<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ESPN's LaMarcus Aldridge latest: Batum trade only latest signal of Aldridge's likely departure and sources say Lakers are moving up his list</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/613931976182132736">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ESPN sources say Lakers appear to be passing Dallas on list of likely destinations for Aldridge should he leave POR. San Antonio still No. 1</p>— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/613932486511489024">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“If you enjoyed being overshadowed by Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, and Damian Lillard, you’ll LOVE playing next to Kobe Bryant!"</p>— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/613933077509840897">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
From a money stand point I understand it but at a competitive level I don't see how it works. There is not enough talent in the world to fix the Lakers while remaining under or at the cap.
I wonder if all these free agents who are allegedly interested in the Lakers (from Aldridge to Wade) really have such interest or are just using the Lakers as leverage to either drive up salary offers or force a trade/sign-and-trade elsewhere. The Lakers are not the most attractive basketball situation right now, and cannot really form a "super team" until 2016 due to Kobe's salary (and even if guys actually want to play with Kobe, Kobe may not be healthy enough to really play a lot). The Lakers are, however, a franchise located in an attractive market so they make a good "super team" location for stars who want to join together once they have cap space come 2016. Right now, though, they are useful as a threat. Perhaps it's just my bias, but this reminds me of the post-Jordan Bulls. They got visits from all the big name free agents (Duncan, McGrady, Grant Hill, etc.) but ended up settling for Ron Merce and Eddie Robinson.
If it's in the interest of driving up Salary for the Spurs I doubt it. They don't operate that way and Lakers haven't been a relevant rivalry for years.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trail Blazers fear losing LaMarcus Aldridge, who is thinking more and more about free-agent jump to Lakers. <a href="http://t.co/GFdOW8FZI1">http://t.co/GFdOW8FZI1</a></p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/613937129303994368">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Good point. We need to remember that the Lakers don't have the most attractive HC or certainty as to when Kobe will retire.
Is LaMarcus really all that elite in the first place? Is he a cornerstone championship calibur player that Pau Gasol was when he won two championships with Kobe? I'm not so sure.
I'm calling BS on him going to the Lakers. Did we all just forget he wants to return to Texas to specifically be with his family? This sounds like a piece that was pushed by his agent that would be desperate to cash in on the endorsement bonanza in SoCal. LMA just isn't that kinda guy tho. I think: 50% chance he becomes a Spur 25% chance he becomes a Rocket 20% chance he becomes a Mavs 5% chance he stays in Portland
2016 is just a year away. Why not get in while the getting in is good. Assuming there is no Boogie trade, the Lakers will have two potential studs on rookie contracts in Randle and Okafor/Russell. Plus, Clarkson could potentially be a third stud on a rookie deal. Throw in a healthy Kobe and a couple of free agent finds like Jimmy Butler or Aldridge and they are a competitive team next year. Part of the allure of playing for the Lakers or even Clippers now is that a lot of these guys already live in LA in the offseason. This gives them the opportunity to be with their family more often during the regular season. Wade may be interested because Gabrielle Union lives in LA, but the Lakers would be stupid to lock in and pay him over $15+ million for 3+ seasons like he wants. Additionally, it is a dream for NBA players to be on a championship team, but to be on a Lakers championship team is icing on the cake in terms of your career legacy.
I don't recall many free agents have shown the kind of patient to wait a year for reinforcement to come. If I remember correctly, Dwight Howard for one did not buy that line of persuasion from the Lakers when he became a free agent in 2013. He wasn't gonna sign with the Lakers and just wait for them to add more talent around him. One could argue that Melo kind of went that route staying with NY last summer, but in his case it was more about extra money and "brand." If Aldridge were to go to the Lakers right now, he wouldn't be getting more from the Lakers than he gets from other teams. For Aldridge, who will turn 30 in less than a month, waiting even one more year is not very attractive. Who knows how many years of his "prime" he has left after age 30?
