The NBA free agent class for 2015 has some big names and LaMarcus Aldridge will be a top target on the market this summer and teams like the LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics could be interested in signing him over a return to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Aldridge is expected to be one of the most coveted players on the market this summer and while he could return to Portland, other teams will be going after him. According to ESPN's Marc Stein, Aldridge will be targeted by the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks this summer and they will "chase" him with a deal. Aldridge could get a max contract on the market from the Lakers or the Knicks, while the Blazers can offer him the most.
Pro Basketball Talk has reported on Aldridge getting linked to both the Spurs and the Mavericks and they point out that Aldridge is from Texas and played college basketball there. Portland still has a good chance at keeping Aldridge, but with Damian Lillard also needing to get paid, the forward could look at signing elsewhere. Earlier in the week, Ramona Shelburne at ESPN Los Angeles reported that Aldridge leaving the Blazers is "more likely than people realize" and the Lakers could be in the mix.
Shelburne writes that Lillard is considered the "face of the franchise" and she also mentioned reports of Aldridge asking for a trade out a couple years ago. Either way, Aldridge will be highly coveted on the market and both the Knicks and the Lakers will be in the mix because of all the cap space they have. Aldridge will be 30 years old by next season and while he is in line to get a max contract, Pro Basketball Talk points out that his age could keep him from getting too many big offers.
ESPN reports that if Aldridge signs a max contract with the Blazers, he could get over $105 million and if he leaves, he could get around $80 million. Zach Lowe of Grantland wrote earlier this season that the San Antonio Spurs could be in the mix for Aldridge, especially if Tim Duncan retires and frees up cap space. The team has been mentioned in connection with Marc Gasol, but Lowe writes that Gasol is very likely to stay in Memphis.
Aldridge averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds this past season and he has been an All-Star, but he could bolt the relatively quiet Pacific Northwest for a big market team or his home state. The Knicks are projected to have over $30 million in cap space this offseason and Aldridge is a likely target along with Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic and Greg Monroe. The Lakers are also an option, as they will have cap space and the allure of Los Angeles.