The Only Way LA Can Get LaMarcus Aldridge

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San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich confirmed on Wednesday that the franchise will part ways with LaMarcus Aldridge.

“LaMarcus is not with the team”, Popovich mentionned. “He is in good health… but we have mutually agreed to find opportunities for him and it will be elsewhere. … He was a great teammate. There was no problem there. We just think it’s a win-win for both LaMarcus and the club. So when an opportunity presents itself… We are all going to move forward.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team “engaged on several fronts” in trade negotiations and gave Aldridge permission to seek “opportunities elsewhere”.

The fact that San Antonio has made the news public and disclosed its “trust” to Woj could indicate that a business is already in place or is closed. On the other hand, Woj noted that if no deal is reached by the March 25 deadline, “many top teams in the league are privately expressing their interest” in adding Aldridge via a buyout.

Granted, that group could include the Lakers, who are looking for veteran forward depth of the field and have been linked with other former All-Star greats Andre Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins.

LaMarcus Aldridge is in the final year of a $ 50 million stretch, earning $ 24 million this season. The Capped Lakers are no business exception (unlike, most importantly, the Boston Celtics), which means they would have to include large rotating teams to match wages in an Aldridge trade. I can safely say that Rob Pelinka won’t trade Dennis Schröder or Montrezl Harrell (plus other coins) for two months of Aldridge.

In other words: an exchange is a non-starter, regardless of the parts involved.

As is the case with Drummond, who earns $ 28.8 million, the redemption route is the only way for the defending champions to get their hands on Aldridge. But should they want it?

Aldridge has averaged 19.5 points and eight rebounds over his six seasons at San Antonio, but the 15-year-old pro is down to 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 21 appearances in 2020-21. As CBS’s Sam Quinn pointed out, San Antonio was better at 8.7 points per possession with Aldridge on the bench. The 35-year-old has missed eight of his last 12 games with hip and quadriceps injuries.

Undeniably, Aldridge is far from the player or asset he once was. On paper, however, he ticks three key boxes for the Lakers.

First, he’s experienced, with 72 playoff games to his name.

Second, it is high quality insurance. Even if he fell out of the playoff rotation, the 6’11 forward / center could provide useful depth in the frontcourt so far, especially with Anthony Davis healing a calf strain.

Finally, Aldridge can shoot – an area of ​​recent weakness for the Lakers. He’s made 37.9 percent of 3.6 three-pointers per game over the past two seasons.

Drummond is at the top of the Lakers’ wishlist, and for good reason. It’s noticeably younger and more productive, and if engaged it would be a much better option on the boards and around the rim at both ends. In contrast, Aldridge is more of a pick-and-pop player and floor spacer at this point in his career.

The Lakers also need a wing – either a 3-and-D upgrade (a type PJ Tucker or Trevor Ariza) and / or an additional ball carrier (George Hill?). Once they have officially to resign mate of center Damian Jones on a second 10-day contract, the Lakers had better fill their last open spot with a perimeter player.

It’s possible that Aldridge wasn’t interested in coming to the Lakers after their infamous sloppy free agent pitch in 2015. The organization was in a different place then – mired in a string of losing seasons and still led by Jim Buss. . Things are different now.

But, if Jones is not selected a third time, Aldridge is redeemed and intrigued, and Drummond lands elsewhere, the future Spur deserves to be pursued. Sounds like the only way the Lakers have landed LaMarcus Aldridge at this point.

Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Pau Gasol



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