[ESPN] Sources: Aldridge to start free agency with Lakers, Rockets

Lakers are paying a huge price to continue to carry Kobe. He is hurting their team on the cap. He is hurting their team in recruiting. And his style of play is hurting their team on the court because he won't back down and accept a lesser role. Still takes way too many shots. And as he has aged his temperament has worsened. It's not always cool to be an "a__hole", the label he embraces. He's hurting the Lakers all the way around.

 

Sure, its a maybe.

It's also a maybe that Dwight will be injury free. It's also a maybe that we'd have the depth to compete if we gut our team for LMA. Clippers are a prime example of running out of gas because of lack of depth.

There are never any guarantees with anything.

And as Woj mentioned, LMA was 50/50 on the Lakers...but then the meeting went to ****. The Lakers were definitely a strong consideration for LMA prior to last night. Instead, the Lakers decided to focus on how playing for the Lakers makes you marketable...and Kobe being Kobe seals the deal.

 

Rockets showed him the shot chart and told him he can take all the mid range jumpers he wants since no one else on the team does.

 

Actually, Bresnahan said it was 50/50. WOJ said in a tweet that the Lakers were always coming from behind.

 

LA not going to LA:

http://deadspin.com/the-lakers-really-boned-themselves-out-of-lamarcus-aldr-1715251663

 

Ok, fair enough...And Ive never doubted that SA was ahead of the pack. But, LA still had a decent shot until their meeting seemingly ended all hope for Lakers fans. There was a reason that LMA had such interest in the first place. Too many people blowing them off from the get go.

Houston has always been a long shot and will continue to be a long shot. If it happens, then amazing. If it doesnt, then that's just expected.

 

not gonna be top 5 in the west, and probably not gonna be top 5 in the pacific either lol

 

Houston doesn't seem to be as much of a long shot today versus last night..seems to me it's SA and Houston at the moment. Where else out of the teams mentioned on his hit list can he have a chance to win a championship? Dallas just got dismantled

 

houston shouldn't have ever been a longshot to begin with if LA was about winning a title at this point like he seems to be.

 

Really hoping that LMA makes a swift decision and doesn't string us around like Bosh did. I don't want to lose out on small moves like last year.

Let's resign Bev, Brew. Go get Stuckey and Scola. Trade TJ. Call it a day.

 

No one's arguing that LA isn't a free agent draw. What you're arguing is that they offer Aldridge as much as San Antonio or Houston from a winning perspective, which is ridiculous.

 

If nothing else, I respect your commitment to sticking to a ridiculous narrative.

 

Not once have I ever said they offer the same chance to win. The Laker appeal almost has more to do with intangibles than tangibles.

First, they will suck in 2015.

Second, the draw to the Lakers is that LMA has a home there and lives there.

Third, they will have plenty of opportunities to nab future max players...whether its due to being in LA or playing for such a storied franchise.

Again, if none of this mattered to LMA, then LA would have never been a discussion in the first place. However, they most definitely appealed to him...but the Laker pitch sucked, and now he's apparently moving on. All indications were that he definitely had interest in the Lakers prior to the meetings? Why would that be if they have **** to offer?

Ive never once stated that he'll have equal opportunity to win in LA than in Houston. I have stated that LA could give him that in 2016 and beyond. I've also stated that Houston, from a purely basketball perspective makes just as much sense as SA.

However, he doesnt have a home in Houston and he doesnt have a child in Houston....so that puts the Rockets at a disadvantage right off the bat. I think players want a comfortable situation and a chance to win. If it was ONLY about winning, every free agent would choose Houston.

 

Tell me why LMA was so interested in the Lakers in the first place. It's not something that was randomly made up.

 

Can Aldridge play some 5?

Can LMA and Dwight blend on the floor?

 

He probably pays less attention to the quagmire the Lakers are in with Kobe's contract and no good players than the posters here do. When confronted with those facts and nothing to counteract it other than "we're the Lakers!" it's obvious he wouldn't sign there. Obvious to everyone, but you.

 

Personally I think he met with the lakers because his agents/mngt is based out of La and obviously they would love their client right up the block and opportunity to get them endorsement from the media market that is La. I really think he met with them out of respect for his management team nothing else.

 

Dwight met with the Hawks on his free agency tour. Lebron met with the Clippers. Melo met with us and Dallas even though he was clearly more interested in Chicago. They're doing their due diligence.

 

What kind of roster would be left after making room for Aldridge? Maybe that's when you bring in Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks to help fill in the gaps.

 

Same reason he was meeting with DAL, NY, SUNs and TOR. He wants to make a fully informed decision, even if he may have his heart set somewhere (which I agree is probably SAS). All the stories about how interested he was in LA came from the national writers and LA writers (and Cyberx, who gets much of his info from LA sources). He might be impressed by LA as a city, but he's always struck people as a low key guy. Had this been Melo, I would have completely agreed with you that LA was in the forefront. And LA is appealing, all things being even close to equal. The problem is that they have nothing right now, and would waste an entire year before they could start really restocking (after Kobe leaves, if he leaves).

If he's truly about winning, there are really only 2 choices. The reason HOU isn't at least a little closer is because SA can sign him outright, which HOU cannot. I note that if, by some small chance (5-10%), he was really interested in HOU, then he's playing this perfectly - seeing everyone, making it know that he will sign with SA! LA! DAL! TOR! (teams with cap space), with hardly any mention by anyone of his interest in HOU. Then, when the time comes, he tells PORT - I'm choosing SA. Sorry. But if you really want, to get you some assets, I would consider a sign and trade to HOU. PORT would rather get some assets from HOU than lose him for nothing to SA. That's why they wouldn't want to deny that LA is out of it - bc LA has cap space. Not saying this will happen, but it's at least a small chance that this happens. After all, if he's sick of playing center, is there really a better center he can join right now than Dwight? (But Dwight not being at the meeting hurts). In any case I also think SA, but I didn't for a moment believe LA, DAL or TOR (or even PHOE). I always thought it was SA, PORT (for the money and his history there) or us. I'd put us at third right now, or maybe second.