NBA fans already know the Los Angeles Lakers will be targeting LaMarcus Aldridge once free agency opens. Now, they know when.
Aldridge will meet with the Lakers and Houston Rockets first after free agency opens on 12:01 a.m. ET Wednesday. He will also meet with the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors Wednesday. The New York Knicks will get a shot on Thursday, ESPN.com reports.
As of now, ESPN sources close to the situation believe that Aldridge staying with the Portland Trail Blazers is "very unlikely." This seems to contradict the optimistic tone Portland general manager Neil Olshey took recently when discussing Aldridge's desire to leave town.
Following Portland's first round exit in the NBA playoffs this year, many believed that the Spurs or Mavericks would be able to convince Aldridge to return to his home state of Texas. But the odds have shifted more in L.A.'s favor during recent weeks apparently.
"The Lakers, sources added, firmly believe they will now be in the Aldridge hunt," Ramona Shelburne wrote. "And there is a rising sentiment, sources said, that the Lakers have edged past the Mavericks on Aldridge's wish list even though he was a high school star in Dallas."
The Spurs, however, remain the front runner. San Antonio's meeting with Aldridge is expected to include Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich in a full court press for the big man's services.
Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has also begun recruiting. He reportedly called Aldridge recently and the Knicks are expected to try and sell him on the easy path to the playoffs and the All-Star game in the considerably weakerEastern conference.
Aldridge is one of the premier big men in the league and averaged 23.4 points 10.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game last season. Thanks to his sweet shooting stroke, he is an on-court fit with virtually any team.
