NBA: Trevor Ariza to skip season return, spend time with son

Portland Trail Blazers forward Trevor Ariza will not be joining his team when the NBA season resumes next month.

Ariza, the veteran wingman, will instead spend time with his son, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ariza, a starter, has been involved in a custody case over his 12-year old son, and the mother’s choice of granting a court-ordered one month visitation period during the league’s quarantine of teams in Orlando left Ariza to choose those parenting responsibilities over competing with the Blazers in the 22-team re-start, sources said.

Ariza, 34, could lose between $1 million and $1.8 million in salary, based on whether the Blazers qualify for the playoffs, for not participating in the restart. Ariza has a minimally-guaranteed $12.8 million contract for the 2020-2021 season.

Ariza has been impactful for the Blazers since he was acquired via a trade.

The 6-9 forward is averaging 11 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 40% from deep.

Since visitors are not allowed in NBA’s ‘bubble’ site in Orlando, Ariza will be choosing to spend more time with his family.

Among other players who have decided to skip the season return are Kyrie Irving, Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, and Davis Bertans.