Miami Heat agree to trade Meyers Leonard and pick for Trevor Ariza in deal with Oklahoma City Thunder
Leonard had been away from the Heat for more than a week after a video surfaced of him using an anti-Semitic slur while livestreaming the playing of a video game; Ariza hasn't played this season after being traded to the Thunder in the off-season
Wednesday 17 March 2021 22:27, UK
The Miami Heat have traded Meyers Leonard and a second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Trevor Ariza.
Leonard needed to sign off on the deal because of his no-trade clause in his contract, and did so as a "gesture of good faith" to the Heat organisation, according to ESPN.
The Thunder said that Leonard "will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organisation." The centre is unable to play the rest of this season because of a shoulder injury and the Thunder will not pick up his team option for about $10.2m next season, which will see him become a free agent in the summer.
The second-round pick is for the 2027 draft, while the Thunder also generated a trade exception in the deal.
Leonard had been away from the Heat for more than a week after a video surfaced of him using an anti-Semitic slur while livestreaming the playing of a video game.
The 29-year-old apologised for the incident, which was roundly criticised by the Heat, Jewish groups and even NBA commissioner Adam Silver - who fined Leonard $50,000 and barred him from being around the Heat for one week. The team had previously said Leonard would be away from the team indefinitely.
"Meyers was a key part of our team that made a run to the NBA Finals and we will always be grateful for his contributions and leadership last season," the Heat said in a statement.
"His recent comments were very hurtful and disappointing, but, we are encouraged that he has spent this last week meeting with community leaders, Rabbis and Holocaust survivors to greater understand the impact of his words and we hope that his education will continue.
"We wish Meyers and (his wife) Elle the best of luck in the future."
The Heat will get to add wing depth for the second consecutive season through a trade for a player who had been sitting out for months.
They did it last year as part of a trade with Memphis that brought Andre Iguodala to Miami, and now do it with Ariza - who was part of three trades in November and ended up with Oklahoma City, though has never played for the Thunder.
The 35-year-old Ariza was born in Miami, has been working out in Miami of late and is about to make the Heat his 10th team in 17 seasons. He most recently played for Portland, starting 21 games and averaging 11 points for the Trail Blazers last season.
The 6ft 8in Ariza is also considered a strong defender, and has made 36 per cent of his three-point tries in the last three seasons.
