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NBA Rumors: Kobe Bryant says LaMarcus Aldridge meeting went well

By Jonathan Bass

Feb 11, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) during the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite conflicting reports, Kobe Bryant believes the meeting between Los Angeles and LaMarcus Aldridge went well.

Next: Top 25 NBA Free Agents for 2016

Through the eyes of Kobe Bryant, Wednesday morning’s meeting between the Los Angeles Lakers and LaMarcus Aldridge went really well.

But wait. I thought Aldridge was left unimpressed.

Maybe it’s both. Or neither. Perhaps somewhere in the middle. Who knows. Such is the nature of NBA free agency: smoke screens on top of smoke screens.

From where we sit right now, it looks like the San Antonio is in the catbird seat for Aldridge. The Spurs have re-signed Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, traded away Tiago Splitter to clear room and, as Adrian Wojnarowski put it, are “armed with cap space.” Not to mention the fact that Aldridge has strong ties to Texas (from Dallas, played for Texas in college). San Antonio is making all the right moves.

On paper, San Antonio looks like the quickest road to a title. Aldridge can latch on to the waning years of Tim Duncan (possibly even buying TD a few more seasons by handling the majority of work down low) and form a solid young nucleus with Green and Leonard. The Western Conference figures to be an absolute bear over the next few seasons, but loading up the league’s best coach, Gregg Popovich, with one of his most talented rosters ever puts San Antonio at or near the top of the heap.

As for the Lakers, signing Aldridge would be enormous. While he wouldn’t immediately put L.A. back in the title hunt, Aldridge would help make the team competitive and possibly get the Lakers within one move of competing in the West.

Between Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell, L.A. already has its backcourt of the future. If Julius Randle can come back from his broken leg and live up to the enormous potential he showed while in college, then that gives the Lakers three cornerstone stars, all under the age of 25. Counterbalance Randle with Aldridge, toss in the last few seasons of Kobe’s career, and now we’re cooking with grease. That core, along with the siren song of Los Angeles should be good enough to attract one more future free agent to restore the throne. Really, L.A. isn’t that far off if its young players all pan out (always a big if).

For now, though, who knows what road Aldridge will choose. The most telling thing Kobe said wasn’t that his meeting with Aldridge went well, but rather that he has “no firm belief” where the coveted big man will sign. Nobody does. That’s free agency for you.

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