The Phoenix Suns will make Trevor Ariza available via trade after December 15.

According to a report by Marc Stein of the New York Times, the 4-19 Suns will place the 33-year-old veteran on the trade block following December 15 -- that would be when they're allowed to actually trade the small forward, who was signed as a free agent to a one-year, $15 million deal in the offseason.

The Suns have been every bit as bad as people expected, with their 4-19 record being the worst overall record in the entire NBA. They're losers of five straight games and they're destined for their ninth consecutive non-playoff season.

With that said, Ariza's trade value shouldn't plummet due to Phoenix's terrible season. The former NBA champion is still a viable 3-and-D player, an extremely valued trait due to the pace-and-space era of today's league. The 6-foot-8 Ariza is converting on 36 percent of his three-point attempts this season.

While his stats have declined in 2018-19 (9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 37 percent shooting from the field), he has yet to miss a game due to injury this season and he's just a year removed from being a starter on the 65-17 Houston Rockets squad that came within a game of the NBA Finals.

Ariza will have an opportunity to increase his trade value even more on Tuesday night when the Suns host the Kings in a Pacific Division showdown (9 p.m. ET -- Watch on FuboTV with the NBA League Pass extension). 

We've all seen what his departure from Houston has done to the team. The Rockets are currently 10-11 and their defensive rating ranks 25th in the league. In 2017-18 with Ariza starting at small forward, the Rockets ranked sixth in defensive rating. In other words, the loss of Ariza's defensive impact on the perimeter is being felt in a major way.

As far as potential destinations are concerned, a logical fit for Ariza could be the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers are attempting to trade Markelle Fultz and the Suns have been thrown around as a favorite to land the former No. 1 overall pick. Considering Philadelphia desperately needs a 3-and-D small forward after trading Robert Covington to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler deal, and considering that Fultz would fit in on a rebuilding squad with no expectations in Phoenix, it almost makes too much sense for the deal not to happen.

One thing is for certain -- expect Ariza to be traded from the Suns before the trade deadline in February.