Marc Stein: Spurs are #1 on LaMarcus Aldridge's list

[SupremeGuy]

At least there's a possibility of something good happening this time.

As average as Bush was, he was infinitely better than Al "I invented the internet" Gore.

[Aztecfan03]

nba tv guy says it is a no braining basically for lma to go to the spurs if he wants money and winning
almost is shopping to much

[GSH]

That's why its a disgrace he's taking so long. It's a ing no brainer if what he says is true. He wants to win.

Stupid asshole

It is a no-brainer... IF that's what's important to him. Doing this much shopping, he's looking for a way to convince himself that he can still win in on one of the big market teams.

[Roger Freemason Jr.]

This is good. Aldridge's day is reserved for Pop.

[HarlemHeat37]

lost Splitter, Baynes, Beli, and maybe Manu..what a tragedy if Aldridge doesn't sign, tbh..

[lmbebo]

My wife just called and said an article hit her phone that said Aldridge and Matthews had both signed with Dallas. She just saw the headline - it was the article by DAVID Aldridge, saying that Matthews had gone to Dallas.

But for just a minute, I got a taste of what it would feel like if Aldridge doesn't come to SA. When it looked real, it was pretty damned depressing. No Splitter, no Baynes, and no LMA. AND pretty much all of the Plan B's gone. My first thought was, "Oh man, there are some epic ing meltdowns on SpursTalk."

If he doesn't decide to come to SA, he has royally screwed the Spurs.

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/07/03/w...s=iref:nbahpts

Just about Matthews and Mavs

[Manu20]

This is good. Aldridge's day is reserved for Pop.

Oh sucks to be Portland!

[Obstructed_View]

It is a no-brainer... IF that's what's important to him. Doing this much shopping, he's looking for a way to convince himself that he can still win in on one of the big market teams.

My guess is that what's making him agonize is the extra money he could make with Portland. If that's the case, he should just sign a 2 year deal and get a new contract when the cap goes up.

[DPG21920]

Why would that cut Phoenix out though?

Because despite reports, I just can't believe PHX has anything to offer LMA over SA. They can't offer him more money. They can't offer him being close to his family. They can't offer him a better shot at winning.

I think most of the PHX stuff is LMA's agent. He got PHX to give Knight a big deal and promised an audience with LMA. I personally don't think there is any way he choses PHX. I think it's only POR or a TX team. No reason to leave POR or extra money if you it doesn't get you the family or winning angle.

[SnakeBoy]

Maybe he has already decided on the Spurs but realizes this is his last opportunity to have Pop kiss his ass.

[Arguendo]

After basketball I don't understand why this is a hard choice.

Short of NY/LA, any city he chooses is basically the same for rich people. Do I want to live in a nice house and go to nice restaurants in Houston, San Antonio, or Phoenix? Is there really a significant difference? NBA players are out of state 1/2 the time during the season, and he already has a house he lives in during the offseason.

There is a massive difference.
It makes me wonder if people that write these kinds of things have spent any significant time outside SA (area).
SA is a massive city, both population and area wise, but that's because the metro does not have many incorporated cities. Most major metros in the US (and the world) have legally seperated cities/townships making up a huge % of the pop/area. DFW and LA are 2 of the best examples. The greater houston area is bigger than many states and damn near the size of Massachusetts (Katy to pasadena, woodlands to pearland). The list goes on. SA has castle hills, alamo heights and a handful of tiny others. As it grows north that's changing, but that's the reason SA in a "top 10 city" the vast bulk of the metro is city of SA, whole being an insignificant media market.

Further, SA has almost no diversity. The city is 65% Hispanic and growing (fast), and less than 7% black and falling. Asians, Indians, Indo-pacifics-- good luck finding them or any semblance of their cultures. This lack of diversity (and industry) mean lacking of cultural attractions. To compare SA to Dallas or Houston is pretty ludicrous when it comes to that. SA has very little in the way of the arts outside of Mexican and Native focus. That may or may not b important but it's undeniable.

Also most of these other cities are international, SA is decidedly not binational at best. And there's comparitively little money in SA. Check ghe per capita incomes, SA is lagging way behind.

And restaurants??! Are you insane? SA has great mexican food and bbq (everywhere in TX does though) and some of the chains and that's it. SA has very few prime and gourmet restaurants compared to every other large city with a bball team. Houston has more prime/gourmet restaurants in upoer kirby or westheimer area than the whole SA metro. Not ing close.

The best thing SA has going for it is Atx is close by and has great diversity, restaurants, culture/arts, money, etc.

SA certainly has its positives like that fact it's super super low cost of living but that's also a downside, esp if youve got millions in the bank. And HEB is the best grocery chain ive seen and the people are generally very nice.

That said, I don't even consider it a major city, it's much closer to a huge town. It's certainly has it's charms esp if you like Live Oaks and limestone, but it couldn't be more different than any other major city in the US. That's not to mention the horrid 6 month summer (not that Hou or Phx are better) with the heat index perpetually near or above 100 and the omnipresent state of severe drought.

Just needed to get that out there cause apparently many in SA are unaware or delusional about what SA is and is not.

[ducks]

suns he will be face of them he did not iike in portland he will second fiddle to their point guard

[GSH]

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/07/03/w...s=iref:nbahpts

Just about Matthews and Mavs

Yeah, I got that. I was just saying that for a minute I thought it was both of them. And it really, really felt like .

[TXstbobcat]

Oh sucks to be Portland!

is Tlong on suicide watch yet???????

[DPG21920]

lost Splitter, Baynes, Beli, and maybe Manu..what a tragedy if Aldridge doesn't sign, tbh..

Nah - losing Tiago sucks, but Baynes, Beli, Bonner, Ayres are all replaceable. Manu is up in the air, but he could still return. Now that Sa likely gets to keep Patty that's huge. Can maybe keep Cory too, but that's doubtful.

But if things break right, Spurs can have:

TP/Green/Kawhi/Tim/LMA
Manu/Mills/Anderson/Boris

That is 10 of the 13 spots filled which is tremendous. Then if you get WEST somehow, that is a damn miracle.

[ffadicted]

Ignorant comment incoming... If we sign aldridge, do we have MLE?

[Aztecfan03]

Ignorant comment incoming... If we sign aldridge, do we have MLE?

no, just the RE

[GSH]

Nah - losing Tiago sucks, but Baynes, Beli, Bonner, Ayres are all replaceable. Manu is up in the air, but he could still return. Now that Sa likely gets to keep Patty that's huge. Can maybe keep Cory too, but that's doubtful.

But if things break right, Spurs can have:

TP/Green/Kawhi/Tim/LMA
Manu/Mills/Anderson/Boris

That is 10 of the 13 spots filled which is tremendous. Then if you get WEST somehow, that is a damn miracle.

It's like that last few of games of last season. You can either finish with the 2 seed... or the 6 seed. It's a world of difference, based on just a couple of things going right or wrong.

[HarlemHeat37]

Nah - losing Tiago sucks, but Baynes, Beli, Bonner, Ayres are all replaceable. Manu is up in the air, but he could still return. Now that Sa likely gets to keep Patty that's huge. Can maybe keep Cory too, but that's doubtful.

But if things break right, Spurs can have:

TP/Green/Kawhi/Tim/LMA
Manu/Mills/Anderson/Boris

That is 10 of the 13 spots filled which is tremendous. Then if you get WEST somehow, that is a damn miracle.

I don't care about losing Baynes or Beli if Aldridge joins the Spurs, obviously..

However, losing Splitter is huge if Aldridge doesn't choose the Spurs, and they are losing depth/running out of options..

[slick'81]

So west would have to come in for the minimum ?highly unlikely

[RodNIc91]

I don't care about losing Baynes or Beli if Aldridge joins the Spurs, obviously..

However, losing Splitter is huge if Aldridge doesn't choose the Spurs, and they are losing depth/running out of options..

What is your opinion on Nene? I liked him a few years ago but I think he lost a step.

[Manu20]

lost Splitter, Baynes, Beli, and maybe Manu..what a tragedy if Aldridge doesn't sign, tbh..

Baynes and Beli?? They were spot players at best....Tiago does affect the team and Manu leaving won't be because of the Spurs but Father time.

[HarlemHeat37]

What is your opinion on Nene? I liked him a few years ago but I think he lost a step.

I like him, but he looked really bad last year and he's always injured, too..

[Chinook]

There is a massive difference.
It makes me wonder if people that write these kinds of things have spent any significant time outside SA (area).
SA is a massive city, both population and area wise, but that's because the metro does not have many incorporated cities. Most major metros in the US (and the world) have legally seperated cities/townships making up a huge % of the pop/area. DFW and LA are 2 of the best examples. The greater houston area is bigger than many states and damn near the size of Massachusetts (Katy to pasadena, woodlands to pearland). The list goes on. SA has castle hills, alamo heights and a handful of tiny others. As it grows north that's changing, but that's the reason SA in a "top 10 city" the vast bulk of the metro is city of SA, whole being an insignificant media market.

Further, SA has almost no diversity. The city is 65% Hispanic and growing (fast), and less than 7% black and falling. Asians, Indians, Indo-pacifics-- good luck finding them or any semblance of their cultures. This lack of diversity (and industry) mean lacking of cultural attractions. To compare SA to Dallas or Houston is pretty ludicrous when it comes to that. SA has very little in the way of the arts outside of Mexican and Native focus. That may or may not b important but it's undeniable.

Also most of these other cities are international, SA is decidedly not binational at best. And there's comparitively little money in SA. Check ghe per capita incomes, SA is lagging way behind.

And restaurants??! Are you insane? SA has great mexican food and bbq (everywhere in TX does though) and some of the chains and that's it. SA has very few prime and gourmet restaurants compared to every other large city with a bball team. Houston has more prime/gourmet restaurants in upoer kirby or westheimer area than the whole SA metro. Not ing close.

The best thing SA has going for it is Atx is close by and has great diversity, restaurants, culture/arts, money, etc.

SA certainly has its positives like that fact it's super super low cost of living but that's also a downside, esp if youve got millions in the bank. And HEB is the best grocery chain ive seen and the people are generally very nice.

That said, I don't even consider it a major city, it's much closer to a huge town. It's certainly has it's charms esp if you like Live Oaks and limestone, but it couldn't be more different than any other major city in the US. That's not to mention the horrid 6 month summer (not that Hou or Phx are better) with the heat index perpetually near or above 100 and the omnipresent state of severe drought.

Just needed to get that out there cause apparently many in SA are unaware or delusional about what SA is and is not.

newbie went HAM.

[DPG21920]

I don't care about losing Baynes or Beli if Aldridge joins the Spurs, obviously..

However, losing Splitter is huge if Aldridge doesn't choose the Spurs, and they are losing depth/running out of options..

The depth was gone whether LMA signed or not. In the event he doesn't Spurs have a ton of money to fill out the depth with RLP's. Tiago is the only one that will hurt, but you cant blame the FO for that - had to take that chance although it will suck if LMA doesn't come.

This is about contending next two years but also the future. Kawhi/DG are back and if LMA doesn't come, Spurs are still in an amazing spot for the next year +