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LaMarcus Aldridge takes a shot during the game against the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors could be in the market for LaMarcus Aldridge after reports that the big man is about to leave San Antonio, but an insider says their pursuit could come with a certain condition.
Spurs president and coach Gregg Popovich said this week that the team and Aldridge have come to an agreement and that San Antonio will now consider trade offers. The competition will be fierce, and Warriors insiders think Golden State could end up on that list – though it probably won’t happen right away.
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Thefighters can hope to relieve the.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Marcus White assessed the likelihood of the Warriors pursuing Aldridge and concluded that it would be too expensive for the team to trade him.
Despite rumors that the Warriors have shown interest in Aldridge this season, White noted that it will be difficult for Golden State to make a trade now. Aldridge’s $24 million contract is expiring, which means the Warriors will have to add a few more players besides a player like Kelly Oubre Jr. to even make money from this game.
Warriors not fit for LaMarcus Aldridge if he leaves Spurshttps://t.co/MA16bt6Xgf pic.twitter.com/68bganB2WR
– Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) March 11, 2021
Instead, White suggested the Warriors might be interested if Aldridge gets a buyout.
If Aldridge had been sold to another team and released, the Warriors would undoubtedly be one of the many teams with playoff aspirations that would want to contract the veteran. That doesn’t necessarily mean Aldridge will be interested, given Golden State’s position in the standings, he wrote.
Competition may be fierce
Selling Aldridge based on his merits may become even more difficult if he joins a Warriors team on the cusp of the playoffs, given the expected competition. League insider Sam Amick told The Athletic that he thinks the Los Angeles Lakers are the early favorites because the club is unhappy with the situation surrounding Mark Gasol.
The Lakers may also want Aldridge to grab another title, Amick added.
And when you’re a defending champion who sees all those other teams able to steal his crown, it’s never a bad idea to stockpile options, he said, adding that it remains to be seen whether Aldridge will move with the trade or buy him out instead.
The Spurs are reportedly optimistic that they can reach a deal with Aldridge and avoid a buyout.
ESPN article with @wojespn on Spurs’ upcoming separation from LaMarcus Aldridge, optimistic about trading the seven-time All-Star instead of buying him out: https://t.co/YkbJDu9TQB
– Tim McMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 11, 2021
Amick said another member of the Western Conference could be a possible dropout, which seems unlikely at first glance. He noted that Aldridge seems to be over the hurt that led to his departure from Portland and thinks the Trail Blazers are potentially strong.
Warriors general manager Bob Myers has made it clear that the team will only look at hires that can help them in the long run. Although the Warriors have struggled to stay in the playoffs this year, the team hopes to be back in contention for the title next season with the anticipated return of Klay Thompson.
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