LaMarcus Aldridge is leaning towards joining the Lakers next season, reports the Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch. The Lakers have reportedly set a meeting with the prized big man for the moment free agency begins Tuesday night on the West Coast.
LaMarcus Aldridge ‘leaning’ towards joining Lakers, per report
Despite a bad couple of seasons, the Lakers remain a free agency destination.
Aldridge is one of the most sought-after free agents this year and has reportedly told Trail Blazer officials he's not returning to Portland. Several teams, including the Spurs, Mavericks, Raptors and Knicks, will pursue him but it now appears the Lakers could be the front runners to land him.
When rumors first appeared about Aldridge planning to join a different team, the Spurs and then the Mavericks were reported to be his first choices. New reports suggest that has changed. As history has proven, it’s impossible to count out the Lakers, who despite some bad seasons remain a free agency destination. So let’s explore this rumor closely.
Why Aldridge will join the Lakers
As Bolch says, the Lakers’ brand is too prestigious to be hurt by a couple of bad seasons. They are a storied franchise with a history of success that will always be among the best free agent destinations. For someone who has spent the first nine years of his career in a relatively small market like Portland, the exposure and endorsement opportunities that could come with playing in Los Angeles have to be tempting.
While the Lakers won't contend next season and might actually miss the playoffs, they have proved in the past that they always rebound quickly. With Kobe Bryant's salary getting off the books after next season and the salary cap rising significantly, the Lakers could attract more talent to join Aldridge. They also have two potential young cornerstones in D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle and an emerging talent in Jordan Clarkson already in place. They could develop alongside Aldridge or be packaged in a trade to bring in a veteran.
Why Aldridge won’t join the Lakers
Aldridge has been angling to return to Texas to be closer to his family, according to reports. If that’s one of his priorities, joining the Lakers makes little sense. He would also live in the shadow of a more popular perimeter player in Los Angeles at least for a year, something he reportedly resented in Portland. As for raising his public profile, Aldridge would get a boost long-term from joining the Lakers but his image would take a hit short-term, as he will be viewed as someone who is not interested in winning first and foremost.
His chances of contending immediately would be much, much better in San Antonio or Dallas. For a player who is about to turn 30 years old, that likely matters. The Lakers' young players could emerge as stars or fizzle out, and Bryant is on his last legs. There are no assurances that others will follow Aldridge's lead and join him in Los Angeles. The lack of proven talent is too glaring to ignore and after next season every team will have cap space, making the competition for free agents fierce, even for a franchise like the Lakers.
Also, don’t necessarily count out the Blazers just yet:
Woj on LaMarcus Aldridge: "Ultimately will come down to the Spurs or taking that 5th that POR can guarantee him." (@FOXSportsLive)
— Ryan Ward (@Lakers_Examiner) June 30, 2015 Likelihood of happening: 6/10
The Lakers will always be the Lakers and their allure might prove to be too much for Aldridge to pass up. It’s still too early into the offseason to know anything for sure, though. When it’s time to hear pitches, teams will surely highlight the fact that they can offer a better chance to be competitive in the 2015/16 season. The Lakers might be the front runners now but that could change later in the process.
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