NBA Trade Rumors: 5 potential destinations for LaMarcus Aldridge

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Like the Celtics, every time there’s a big name on the move, the Los Angeles Lakers are usually mentioned as a suitor. However, when’s the last time they were able to lure someone notable in?

Given their inability to attract marquee free agents, the Lakers have turned to the draft to add talent. Team development has been at a snail’s pace, though, with the team being unable to cross 30 wins over the past two years. During this time, they acquired Jordan Clarkson, D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and most recently, Brandon Ingram in the 2016 draft. So, there’s talent, but no one has become a star yet. If they want to kickstart the process, adding LaMarcus Aldridge would be an option.

As this roster stands, the Lakers don’t have a talented big man. They signed journeyman center Timofey Mozgov to a four-year deal worth a whopping $60 million. He fell out of favor in Cleveland and probably won’t be a stalwart for this team. There’s a lack of depth at power forward as well.

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Acquiring Aldridge would probably mean centering a package around Randle. He could move with Jose Calderon’s expiring deal and Lou Williams to pull off this deal. Like the Celtic trade, the Spurs would open up cap space for 2017 to fill Aldridge’s shoes on the roster. They could see how the former Kentucky star fares in a primary frontcourt role next to Pau Gasol, and reevaluate at the end of the season.