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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Blazers wait as LaMarcus Aldridge meets three other suitors

By , Columbian Trail Blazers Writer
Published:

PORTLAND — The NBA rumor locomotive hasn’t stopped since the free agency season began late Tuesday night.

And the player known as L-Train is leading the way.

LaMarcus Aldridge, a four-time all-star with the Portland Trail Blazers, is the biggest prize among unrestricted free agents.

He met with three suitors on Wednesday — San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas. Portland has already made its offer to Aldridge.

The Los Angeles Lakers were the first to meet with Aldridge on Tuesday evening. But according to the Los Angeles Times, Aldridge has removed the Lakers from his list.

The Times reported that Lakers legend Kobe Bryant “envisioned Aldridge working with him in the same way that Pau Gasol did, a message that apparently went flat.”

The San Antonio Spurs have made the roster moves to give themselves the salary cap space to offer Aldridge a max contract.

Wednesday, the Spurs agreed to a 5-year deal with franchise cornerstone Kawhi Leonard and a 4-year deal with Danny Green.

They also traded center Tiago Splitter to Atlanta, a move that frees up enough salary cap space for an Aldridge offer.

The Spurs are considered to be the frontrunners for Aldridge.

David Pick of BasketballInsiders.com, a reporter who is frequently the first to break pro basketball news from Europe and overseas leagues, reported that Aldridge will end up with the Spurs and pass on the Suns. This is the first and only definitive report on Aldridge’s destination thus far.

Aldridge also met with the Phoenix Suns as well as the Dallas Mavericks.

According to reports from USA Today and ESPN, the Suns have positioned themselves alongside the Spurs as frontrunners for Aldridge.

The Suns reportedly agreed to sign Tyson Chandler from the Mavericks to play center, hoping to sell Aldridge on that front-court tandem.

The Arizona Republic reports that Suns assistant Earl Watson was part of the meeting. Watson played for the Blazers in 2013-14 and was a highly respected veteran on that team.

But at least one Trail Blazers is publicly lobbying for Aldridge to remain in Portland.

Blazers star guard Damian Lillard — who has reportedly agreed to a 5-year extension worth over $120 million — tweeted out a final plea to Aldridge.

“We’ve built something great in Rip City,” Lillard said on twitter. “Would love to continue that playing alongside (Aldridge). Sure our team feels the same.”

There were other free-agent rumblings involving players on Portland’s roster last season.

• Marc Bernan of The New York Post reports that the New York Knicks will meet with center Robin Lopez. Milwaukee reportedly met with Lopez on Wednesday.

• A source told The Columbian that Blazers free-agent center Joel Freeland has received interest from five NBA teams, including three from the Eastern Conference.

• USA Today’s Sam Amick reported on Tuesday evening that a $3 million gap stood between the Dallas Mavericks and Blazers free-agent guard Wesley Matthews, who is reportedly seeking $15 million a year.

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Columbian Trail Blazers Writer