Random Thoughts After LaMarcus Aldridge and the Spurs Split

[Mr. Body]

Quality post.

Thanks.

[tbdog]

I'm not gonna talk good about LMA simply because he is leaving... And I'm not gonna act like a battered wife with low self-esteem... Simply happy that someone wanted me (analogy of star players not choosing San Antonio)

The truth is we should have traded him when he asked for it... That was NOT a team first mentality... Our best regular season ever, and on the way to beating the warriors... Gave him the most successful year he has ever had reaching the wcf... asked for a trade and didn't give a reason not had a conversation with anyone as to why until AFTER he couldn't be traded...

Decided to stay for the money... Not because of some heroic desire to carry us on his back... His body language has been negative ever since...

He and another all star player led us to a first round exit and to the lottery... I remember when we had standards as a fanbase we would RIP them apart for underachieving... Player like that on other teams we used to mock and laugh at... Now we are here saying we are lucky to have them on our team...

And of course to top it off... Mr team player got in his feelings when pop put him on the bench... That's the guy we are gonna show love to? Ginobili accepted a bench role in his prime... Duncan even went to the bench coming off injury once... Duncan! Parker at least accepted a bench role for the season... Those are legendary NBA players... And Mr Aldridge wanted a trade two games after going to the bench... Lol... Good riddance

Your reading way to much in between the lines. Spurs had looked at trading LMA for two off seasons without finding anything that made sense. He started for the Spurs this season until his hip injury, then poeltl finally found form. Just like how Gasol lost his spot to poeltl as well. It had little to do with LMA wanting out but rather wanting to play for a le or have a key starting role. Something the Spurs were unwilling and unable to give him moving forward. This is not a Jackson situation here.

[KobesAchilles]

Thanks for the explanation, guys.



Interesting question. I'm curious about this too. If a team signs him for less than the minimum, do the Spurs get some of that money back?



Darn, now that I recall, didn't Tim hurt his knee in the latter part of that season and wasn't the same after that? He was playing at a darn good level before that if I remember correctly? I think that is what ultimately led to his retirement that off-season, didn't it? He was playing very well before hurting his knee and it still didn't feel right in the off-season when he started training from what I remember, and that is what made him call it quits? Anyone remember the details?

Yeah he hurt it like a month before the playoffs and never recovered. It was his good knee too which is why he retired. The way we were playing that year, with all that championship experience, we would’ve knocked off Golden St that year. I never bet against Tim Duncan against the Warriors

[Ice009]

Yeah he hurt it like a month before the playoffs and never recovered. It was his good knee too which is why he retired. The way we were playing that year, with all that championship experience, we would’ve knocked off Golden St that year. I never bet against Tim Duncan against the Warriors

Thanks. I thought that was the case, cause he was playing pretty darn well up to that point of the season. When he came back, I remember he didn't play as well the rest of the season. I also forgot it was his good knee . I also remember the Spurs wanted him to come back and told him to take his time, but someone mentioned that Tim tried to start doing his regular off-season workouts, but the knee still wasn't good, so he told the Spurs he can't come back. That really sucked .

[talkspurs]

That’s a good point - comes down to whether they want tax room this year to fit another guy, or preserve flexibility going forward. They’re not winning a le this year, so I’d usually say no question you bite the bullet now. But if they have something up their sleeve with a piece of the MLE and it helps make playoffs, I could be fine losing $2-$3mm off cap next two years.

You cant stretch in the last year of the contract.

[DPG21920]

Just wish Sa had a little more planning and foresight. It was obvious that trading lma should have been more strongly considered but their lack of direction leads to him being moved at his lowest possible value it seems.

[pad300]

A lot of posts in here seem a little "monday morning QB". They apparently did try to trade LMA this offseason when his value was higher... and the deal failed with Klay's injury just before the draft...

[daslicer]

A lot of posts in here seem a little "monday morning QB". They apparently did try to trade LMA this offseason when his value was higher... and the deal failed with Klay's injury just before the draft...

His value wasn't high in the summer of '20. The time to trade him was either in summer of '18 or '19 when he had the best seasons of his career.

[Mr. Body]

A lot of posts in here seem a little "monday morning QB". They apparently did try to trade LMA this offseason when his value was higher... and the deal failed with Klay's injury just before the draft...

No, this never happened.

[Thomas82]

His value wasn't high in the summer of '20. The time to trade him was either in summer of '18 or '19 when he had the best seasons of his career.

Facts!!

[DAF86]

I'm very grateful for that time where we won 60+ games and he asked for a trade because he wasn't getting 20+ ppg, tbh.

[DAF86]

ing loser ass mentality.

[duncan2k5]

Your reading way to much in between the lines. Spurs had looked at trading LMA for two off seasons without finding anything that made sense. He started for the Spurs this season until his hip injury, then poeltl finally found form. Just like how Gasol lost his spot to poeltl as well. It had little to do with LMA wanting out but rather wanting to play for a le or have a key starting role. Something the Spurs were unwilling and unable to give him moving forward. This is not a Jackson situation here.

If that was the case, he would have been traded before the season when it was clear we were a lottery team... everyone knew we weren't a contender...y'all make LMA seem like some noble guy...this is the same guy that demanded a trade after winning the most games and reaching the furthest he ever reached...it's not like he got mad and threw a fit in the coaches office...he immediately went for the nuclear option! And it was clear what we was doing was working... Over touches! You think this same guy wouldn't ask for a trade over being benched?

[tbdog]

If that was the case, he would have been traded before the season when it was clear we were a lottery team... everyone knew we weren't a contender...y'all make LMA seem like some noble guy...this is the same guy that demanded a trade after winning the most games and reaching the furthest he ever reached...it's not like he got mad and threw a fit in the coaches office...he immediately went for the nuclear option! And it was clear what we was doing was working... Over touches! You think this same guy wouldn't ask for a trade over being benched?

No, because he lost his start after his injury and when Poeltl clearly showed improvements.

The reason for the trade request wasn't just about touches. He said he was made to play a style he was uncomfortable. He also said that he was frozen out then asked to score at the end. He explained that doesn't work for him, that he is a rhythm player that needs touches to be relied upon down the stretch. He also never publically demand it, changed his mind and signed a contract.

Again, your filling in the gaps with negatively, and I don't support that.

[duncan2k5]

No, because he lost his start after his injury and when Poeltl clearly showed improvements.

The reason for the trade request wasn't just about touches. He said he was made to play a style he was uncomfortable. He also said that he was frozen out then asked to score at the end. He explained that doesn't work for him, that he is a rhythm player that needs touches to be relied upon down the stretch. He also never publically demand it, changed his mind and signed a contract.

Again, your filling in the gaps with negatively, and I don't support that.

The point is he wanted to do what worked for him and not what was clearly working for the team... secondly it was public...we knew he had asked for a trade...I remember BEGGING on here for the Spurs to get the deal done and was upset when they didn't...he didn't change his mind...we couldn't trade him and he decided to take the money...it wasn't some heroic attempt to put us on his back

[K...]

A conversation with spustalk: "they should have traded LMA in 2019"

and start poertle, gay, and luka?

"we'd get an all star big back if we traded LMA" ok.

[The_Worlds_finest]

Im still confused as to why Pop didnt laugh that sorry ass player out of the office when he demanded a Retired Jersey Number.

[exstatic]

Is a buyout really worth it when he could just play as a reserve?

It’s obvious that he refused, post Memphis blowout. He only played those three recent games off the bench because we had to field an 8 man roster, and the Spurs had been covering for his obstinace by creating fake injuries, first the lingering hip thing that miraculously healed when our roster was very short because of COVID, and then, when the players started returning, he developed a tummy ache that kept him out until the ASB.

[tbdog]

The point is he wanted to do what worked for him and not what was clearly working for the team... secondly it was public...we knew he had asked for a trade...I remember BEGGING on here for the Spurs to get the deal done and was upset when they didn't...he didn't change his mind...we couldn't trade him and he decided to take the money...it wasn't some heroic attempt to put us on his back

It was public after, not during the request. I think Spurs leaked it and not LMA camp. I don't see the issue here.

[KingKev]

It’s obvious that he refused, post Memphis blowout. He only played those three recent games off the bench because we had to field an 8 man roster, and the Spurs had been covering for his obstinace by creating fake injuries, first the lingering hip thing that miraculously healed when our roster was very short because of COVID, and then, when the players started returning, he developed a tummy ache that kept him out until the ASB.

haha “tummy ache”

Tell me LMA is a biatch saying he is a biatch! Send him to play for Wolves or Cavs please. We owe him nothing.

[K...]

does anyone think the spurs have a decent deal set up, but went public to create pressure for a better/some compe ion?

[Degoat]

does anyone think the spurs have a decent deal set up, but went public to create pressure for a better/some compe ion?

Im hoping that’s the case because if we end up just buying him out that’s such a waste imo

[Mr. Body]

does anyone think the spurs have a decent deal set up, but went public to create pressure for a better/some compe ion?

No.

[Ice009]

does anyone think the spurs have a decent deal set up, but went public to create pressure for a better/some compe ion?

Nope. That could blow your current deal up and then you end up with nothing. No way they'd go public if they had a deal in place.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

kawhi really ed some of your heads up

lma wasn't happy years ago, so he went and told pop to his face, like a professional, that he wanted a trade?

then they were able to work things out and he stayed and continued to play at a high level? then this year he gets hurt old and slow, loses his starting role and meaningful place on the team, so he and patfo worked out a mutual agreement to part ways to the benefit of both parties? (in the final year of his contract)

wow what a diva