LaMarcus Aldridge agrees to deal with San Antonio Spurs
LaMarcus Aldridge will reportedly sign with the San Antonio Spurs.
If you’ve ever heard the expression, “the rich keep getting richer,” that is exactly what is happening with the San Antonio Spurs this offseason. Just days after power forward Tim Duncan announced he would be returning to the team, the Spurs were given another gift by the basketball gods on Saturday in the form of free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.
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The move caps off a courting process that saw Aldridge meeting with several franchises across the league. He will join a team coming off a heartbreaking finish to the 2014-15 season, and immediately makes the Spurs a title favorite heading into next season.
Free agent LaMarcus Aldridge will sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2015
Aldridge had apparently narrowed his list of top destinations down to the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs on Friday before making a big move on the 4th of July.
Aldridge informed the Blazers on Friday night that he was down to the Spurs and Suns --- and chose the Spurs this morning.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2015
This is a tough blow for the Portland Trail Blazers, who seemed to fall out of the race as free agency ramped up. As a nine-year veteran coming off possibly his best season as a pro, Aldridge will expect to help the Spurs win another title in year one.
While this hurts Portland a ton, it must also strike the Suns as a difficult offseason miss. Especially considering that the mayor of Phoenix was ready to unveil a sign on the side of a downtown building in hopes of luring Aldridge to the city.
Hey @aldridge_12, check out what we’re dropping in Downtown PHX tomorrow! #WeArePHX #LMAtoPHX pic.twitter.com/963VFHu6QC
— Greg Stanton (@gregstantonaz) July 4, 2015
I guess you can consider that a big fail.
The Suns had also freed up a decent amount of cap space for the big man by trading away Danny Granger, Reggie Bullock and Marcus Morris.
San Antonio wins again.