Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, confirmed on Wednesday that the concession will separate from LaMarcus Aldridge.
Gregg Popvich says the San Antonio Spurs are working on a trade scenario for LaMarcus Aldridge.
He is healthy, but currently not with the team, as both sides are striving for ‘opportunities to move him elsewhere’.
(via @RealTomPetrini) pic.twitter.com/cQGcOEjS78
– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) 11 March 2021
“LaMarcus is not with the team,” Popovich said. ‘He’s healthy … but we’ve mutually agreed to work out some opportunities for him, and that would be elsewhere. … He was an excellent teammate. There was no problem. We just think it’s a win-win for both LaMarcus and for the club. If an opportunity presents itself, we will all move forward. ‘
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the team was “involved in several areas” in trade talks and gave Aldridge permission to look for “opportunities elsewhere”.
There is some confidence that a trading partner for Aldridge will be found – perhaps even in the next week – and there is no move towards a contract buyout, sources told ESPN.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 11 March 2021
The fact that San Antonio became familiar with the news and leaked their “trust” to Woj may indicate that a deal is already in place, or close. On the other hand, Woj noted that if no agreement is reached before the March 25 deadline, “many of the league’s top teams have a private interest” in adding Aldridge via the buyout.
The group could certainly include the Lakers, who are looking for a depth of the forecourt and are linked to former All-Star greats Andre Drummond and DeMarcus Cousins.
LaMarcus Aldridge is in the final year of a $ 50 million extension and is earning $ 24 million this season. The excluded Lakers are without a trade exception (unlike the Boston Celtics, which is important), which means they have to include significant rotation guys to fit salaries into an Aldridge exchange. I can safely report that Rob Pelinka will not be swapping Dennis Schröder or Montrezl Harrell (plus more pieces) for two months Aldridge.
In other words: a trade is a non-starter, regardless of the pieces involved.
As with Drummond, who earned $ 28.8 million, the buyout route is the only way defending champion Aldridge can get his hands on it. But should they want to?
Aldridge averaged 19.5 points and eight rebounds during his six seasons in 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 8.7 points per possession better with Aldridge on the bench. The 35-year-old has missed eight of their last 12 games due to hip and quadriceps injuries.
Undoubtedly, Aldridge is far from the player or asset he used to be. On paper, however, he marks three key blocks for the Lakers.
First, he is experienced, mastering 72 playoff games.
Secondly, he is a quality adult insurance. Even if he falls out of the play-off rotation, the 6’11 forward / center so far can provide useful pitch depth, especially with Anthony Davis getting a calf strain.
Finally, Aldridge can shoot – a recent area of weakness for the Lakers. He has used 37.9 percent of 3.6 three-point attempts per game over the past two seasons.
Drummond is at the top of the Lakers’ wish list, and with good reason. He is significantly younger and more productive, and if he is engaged, it will be a much better option on the boards and on both sides around the edge. In contrast, at this stage of his career, Aldridge is more of a pick-and-pop player and floor distance.
The Lakers also need a wing – either a 3-and-D upgrade (a PJ Tucker or Trevor Ariza type) and / or extra ball handler (George Hill?). Once they officially re-sign if singer Damian Jones experiences a second ten-day contract, the Lakers would be better off filling their final open list with a perimeter.
It is possible that Aldridge would not be interested in joining the Lakers after their infamous free agent in 2015. The organization was then in a different place – trapped in a series of lost seasons and still run by Jim Buss. Things are different now.
However, if Jones is not retained a third time, Aldridge is bought out and intrigued, and Drummond lands elsewhere, the soon-to-be former Spur worthy of striving. That seems to be the only way the Lakers land LaMarcus Aldridge at this point.
