Portland Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge could end up being lured away in free agency. Grantland's Zach Lowe reported the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets will make pushes to sign the All-Star when free agency begins in July.
Aldridge has said before he wants to stay with Portland beyond this season, and most people don't see him changing his mind. Lowe, who made it clear he was one of those people who don't believe Aldridge will leave Portland, nonetheless heard some rumblings at the D-League showcase about a few teams that could have a shot at landing Aldridge.
"This could be random, but nearly a half-dozen executives from different teams mentioned the possibility of the Spurs luring LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency with a max contract," Lowe wrote Wednesday. "... I found it interesting that after having heard very little San Antonio/Aldridge talk of any kind, ever, a bunch of unconnected higher-ups suddenly started mentioning it over the last two weeks."
Lowe also heard Dallas and Houston mentioned as potential landing spots for Aldridge.
"... (The) Blazers have always considered one of Aldridge's home-state Texas teams the biggest threat to snag him away," he wrote. "... Dallas could have max-level space, though (they would) have to renounce several very good free agents to get it. Houston would need to cut some salary, but it also has the goods to put together a solid sign-and-trade offer if Aldridge makes it known he'd prefer to go there."
Aldridge becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. With a playoff-bound team behind him, it's unlikely he'll want to go anywhere as a free agent. He indicated last summer he would re-sign with Portland after this season, when he becomes eligible to sign a maximum five-year contract.
