Where is LaMarcus Aldridge leaning in free agency?
Depends on who you ask.
Around the Lakers, there is a sense of confidence they are the front runners. But that is not what you hear everywhere around the league — the Spurs are still right in the mix. Maybe they are even the front runners. And the Spurs are bringing out the big guns for their meeting with Aldridge, reports Marc Spears at Yahoo Sports.Tim Duncan will join Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich as part of the San Antonio Spurs’ contingent when they meet with Portland Trail Blazers free agent LaMarcus Aldridge on Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, a source told Yahoo Sports....
The Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns are among Aldridge’s suitors, but a source close to the situation said the Spurs are currently the frontrunner.
If you take one thing away from those paragraphs it should be this: Tim Duncan is coming back next season. Why else is he meeting with Aldridge?
We know the order of Aldridge’s meetings, thanks to David Aldridge of TNT and NBA.com.
So, LaMarcus visit order again, starting Tue at 9 PDT: LAL, HOU, SA, PHO, DAL, TOR, NYK. (No need 2 meet with POR; they're already offered.)
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 30, 2015
As for who are the favorites? Only Aldridge knows.
If it is going to be San Antonio, you will see the Spurs making moves and doing an intricate financial dance to clear out cap space — specifically, expect to see either Boris Diaw or Tiago Splitter moved. If that happens, you can start to assume the Spurs are on to something.
Otherwise, maybe it is the Lakers. Or his hometown Mavericks. Or Portland. Or....
Aldridge is the best free agent on the market likely to be on the move. It’s going to be fascinating to watch.
