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

[Uriel]

[TheGoldStandard]

Post this in the offseason thread, lol.

[Uriel]

All signs pointing to Aldridge going to the Spurs.

In a perfect scenario, the Spurs have a full understanding of the futures of Duncan, Ginobili and Danny Green when they walk into a 12:01 a.m. ET meeting on July 1 with Leonard and his agent, Brian Elfus, in Los Angeles. The Spurs will offer Leonard a full maximum contract extension, get a commitment and turn themselves toward prying Aldridge back to his Texas roots... It is a testament to the regime of Portland general manager Neil Olshey, the commitment of owner Paul Allen, that the most credible threat to lose Aldridge comes out of San Antonio, the best franchise in sports.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-kaw...084241791.html

One candidate could be LaMarcus Aldridge, given what league sources describe as strong mutual interest between the All-Star power forward and Spurs officials to explore every opportunity to bring Aldridge back to Texas this summer... One scenario on the personnel grapevine gaining steam is the notion that the Spurs could elect to explore the possibility of dealing away Tiago Splitter to create more financial flexibility. Splitter has two years left on his contract valued at just under $17 million and is quietly regarded as a key contributor in San Antonio given how well he fits as a frontcourt sidekick next to Duncan. But if you're the Spurs -- and if the increasingly loud rumbles about Aldridge having San Antonio as the preferred destination atop his wish list prove true -- examining Splitter's trade market might suddenly become unavoidable.

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/p...-antonio-spurs

[The] consistent word on the personnel grapevine at the minute informs us that San Antonio and Dallas not only both believe they have a real shot at signing him but are also legitimately in Aldridge's thoughts... [Sources] insist -- at, yes, this early juncture -- that San Antonio sits near or at the top of Aldridge's list.

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/p...azers-aldridge

The free-agent plan for the Spurs is to quickly agree on a five-year max deal with Leonard – “It will be a short conversation,” one person with knowledge of the dynamics said – and empower Leonard to join Duncan in an all-out recruitment of All-Star free agent LaMarcus Aldridge, league sources told CBSSports.com... Aldridge, 29, will strongly consider doing a two-year deal with a player option for '16-'17 that would get him back to the market in a position to make tens of millions more at the new max. Even in the Spurs' dream scenario – Duncan and Leonard come back and successfully recruit Aldridge – they will have a hard time retaining free agent Danny Green, who is expected to command $10-$12 million on the open market – which, in 2016, will look like a bargain.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/...after-aldridge

Portland Trail Blazers, furthermore, are likely to pursue [Kevin Love] in the event that LaMarcus Aldridge -- as many league executives expect -- flees the Blazers in free agency.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13...aliers-sources

[TheGreatYacht]

^^^

[TheGoldStandard]

All signs pointing to Aldridge going to the Spurs.

Except they need to clear cap space to make his $$ work. Who will it be?

[Uriel]

Except they need to clear cap space to make his $$ work. Who will it be?

There are multiple reports that the Spurs have been trying to trade Splitter to clear enough cap space. A sign and trade involving Splitter and Mills is also a possibility.

[rogues]

you Spurs..I've never been a fan of aldridge but him being taught how to play in a team oriented system like them Spurs have is lethal for the rest of the league. This aint no Splitter or Baynes..

[TheGoldStandard]

There are multiple reports that the Spurs have been trying to trade Splitter to clear enough cap space. A sign and trade involving Splitter and Mills is also a possibility.

Just building suspense. I think its funny that Aldridge is using the Lakers as a bargaining chip for the Spurs.. That rivalry hasn't been relevant for half a decade.

[TheGoldStandard]

you Spurs..I've never been a fan of aldridge but him being taught how to play in a team oriented system like them Spurs have is lethal for the rest of the league. This aint no Splitter or Baynes..

He won't get blocked by a PG on the regular

[Spur|n|Austin]

[timtonymanu]

Not surprising. The only doubt I have is the Spurs not offering him enough money that he wants, otherwise it makes perfect sense for him to join the Spurs.

[tmtcsc]

Except they need to clear cap space to make his $$ work. Who will it be?

Why cant the Spurs just pay the luxury tax for a year if necessary? With the cap going up so high, they would be fine in 2016 right?

[Uriel]

[manufan10]

[TheGoldStandard]

Why cant the Spurs just pay the luxury tax for a year if necessary? With the cap going up so high, they would be fine in 2016 right?

Can't go over the cap to bring in a new player. Once the cap holds are considered you'd give Aldridge whatever is left and then sign the guys that have bird rights to keep them and go above the cap.

[Duncan2177]

[Malik Hairston]

PG to be named later
Green
Leonard
Aldridge
Duncan

Diaw
Manu
Mills/Joseph

Pretty attractive lineup, tbh..

[dg7md]

We can only hope. LMA + Kawhi as the future building blocks, that'd make us in the mix for years to come.

[TheGoldStandard]

PG to be named later
Green
Leonard
Aldridge
Duncan

Diaw
Manu
Mills/Joseph

Pretty attractive lineup, tbh..

[Ditty]

at those that were thinking LA had no interest in coming here.

Said two weeks ago that the Spurs were number one on his list, and it sounds like the Cyberx guy from Clutchfans who said the same thing was correct also.

Hopefully Cousins doesn't entice him to go to LA if he gets traded, I'll try to keep everybody in the loop

[Silver&Black]

[MultiTroll]

Trading Patty just seems wrong.
French pig.....

[BatManu20]

[Ice009]

at those that were thinking LA had no interest in coming here.

Said two weeks ago that the Spurs were number one on his list, and it sounds like the Cyberx guy from Clutchfans who said the same thing was correct also.

Hopefully Cousins doesn't entice him to go to LA if he gets traded, I'll try to keep everybody in the loop

Do you have inside info or something?

[Darius Bieber]

Mills should not be traded. He was our only competent PG during the Clippers series.