How much does Trevor Ariza have left in the tank for the Lakers?

Los Angeles native Trevor Ariza was traded to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline in 2007 as a fledgling 23-year-old player still looking to find his pathway in the NBA and meet some of the potential that he had flashed during his freshman year at UCLA. It was a move that Ariza would eventually credit as saving his career.

The trade eventually turned out as one of then Lakers’ and current Charlotte Hornets’ general manager Mitch Kupchak’s shrewdest moves as Ariza developed into a legitimate 3-and-D threat by applying himself defensively with elite physical tools and becoming a reliable three-point shooter. Ariza attributed the latter of those to his new Lakers’ teammates who instilled a newfound sense of confidence into him after struggling with it early in his career, especially with the New York Knicks and Larry Brown.

Ariza’s development made him a key contributor to the Lakers’ 2009 championship but that off-season saw a series of developments that led to Ariza leaving for Houston while the Lakers signed the artist formerly known as Ron Artest, now Metta World Peace.

Fast forward nearly 12 years later and the LA native has returned home - this time as a grizzled, experienced 36-year-old. In the following video, I explained how this older Ariza fits on the Lakers:

The Lakers will certainly hope that Ariza can continue to be a key contributor and their addition of multiple pieces takes the pressure and responsibility off each. I’ll be detailing newly acquired guard Kendrick Nunn next week.

Dr. Rajpal Brar, DPT has a doctorate in physical therapy from Northern Arizona University, and runs his own in-person and online sports medicine and performance business, 3CB Performance, in West LA and Valencia, CA in which he further combines his movement expertise and fitness training. He also works at a hospital — giving him experience with patients in the immediate healthcare setting and neurological patients (post stroke, post brain injury) — and has been practicing for 4 years. Brar is additionally training at UCLA’s mindful awareness research center (MARC), has a background in youth basketball coaching and analyzes the Lakers from a medical and skills perspective for Silver Screen and Roll and on his own YouTube Channel. You can follow him on Twitter at @3cbPerformance.