Monday 10 December 2018 07:20, UK
The Los Angeles Lakers are in talks to acquire Trevor Ariza from the Phoenix Suns, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Sunday.
According to the report, the main sticking point is finding a third team to complete the deal. The Suns' desire is "to land a playmaking guard and a draft asset as the price of unloading Ariza".
To that end, Wojnarowski reported, the Lakers are looking to include guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the deal, though it appears he would go to a third team.
Caldwell-Pope, 25, has full veto power over a trade per the one-year, $12m contract he signed this offseason.
"The Lakers have shown a willingness to work with his agent, Rich Paul, if there is a deal that might increase his role and possibly get him signed to a deal this summer with a new team," Wojnarowski reported.
Players signed this offseason as a free agent cannot be traded until Saturday.
Ariza is also signed to a one-year deal, a $15m pact he signed after five seasons in Houston.
The 33-year-old Ariza has previously played for the Lakers and helped them win an NBA championship in 2009.
He is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season.
The Suns are a league-worst 4-22 this season.
