The much expected and anticipated Trevor Ariza trade took place early Saturday morning when the Suns came to an agreement with the Washington Wizards. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Suns will receive Austin Rivers and Kelly Oubre.

Rivers, a veteran combo guard out of Duke provides a stop gap solution at the point guard spot; Oubre in a contract year will compete for minutes as the 3 or 4 in the Kokoskov offense.

The Wizards get a former veteran player that was a great locker room presence for them. For the Wizards the trade makes sense, give up a player in Oubre who you are likely to lose in free agency, for a veteran that can provide some damage control. Ariza is an upgrade for the Wizards.

For the Suns, it’s a solid haul considering reports were coming out that the Suns were not looking to move Ariza back home to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Suns could have done much worse, Rivers is not the long-term point guard solution but Oubre is a great within the Kokoskov offense.

First look at Rivers’ grades from this season shows just how much he has struggled in DC. Rivers is a competent one on one scorer, which matters in the Kokoskov system but with the Suns riding a two-game winning streak largely because of their defensive effort does Rivers’ poor defensive grades hurt the team this season?

Suns have to continue with De’Anthony Melton as the starting point guard as he provides the defensive effort that is needed next to Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton in the Suns starting lineup. Melton is a better player than Austin Rivers right now and will be in the next couple years. Melton has a future with the Suns rebuild

On the other hand, Kelly Oubre is an interesting piece to add to what the Suns currently have at the wing position. Between TJ Warren, Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson, Kelly Oubre is going to have to earn his minutes. I don’t think it would be best to start Warren at the moment, but Oubre is an upgrade over Ariza for the Suns.

As I wrote in this piece earlier in the week, having a play-making 4 is critical in the Koksokv offense. You need more of a TJ Warren who can put the ball on the floor rather than a Ryan Anderson spot up shooter. Oubre is going to thrive in this system.

Interim Suns General Manager, James Jones is all about creating an organization identity – playing with a system/structure – finding players that fit the system. Oubre should fit in well.

Looking his grades, Oubre has not had the best start to this season, much of that may have been the pressure of a contract year and the dysfunction within the Wizards organization. The defensive minded wing is known for his ball-hawking defense when the motor is running high. Question is will the motor always run high in a Suns uniform?

Overall, I would give the Suns a B+ with this trade. The Suns had limited options to find a long-term solution at the point guard situation, staying away from a pricey young point guard allowed the Suns to maintain future flexibility moving forward. I am excited to see what Kelly Oubre brings to the table in an expanded role.

At the end of the day the Suns need better professional basketball players. Professional basketball players with experience, they got that in this trade. 2 for 1.