The Washington Wizards paid a high price to get their locker room in order, trading away younger players in forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and guard Austin Rivers in return for veteran forward Trevor Ariza. However, Wizards head coach Scott Brooks likes the fit the once-Wizard brings to the floor, with the 33-year-old possessing some of the key qualities he's highly sought after for this roster.
“He brings… the consistency, professionalism on both ends of the court,” said Brooks of Ariza, according to Candace Buckner of The Washington Post. “We need defenders and we need some consistent outside shooters and he can provide that.”
Brooks was recently proud of the effort that his All-Star backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal brought to a bar-measuring matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers but noted the effort should be the same in every game. The Wizards have shown a tendency to get up for big games but have often left the gas tank at home when it comes to some of the routine matchups they face throughout a long 82-game season.
Article Continues BelowWashington stopped the bleeding of a four-game skid with a statement win at home over the Lakers but Brooks is hoping Ariza can be the one to inject this roster with much-needed energy and determination.
At 12-18, the Wizards sit only 2.5 games away from the last playoff spot and will need to start carving out a path into the playoffs before it's too late.
Ariza will get the nod at power forward on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks, hoping this is the start of a long string of wins to come.