ESPN reports that as we already knew, the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are on the list of potential bidders for LaMarcus Aldridge, along with the Knicks and Lakers. Maybe more interesting is that for the first time, word has surfaced that Aldridge would be interested in joining the Cavaliers if Kevin Love doesn't return..
But the consistent word on the personnel grapevine at the minute informs us that San Antonio and Dallas not only both believe they have a real shot at signing him but are also legitimately in Aldridge's thoughts.
Answer: We're hearing Aldridge connected to both of those teams so frequently that you can only conclude that neither idea scares him.
Yet sources insist -- at, yes, this early juncture -- that San Antonio sits near or at the top of Aldridge's list ... unless the Cleveland Cavaliers were to lose Kevin Love and then somehow manufacture a way to sign-and-trade for him.
The Knicks and Lakers, of course, also intend to enter the bidding. And there will surely be others.
via Stein's Scoop: Aldridge to bolt Blazers? - Marc Stein - ESPN.
We'll get to San Antonio in a minute. Let's tackle that Cleveland rumor.
Love has openly and repeatedly said that he intends to stay with Cleveland, but rumors remain rampant that he's not happy with the situation in Ohio and will look to relocate.
If he does, Aldridge might not be a bad fit with LeBron and Irving. Aldridge can spread the floor like Love does and operate as much in the low block. The question is, after the way Love was used this year, as a decoy for the most part under David Blatt, if Aldridge would be satisfied with that kind of role. Aldridge isn't necssarily looking for a huge market, but playing with LeBron gives him the best of both worlds: a smaller market but a star-studded team.
At the same time, there have been consistent rumors that one of Aldridge's problems was the lack of attention the Blazers have given him. First he was second fiddle to Brandon Roy, then Greg Oden, and now to a degree, Damian Lillard. Would he want to join a team where he'd be third fiddle?
Now on to the Spurs.
Taking over for Duncan is a perilous idea for Aldridge. He's not Duncan taking over for Robinson. Aldridge turns 30 this summer. And he's not Tim Duncan. Even with Kawhi Leonard being the one to take over as the true star, being the guy to take over as power forward behind the Greatest of All Time at that position is a pretty dangerous position to be in.
In Dallas, there's just not a great fit. Is Dirk Nowitzki ready to go to the bench? He... did not have a great playoff series. It's conceivable that Nowitzki would go to the bench, but it's not certain that would make the Mavs the team they want to be unless they add a better rim protector (Tyson Chandler may have passed that point).
Typically speaking, I tend to believe free agents should avoid the Knicks like the plague. It's a massive pressure situation in a major media situation with a roster that's a joke, a superstar that is defined by his overall inefficiency with a lack of defensive prowess, and a President/Spiritual Overlord who bases his thinking on how things were a decade ago.
But Aldridge? Aldridge is a perfect fit for the Triangle. Mid-range jumpers are a huge component. Quick reads and decisions are a part, too. Ball movement is key, and Aldridge has shown he can do that. Aldridge is actually a really great fit for New York.
The Lakers could use him, because they could use anyone with a pulse, even if he and Julius Randle are a positional conflict.
Aldridge will have good options, and some bad ones. Navigating that will be tricky. The same can be said for Love, especially with the confusing way his Cleveland tenure ended.
