Reports continue to indicate soon-to-be free agent LaMarcus Aldridge is no longer a lock to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers after the season. The latest report on Aldridge claims the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks both sit atop his list of preferred destinations, with the Cleveland Cavaliers No. 1 only if Kevin Love leaves in free agency.
A growing number of reports suggest Aldridge may have played his final season as a Trail Blazer. ESPN's Marc Stein confirmed Aldridge appears likely to test free agency and already has a short list of destinations in mind.
"The consistent word on the personnel grapevine at the minute informs us that San Antonio and Dallas not only both believe they have a real shot at signing him but are also legitimately in Aldridge's thoughts," Stein wrote Friday night. "... We're hearing Aldridge connected to both of those teams so frequently that you can only conclude that neither idea (of eventually taking the reins from either Tim Duncan or Dirk Nowitzki) scares him.
"Yet sources insist - at, yes, this early juncture - that San Antonio sits near or at the top of Aldridge's list ... unless the Cleveland Cavaliers were to lose Kevin Love and then somehow manufacture a way to sign-and-trade for him."
Aldridge, a Dallas native, could have the pick of the litter if he chooses to test the market in July. Dallas has only $28 million guaranteed on the books next season, but San Antonio has a handful of free-agent decisions to sort through this summer, including what to do with Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Marco Belinelli, and would likely need Portland to agree to a sign-and-trade to make the cap numbers work. Still, both teams are expected to be active in this year's free agency.
Cleveland will also be strapped for cash and would need to sign-and-trade for Aldridge to inherit his Bird rights. Fortunately for both Cleveland and San Antonio, the Trail Blazers may be open to a sign-and-trade in order to avoid losing Aldridge for nothing this summer.
The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers are also expected to pursue Aldridge.
