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Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the Phoenix Suns will release guard Austin Rivers, who had just been traded to Phoenix along with Kelly Oubre from the Washington Wizards in the Trevor Ariza trade.
After trade with Wizards, Suns agree to part ways with G Austin Rivers, per ESPN sources. Rivers – earning $12.6M in final year of deal – becomes a free agent upon clearing waivers. As a veteran, sides concluded Rivers fits better on an older team that's pursuing playoffs.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 18, 2018
Rivers' brief time with the Wizards was not as productive as either side would've hoped. The seven-year veteran out of Duke averaged only 7.2 points, less than half of what he had averaged the year before with the Clippers. His assists and steals were also halved, from four and 1.2 to two and 0.6, respectively.
The Suns decided that they had no need for the veteran, who will now look to land on a team in the playoff hunt.
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Austin Rivers is known as a scoring guard with quick speed and a three-point shot that is serviceable. There are certainly teams out there that could look to bolster their backcourt scoring and take a chance on Rivers.
Perhaps he could be reunited with his father, Doc Rivers, in Los Angeles, as the Clippers look to continue surprising the league and sneak into the Western Conference playoffs.
A better fit might make more sense in Detroit or Orlando, where backcourt depth is lacking. Both of those teams could use a scoring guard in order to ease some of the pressure off of their main scorers.
Regardless of who signs him, Austin Rivers will certainly make an impact on that team.
