LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs decided to separate. So far, it appears that a purchase is not in the equation, which means that San Antonio will be listening to the great veteran man’s offers.
There are two major problems when trying to find good deals for Aldridge. First, he fell defensively to the point that he was not a viable beginner. Second, he is paid as a star when he is clearly no longer. The two problems combined make it unrealistic for San Antonio to get a really good result for the ex-All-Star
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some negotiations that can be realistic.
The likely exchange: Aldridge to Miami for expired contracts
It has been rumored that the Miami Heat has been interested in several Spurs veterans for months, so it’s not surprising to see them mentioned as one of the teams that are trying to negotiate with Aldridge. There is little information on what this potential transaction would look like, but it would most likely consist of an exchange of past business.
Heat gets: LaMarcus Aldridge.
Spurs get: Kelly Olynyk, Meyers Leonard, choice of 2022 runoff (via Philadelphia or Denver)
The Heat needs an upgrade in the positions of the great men, as they are currently relying on Olynyk and the still raw KZ Okpala and Precious Achiuwa to complete their rotation around Bam Adebayo. Aldridge could be that update. He’s shooting all three better than Olynyk, and even at his old age, he can still create his own shot on the crossbar and be a reliable mid-range pick-and-pop option. The biggest problem that Aldridge has at the moment is his defense, but he would be taking the minutes going to Olynyk, which is a big risk.
For the Spurs, the trade-off would be to ensure that Aldridge landed in a good position while getting a viable replacement. As a starter, the role he played recently in Miami, Olynyk, is not good enough. As support for Jakob Poeltl, he can be useful. In making this negotiation, San Antonio would maintain a great deal of depth, while not adding wages for the next season and preserving the flexibility of the ceiling.
Swapping Aldridge essentially straight for Olynyk, as bastard Meyers Leonard would never join the team and the choice would be low, is not an exciting prospect, but it could be a way to find a quick end to the situation. Ideally, Spurs will also host at least one of the Heat’s young players, but even if Pat Riley refuses to include one, the deal could make sense if the goal is to earn a lot in return without adding a salary.
Risky trade: Spurs bet on Marvin Bagley III
The Sacramento Kings made the former number 2 available in commercial negotiations, but did not receive much interest from teams in the league. Spurs may decide to use Aldridge and another piece to add more attacking talent to their young core.
Spurs get: Marvin Bagley III, Cory Joseph, Jabari Parker.
Kings receive: LaMarcus Aldridge, Lonnie Walker IV, choice of the second round of 2021, choice of the second round of 2023.
From the Spurs’ point of view, this move would be all about balancing your young core. With Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson close by, Lonnie Walker’s future with the team is unclear, as there is an excess of guards and wards. Bagley, on the other hand, would make a big youngster rotation that currently includes only Jakob Poeltl and Luka Samanic look much more promising.
Would this offer be enough for the Kings? Probably not, but it’s worth a try. Bagley’s father made it clear that the great man wants to leave, and if there are not many good options for Sacramento, simply moving forward with the mistake made by the previous government may be worth it for the new board. They would get an upgrade at the central backup point in Aldridge and a much-needed young wing to flank De’Aron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton.
Both teams may be hesitant to pull the trigger here. The Kings may worry about the prospect of changing one of a veteran’s first three choices in the last year of his contract and a promising but inconsistent wing, especially in a year when they are likely to miss the playoffs. The Spurs would be sending Aldridge into a bad situation and giving up Walker for a high maintenance perspective that has so far failed. But the move may be worth the risk for both franchises.
The Safe Trade: Aldridge for the Bulls by Otto Porter
The Chicago Bulls seem interested in transferring veteran striker Otto Porter, who is in the final year of his contract. The ex-magician has been riddled with injuries and just doesn’t seem to fit in Chicago anymore. His gigantic contract makes it difficult to negotiate, something he has in common with Aldridge.
Spurs get: Otto Porter, Daniel Gafford
Bulls get: LaMarcus Aldridge, Trey Lyles
Similar to the Heat business, both teams would essentially be exchanging expired contracts. Gafford and Lyles are included just to keep Spurs from getting too much extra pay this season. Luke Kornet could also be an alternative for equal pay if Chicago refuses to include 22-year-old Gafford, as long as the Bulls also play in a future second round.
For the Bulls, this is the perfect opportunity to step out of Porter while dramatically improving his big man rotation. As defective as Aldridge is now, he is still far superior to Kornet, Cristiano Felicio and Gafford. Since the Bulls are in the playoff bubble, the update would be worth it. Aldridge can also offer much-needed veteran leadership to an extremely young team, allowing Chicago to preserve a ton of space for the next season.
For Spurs, making a flyer in Porter makes sense, as it gives them another great forward to shoot at opponents. For now, he could be insurance in case Gay gets hurt, but also a potentially cheap substitute for Rudy next season if he proves he can still hit three and defend properly at the team level. Gafford may also be an interesting prospect to add to the youth group, but even if the Bulls prefer to include Kornet, the deal may be worthwhile for San Antonio. With Luka Samanic looking better, losing Lyles is no big deal.
Again, it is not the most exciting of the negotiations, but it seems safe for two teams that do not want to change things too much.
What do you think, Spurs fans? Would you be happy with any of these negotiations? If not, what do you think would be a good deal? Let us know in the comments.