Thunder to trade Ariza to Heat for Leonard, pick

The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded veteran Trevor Ariza to the Miami Heat for Meyers Leonard and a 2027 second-round pick, the Heat announced Wednesday.

Leonard had to waive his no-trade clause with the Heat before the transaction could be completed. It's expected he won't suit up for the Thunder, and he's been included so the financial elements of the swap align, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Leonard, who's out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury, was suspended for one week and fined $50,000 for using an anti-Semitic slur during a video-game stream last week.

His contract with the Heat includes a player option for the 2021-22 season, which will be bypassed when the trade becomes official. Leonard is expected to become a free agent this summer.

Ariza, 35, hasn't played for the Thunder this season after he was traded to Oklahoma City from the Detroit Pistons in November 2020. Over one week he was sent from Portland to Houston, then to Detroit in a deal that saw Christian Wood head the other way.

The veteran is on a $12.8-million expiring contract, and he's expected to help shore up the Heat's frontcourt as Erik Spoelstra and Co. prepare for a playoff push.