Report: Trevor Ariza garners interest from Atlanta Hawks

Washington Wizards small forward Trevor Ariza (1) looks to pass as Chicago Bulls small forward Mike Dunleavy (34) defends during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

All has been quiet around the Atlanta Hawks front office in recent days, but in the background, Danny Ferry is surely lurking. With that on the table, there has been a report that surfaced concerning a potential target for the Hawks in free agency, and that rumbling centers around versatile forward Trevor Ariza.

While Ariza would not present the “splashy” name that many readers of ATL All Day would desire, the 29-year-old had a stellar season for the Washington Wizards in 2013-2014. Despite his supporting role alongside John Wall, Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat, the 6-foot-8 Ariza averaged better than 14 points and 6 rebounds per game, and he has long been considered to be an above-average defensive player, especially when taking into account his considerable length.

The biggest question mark around Ariza (other than his “contract year” improvement) is his shooting ability. Last season, Ariza shot better than 40% from beyond the arc, but for his career, that number is just 34.7%, and his mechanics are especially flawless. Still, Mike Budenholzer did yeoman’s work with DeMarre Carroll‘s jump shot last season, and that shouldn’t be a long-term concern.

What do you think about the potential pursuit of Trevor Ariza? Be sure to engage with us at ATL All Day via Twitter (@ATLBeatBlog) or in the comments.