11 Players the Kings never should have gambled on
By Tyler Watts
7. Trevor Ariza
The Kings finished ninth in the Western Conference in 2019 with 39 wins. It was their most victories since their playoff drought began in 2007. Sacramento shockingly fired head coach Dave Joerger and replaced him with Luke Walton. They brought back Harrison Barnes and added in free agency in hopes of getting back to the playoffs.
The Kings signed Ariza to a two-year contract worth $25 million. There were partial guarantees in year two, but Sacramento believed the 6’8 forward could be a veteran leader on their young squad. Ariza won a championship playing next to Kobe Bryant in 2009 and had been to the playoffs in five of the last six seasons.
He lasted just 32 games in Sactown. The 34-year-old was playing 24.7 minutes per game, which was more than expected. Ariza averaged just 6.0 points per game, his lowest mark since 2008, and was shooting just 38.8 percent from the field. The signing did not work, and the Kings traded him to Portland in January of 2020.
Trevor Ariza played two more years in the NBA after leaving Sacramento. The journeymen wrapped things up with the Lakers in 2022, and his 32 games with the Kings will go down as a disappointment. Ariza was not their only 2019 offseason move that did not go as planned.