Zach Lowe: League executives believe Spurs may offer max to LaMarcus Aldridge

[Mel_13]

LMA receives the same offer from Portland vs another team, he stays...and probably stays for a little less to get that last piece for Portland to really get over the hump.

And since Portland will offer him 30M than any other team can possibly offer, there's virtually no chance he leaves Portland.

[Richie]

I could have sworn someone said that a team won't lose a valued FA unless they choose to let him go. Let me check. Here it is:

So a determined Portland effort to keep Aldridge, which they most assuredly will make, won't guarantee that he'll stay, but the Spurs are in no danger of losing Green unless they choose to let him go? Ok.

My point was that we won't lose him because we are chasing a free agent. If he chooses to leave then there's nothing we can do, but that will have nothing to do with us chasing Aldridge or Gasol.

If he wants to leave then it's irrelevant, and if he wants to stay then he'll sign after we have tested the free agent waters. People are acting like Green will be wanting a contract on July 1st, he'll test the waters and meet with teams just like Aldridge and Gasol will to gauge his market value.

As long as Aldridge, Gasol, Love etc... are on the market teams won't be throwing $10m+ at Danny Green. The month he spends getting offers and meeting with teams is the same month we spend doing the same with free agents, if Green wants to stay he'll ask us to match his best offer and if it's reasonable we will. If we haven't signed a free agent by then we won't be getting one and we bring everyone else back too.

[Mel_13]

My point was that we won't lose him because we are chasing a free agent.

That may have been what what you meant, but it certainly wasn't clear based on what you posted. I won't, however, argue with you about the meaning of your own words. We'll move along.

[Richie]

And since Portland will offer him 30M than any other team can possibly offer, there's virtually no chance he leaves Portland.

People said the same thing about Howard. The headline figure is misleading, the whole number is based around it being 4 years vs 5 years, per year he will be earning the same. There are also other factors like tax which mitigates this to some extent, especially in a low tax state like Texas.

It's not as simple as 'an extra $30m' although it does obviously give the in bent team an edge.

[Mel_13]

People said the same thing about Howard. The headline figure is misleading, the whole number is based around it being 4 years vs 5 years, per year he will be earning the same. There are also other factors like tax which mitigates this to some extent, especially in a low tax state like Texas.

It's not as simple as 'an extra $30m' although it does obviously give the in bent team an edge.

Howard was running away from LA as much as he was running to Houston.

There nothing for Aldridge, Gasol, or Millsap to run away from. Their current teams are going to offer more years and more money and all those players are going to stay where they are. You can invent all the fanciful scenarios you like, but they're not leaving their current teams. Moreover, the Spurs are not going to base their plans for the summer of 2015 on a pursuit of one of those players.

[Richie]

I should reiterate that I don't think Aldridge will leave, but that's because of Lillard and Portland being a contender, not because of the money.

[Richie]

Howard was running away from LA as much as he was running to Houston.

There nothing for Aldridge, Gasol, or Millsap to run away from. Their current teams are going to offer more years and more money and all those players are going to stay where they are. You can invent all the fanciful scenarios you like, but they're not leaving their current teams. Moreover, the Spurs are not going to base their plans for the summer of 2015 on a pursuit of one of those players.

All evidence points towards us targeting free agents this summer. We gave Mills, Splitter and Diaw front loaded deals and we didn't extend Kawhi in October when it's certain he's getting a max deal. If the front office doesn't target the big names they aren't doing their job properly.

[Mel_13]

All evidence points towards us targeting free agents this summer. We gave Mills, Splitter and Diaw front loaded deals and we didn't extend Kawhi in October when it's certain he's getting a max deal. If the front office doesn't target the big names they aren't doing their job properly.

Targeting unrealistic goals is the opposite of doing their job properly. Aldridge, Gasol, and Millsap are unrealistic goals.

[Richie]

Targeting unrealistic goals is the opposite of doing their job properly. Aldridge, Gasol, and Millsap are unrealistic goals.

There's absolutely no downside to pursuing them. Also some people are acting as if you can only pursue one group of free agents at a time, we can gauge interest from dozens of guys at the same time. If Gasol and Aldridge turn you down, which is likely, it doesn't matter because you are in no different a position as you would be if you didn't throw your hat in the ring.

It's like someone offering you a free lottery ticket, you probably won't win but there's no reason not to take it.

My argument was with those who said it wasn't possible because we wouldn't have the cap space, which we could get by only giving up Mills, Joseph and fringe players.

[Mel_13]

There's absolutely no downside to pursuing them. Also some people are acting as if you can only pursue one group of free agents at a time, we can gauge interest from dozens of guys at the same time. If Gasol and Aldridge turn you down, which is likely, it doesn't matter because you are in no different a position as you would be if you didn't throw your hat in the ring.

It's like someone offering you a free lottery ticket, you probably won't win but there's no reason not to take it.

My argument was with those who said it wasn't possible because we wouldn't have the cap space, which we could get by only giving up Mills, Joseph and fringe players.

We disagree. Time to move on.

[tim_duncan_fan]

The idea makes me uncomfortable for some reason. I don't really believe in max contracts for non-transformative players and as much as I like Aldridge, I don't know that I buy that he could take us back to championship level post-Big 3.

[look_at_g_shred]

Wake me up when the le is changed to Spurs may offer max contract to Anthony Davis.

[Beaverfuzz]

And since Portland will offer him 30M than any other team can possibly offer, there's virtually no chance he leaves Portland.

CHA-CHING!

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

CHA-CHING!

Does the extra $30 million factor in Oregon's 9.9% income tax?

[Beaverfuzz]

Does the extra $30 million factor in Oregon's 9.9% income tax?

I'm quite sure Aldridge and the rest of the Blazers are at the 11.9% level. Then again only half of the salary is taxed in Oregon.

[itzsoweezee]

Does the extra $30 million factor in Oregon's 9.9% income tax?

I know when Howard was choosing between LA and HOU, the net salary came out to about the same because of California's income tax. I'd imagine it'd be pretty much the same situation with PDX versus SA.

Aldridge might come around after PDX suffers another second round knockout.

[BatManu20]

I can already see this thread is going to go 20+ pages.

[lefty]

Aldridge is unrestricted, if he chooses to leave there's nothing Portland can do.

COYS !

[313]

I'd do it only for the storm that would rain down on tlong tbh

[313]

I can already see this thread is going to go 20+ pages.

[Sean Cagney]

Aldridge is one of my fave non Spurs. I would prefer Anthony Davis but I would take Lamarcus if he were to come to SA although I doubt he will.

[poeticism707]

Aldridge is one of my fave non Spurs. I would prefer Anthony Davis but I would take Lamarcus if he were to come to SA although I doubt he will.

Spurs getting Anthony Davis would be like the Spurs getting a 4rth year Tim Duncan almost.

The NBA owners, fans, and media would practically riot.

The would be post TD era dream come true.

[Sean Cagney]

Spurs getting Anthony Davis would be like the Spurs getting a 4rth year Tim Duncan almost.

The NBA owners, fans, and media would practically riot.

The would be post TD era dream come true.

You are damn right man, I wish that would happen as they would not miss a beat when the big man retires. They would be right back in the mix and reloaded.

[phxspurfan]

If the Spurs got a major injury and fell out of the repeat/playoff chase, I would rate the probabilities of a major unload trade and possible max offer to LMA possible this summer. But if we are healthy/trending to make the playoffs around trade deadline time, there's very little chance this FO would give up a repeat opportunity to trade away core players to go after LMA.

[Killakobe81]

Almost always. Howard and Gasol both had better offers from the Lakers, but they were both leaving a losing organization. Aldridge, M.Gasol, and Millsap have no reason to leave money on the table to get away from their current teams.

Howard was in a bad situation, he and Kobe didnt get along. Gasol left because the Lakers had jerked him around for years (since 2011) trying to trade him multiple times. In some ways Spurs may be better off he would probably want max to leave and I dont think his game will age well. he will be great in the first couple years but overpaid by the end of his contract. Spurs shouldnt deviate from what has worked well overpaying someone to play for you is a Laker/Knicks type move tbh ...