PORTLAND, Ore. (January 21, 2019) – The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forwards Trevor Ariza and Wenyen Gabriel and forward/center Caleb Swanigan from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Kent Bazemore, Anthony Tolliver and two second round draft picks, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
“We are pleased to add Trevor, Caleb and Wenyen to our roster,” said Olshey. “Trevor’s veteran experience and positional fit, Caleb’s familiarity with our organization and Wenyen’s potential will be strong mid-season additions to our team.”
Ariza (6-8, 215) has averaged 6.0 points (38.8% FG, 35.2% 3-PT, 77.8% FT), 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.09 steals and 24.7 minutes in 32 games for the Kings this season. A 15-year veteran and 2009 NBA Champion with the L.A. Lakers, Ariza, 34, holds career averages of 10.5 points (42.2% FG, 35.1% 3-PT, 72.9% FT), 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.49 steals in 1,043 games (710 starts) with New York, Orlando, the L.A. Lakers, Houston, New Orleans, Washington, Phoenix and Sacramento. Ariza was originally selected by the New York Knicks with the 43rd overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft after playing one season at UCLA. He will wear No. 8 for the Trail Blazers.
Gabriel (6-9, 220) has appeared in 11 games for the Kings this season, averaging 1.7 points (35.3% FG, 60.0% FT) and 0.9 rebounds. In seven games this season with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League, Gabriel, 22, has averaged 19.3 points (50.1% FG, 39.0% 3-PT, 77.1% FT), 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.20 blocks. A second-year pro, Gabriel went undrafted in 2018 after two seasons at the University of Kentucky. He will wear No. 35 for the Trail Blazers.
In seven appearances with the Kings this season, Swanigan (6-9, 260) has averaged 0.7 points (50.0% FG, 50.0% FT) and 1.0 rebound. He has played in five games (two starts) this season with the Stockton Kings, averaging 8.6 points (50.0% FG, 72.7% FT), 10.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Originally selected by the Trail Blazers with the 26th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, Swanigan, 22, holds career averages of 2.0 points (37.6% FG, 65.5% FT) and 2.3 rebounds in 55 games (three starts) with Sacramento and Portland. He will wear No. 50 for the Trail Blazers.
The Trail Blazers acquired Bazemore from Atlanta on June 24, 2019. In 43 games (21 starts) with Portland this season, Bazemore averaged 7.9 points (34.7% FG, 32.7% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.05 steals.
Tolliver signed with Portland on July 3, 2019. He appeared In 33 games (nine starts) for the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 3.9 points (36.8% FG, 33.7% 3-PT, 68.4% FT), 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists.