of The Athletic reported that Suns owner Robert Sarver didn't want to trade Ariza to the Lakers, who are in the same division as the Suns. Ariza played for the Lakers before and won the 2009 championship with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

Ariza, who signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Suns in the offseason, averaged 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game with the Suns in 26 games. The 33-year-old shot 37.9 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from beyond the arc and 83.7 percent from the free-throw line.

As with the Lakers, Ariza has played with the Wizards in the past and has a close relationship with All-Stars John Wall and Bradley Beal. However, the swingman still would have loved to be back in purple and gold and live in sunny Los Angeles.