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Big free agent LaMarcus Aldridge makes his decision
The past 4 days might have been the busiest in his life for 30-year-old LaMarcus Aldridge. He had meetings with close to six teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and last but not the least the San Antonio Spurs in the span of these four days, including two with the Lakers. After all those pitches, Aldridge has made his decision and he announced it via Twitter:
Despite the likes of Dwyane Wade and Kevin Love being free agents, this summer’s domino effect depended upon Aldrdige. With close to seven teams making moves and clearing cap space to sign him, he was this off-season’s most coveted free agent. At the end of it all, the ever consistent San Antonio Spurs won the sweepstakes and managed to sign him to a 4 year max contract worth $80 million, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein.
Wily Spurs sign man “in form”
Despite being 30 years old, Aldridge is in his prime right now, averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds for the past two seasons, the last player to do that is his new teammate Tim Duncan (2001-02 & 2002-03). Aldridge was named to the last 4 NBA All-Star Games, he went from being named in the All-NBA Third Team in 2014 to the All-NBA Second Team in 2015.
Many sources reported that Head Coach Gregg Popovich’s pitch to play with Tim Duncan during his final year and then to carry the baton ahead with Kawhi Leonard, resonated with Aldridge.
The Spurs have had a magnificent summer so far. Everybody knew their prime target was Aldridge, so the franchise got to work in order to make much needed cap room to sign the 4-time All-Star. They traded away Tiago Splitter to the Hawks, relieving 8.5 million off the books then signed two way players, Danny Green to a 4 year deal worth 45 million and budding superstar Leonard to a verbal agreement worth 90 million over 5 years.
In Aldrdige, Spurs see a future in post Duncan era
Duncan, 38, will probably be entering his final season of his 19-year partnership with the Spurs. Although Leonard’s emergence in the 2014 Playoffs and Finals, gave the franchise the hope of a star, the team needed one more player and they have found that player in Aldridge. Even if Duncan and Ginobili retire after the 2015-16 season, the team still has a contending team with the likes of Aldridge, Leonard, Green, Tony Parker and Boris Diaw.
With Aldridge in the frame, the Spurs have secured their future in the post-Duncan era. While its obvious the team will take a few games to start clicking, Spurs fans can lay their trust in Popovich, just like they have for so many years, to make this team work as a unit. To add to the joy of Spurs fans’ ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that Popovich intends to coach for the entire duration of his contract.
