Despite the recent rumors that said Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver was unwilling to send forward Trevor Ariza to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Suns were “willing to dance with the Lakers, but only on their terms.”
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, after the first Ariza trade proposal fell apart (Suns were hoping to find a third team to take on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), the Lakers offered Caldwell-Pope and a future second-round pick. But that wasn’t good enough for the Suns, who demanded a young player instead of the pick.
That player is believed to be Josh Hart, which was one of the players on a blacklistfor the young up-and-coming franchise. The Lakers refused, as Hart is 10 years younger and has played better than Ariza this season.