IN THE LANE

ALL FOR ARIZA: So what is a Trevor Ariza worth on the NBA market? A look at some of the players Ariza has been dealt for in his record-setting 11 trades over his career: For Steve Francis in 2006 (in going from the Magic to the Knicks with Penny Hardaway). For Brian Cook and Maurice Evans in 2007 (in going from the Magic to the Lakers). In a four-way trade in 2010 that included Troy Murphy, Courtney Lee, Darren Collison and James Posey (in going from the Rockets to the Hornets). For Rashard Lewis in 2012 (in going from the Hornets to Wizards with Emeka Okafor). In a three-team trade in 2014 that included Omer Asik, Omri Casspi, Alonzo Gee, Scotty Hopson and Melvin Ely (in going from the Wizards to the Rockets). For Kelly Oubre Jr. and Austin Rivers in 2018 (in going from the Suns to the Wizards). For Kent Bazemore and Anthony Tolliver in 2020 (in going from the Kings to the Trail Blazers with Wenyen Gabriel and Caleb Swanigan). For Robert Covington in 2020 (in going from the Trail Blazers to the Rockets with Isaiah Stewart). For Christian Wood in 2020 (in going from the Rockets to the Pistons with Stewart). In a three-team trade that included Delon Wright, James Johnson and Justin Jackson in 2020 (in going from the Pistons to the Thunder). And for Meyers Leonard this past week (in going from the Thunder to the Heat). Along the way, Ariza signed free-agent contracts with the Rockets, Suns and Kings.

ISRAELI PRESPECTIVE: Before Leonard was excised by the Heat for salary-cap purposes in the trade for Ariza, Washington Wizards rookie forward rookie Deni Avdija, currently the league’s only Israeli player, offered his perspective on the anti-Semitic slur recently uttered by Leonard while livestreaming video-game play. “Listen,” Avdija said during a postpractice video interview,“I don’t really want to get into those kinds of things. But I think Meyers didn’t have those kinds of intentions. I think he did a mistake; we know that. We don’t accept those words. But, I know he’s a good dude and he didn’t mean to do that. And hopefully, he understood the mistake.”

DEAD LEGS: The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t making excuses as they dealt with another road loss to the Heat this past week, but they did offer insight on pandemic life in the NBA when it comes to playing on the road. “It’s not just for us, it’s every team,” forward Larry Nance Jr. explained. “We meet in the morning and guys just go back to their rooms, because we’re not really allowed to do anything else, and lay there for six hours until it’s game time. You don’t got any legs. You’re tired. Anybody that’s laid in bed for six hours during the day knows you can’t get up and feel normal, that’s just what it is. Whether it’s sleepy legs, I think the whole league is feeling that. Said Cleveland guard Collin Sexton, “Just sitting around all day and not being in the gym, that’s terrible.” Given more freedom at home the next day, the Cavaliers then went out and defeated the Boston Celtics the following night.

DULY IMPRESSED: Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he found it intriguing that former Heat star LeBron James is now a part owner of the Boston Red Sox. “You knew that he has a great eye and passion for business,” Spoelstra said, “and he doesn’t set any boundaries on where he can take it.” Spoelstra then noted a particular interesting element of the equation, “He’s a big Yankees fan, so I think that makes it fun.”

NUMBER

2nd. Where the Heat’s 19-game home winning streak against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was extended Tuesday, ranks in the NBA among active streaks. The longest remains the San Antonio Spurs’ ongoing

21-game home winning streak against the Wizards, which will endure into next season, with the Wizards’ lone visit of the season complete. The Heat again host the Cavaliers at AmericanAirlines Arena on April

3. The Milwaukee Bucks also have a 19-game home winning streak against the Utah Jazz, with that streak to continue into next season.