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

No, he did not.

 

Bosh was also perfectly content with the Miami lifestyle. LMA, not so much in Portland. He always seemed like he wanted to come back to Texas.

 

ya and i had already posted a lengthy reply to you about how LMA to LA was very unlikely

 

I know it seems like it'll never ever happen, but eventually, Pop and Duncan are going to call it quits at some point, and suddenly this becomes a team that needs to rebuild. Why would LMA want to join a team with a not so good shelf life when he could join a younger core in Houston that just made the WCF?

 

Not officially, but everyone close to the situation said they all thought Bosh was going to the Rockets. It wasn't til Riley gave him 120 mil that he changed his mind.

 

Of course they're the frontrunner. But LMA hasn't made the final decision and he could still choose us.

 

uh,,, that snobbish sob!

 

LMA would still join a team with Kawhi and some decent young prospects like Corey Joseph, Danny Green, Kyle Anderson -- I mean its not the worst team but it will definitely be a team that will need to get better. I dont see them being better than Portland was this year prior to injuries. Unless LMA just wants one ring or thinks they will win next year for sure with that core and then he can relax i dont know

 

Not happening. Resigning Green was huge. That means the Spurs at least go into next season with a really good starting five if Aldridge signs there. The Rockets can't quite make that kind of pitch since Ariza and a few other assets would have to be sacrificed in a sign-and-trade.

I'm actually ok with this. I think D-Mo(and hopefully Smith and Harrell) can give us a solid rotation at the 4. The Rockets just need to focus on getting a PG and praying the team stays healthy for once. This is a really good roster we've got. A PG and health could be all we need to get over the hump.

 

do you have any inside sauce?

i think trading splitter away says sth. about san antonio's confidence in getting aldridge. so for me the presumption is we're not getting him.

and i havent been really excited about getting him, anyway.

 

Hey LMA, how would you like to team up with Durant in 2016? Join Houston.

 

That's not why they want him to do a Snt. It's because they have to clean House to get far enough under the cap. If they had the cap space they would sign LMA outright right now.

San Antonio wins out because Tim Duncan wants to win above all money and the only player on our team willing to do that is... We don't have anyone.

LMA may be willing to lose some money moving from Portland but don't ask him to skip out on his increase to 35% on a 90 million cap. That he is not willing to do.

 

The Spurs window is very small unless they can line up a replacement for Duncan and Manu in free agency in the next couple years. I think people keep overlooking how old a lot of that core is. Shoot, even Aldridge is about to turn 30.

 

LOL!!! Duncan Replacement = LMA
Manu Replacement = Leonard

This coming year is a torch-passing-walk-off-into-the-sunset year for the Spurs' Duncan and Manu. The real player that has no replacement in waiting is Parker.

 

Alridge is the Duncan replacement. 30 is young for Spurs standards. With that team, he will play 9 more years, like Duncan. They'll be fine. More 50 win seasons to come for them.

 

2 to 3 years before Duncan retires totally... That's still enough time to retool around Kawhi and Aldridge. By that time, higher cap kicked in already so they've got enough money to pursue good FA in the market. I can't see how Spurs will decline as you have said in a couple of years...

 

OMR, just because I abbreviated the post doesn't mean it's not accurate. Yes, we would have to gut the roster to sign him outright and then we would have to up him to $30 million next summer, thereby gutting all our cap space next summer. It's a no-win situation. That's why I said in an earlier post that clearing cap for Aldridge essentially landlocks us. We can't make trades because all we got is Dekker and a bunch of minimum salary guys. So, yes you are right. I just didn't want to explain all that stuff.

 

Doesn't Durant have issues with Howard? Calling him a pus and all? I assume that if we are in a real hunnt for Durant next year, he and Howard would have to squash their beef, Howard resigns at a discount, or Howard doesn't resign here.

 

That's why I said IF they replace Duncan and Manu in free agency. Not saying they won't or can't. Just saying they have to. Duncan can't keep this up much longer. Manu already isn't keeping it up, but they can't afford to let him retire with Joseph and Belinelli gone.

But Leonard, Green, and Aldridge is not enough to win a title. It it was, then Aldridge would've stayed in Portland where he had Batum(or Aminu), Lillard, Lopez, and Matthews(assuming he can recover) and gotten more money.

 

I'd be more concerned about Durant's foot than what he did or didn't say to Howard. But good thing we have one more season to see Durant & his foot in action.

And Dwight...

Is Dan Fegan gonna pull him from Houston next year? Dwight can opt out. Dan is part of that Kings/Cousins mess.