Lamarcus Aldridge: Going "home" to the Spurs

Chandler and Asik won't be cheap. Asik will get a pretty good offer from NOLA, most think it'll be around 10 million. Chandler is looking for 3/36 but will probably settle somewhere between 3/27 and 3/30 or so. Koufos, Biyombo, and Wright will probably all be cheaper but who knows how cheap? I think it depends on situation and location (aka are they starting or not and in which city).

 

I think you could find someone who wants him, but they'd want a pick too is the point. Kelly and Sacre are just throw in contracts really. I think the Lakers could trade either of them for some non-guaranteed 2nd rounders or something. To get rid of Young and take no money back, you're right teams would rather hold out hope that THEY can get Aldridge instead. You have to probably attach a future 1st rounder to him to get rid of him and make space for a veteran Center.

It's possible you can get Davis for cheap since he wants to be back and we'd guarantee him a starting spot, but is that enough for Aldridge? It all comes down to what he wants. It's possible he's totally fine leading the charge with the young cats for a year until we break the bank on more help next summer. We just don't know until FA starts.

 

I'm taking into account Kobe missing games this season, and being gone next, which means to me we need these young guys, they could be our future for a while . You trade them, and Kobe retires, and we're back left with nothing but Aldridge, and a whole rower to fill.

No, I don't think Mitch could say that to Aldridge, but considering he would only be here for 4 years, and those other guys could be here a decade, the idea of building around them is smarter to me. This is all if they reach their potential though, if bit, you can try and trade them later, though lower trade value is a given. I think there's room to keep the young dudes, sign Aldridge, and sign a serviceable C with what's left, as has been pointed out here. I'd be perfectly fine with Ed Davis back, or that Biyombo guy. I can't see Aldridge being too concerned with who we have at C anyway, not sure he'd want a star taking touches and shots away from him, probably prefer a dirty work guy like Davis, he's used to playing with those type of guys in Portland already.

 

I totally agree and I think Aldridge and Mitch and the Lakers would agree with that too.

BUT in the event that he asks for it... the Lakers are willing to play ball at least a little bit. The thing is Lillard seems to be a huge reason Aldridge is considering leaving. Not because they don't get along, but because Aldridge felt like he was being left out of all the advertising opportunities and was suddenly forgotten as the face of the franchise in place of the younger guy. The Lakers JUST drafted their own Damian Lillard... It's smart for them to kind of build in a contingency plan just in case. Not that they'd trade Russell, but that they'd have a way to make Aldridge feel more like the star of the team.

For me Mitch's sales pitch sounds great like this:
1. We're the Lakers. Even if Russell gets 10 commercials, we can get you 15 commercials, a clothing line, a movie role, and your own TV show on our own network.
2. Our brand is so large and our world wide fans so numerous, you're lock for four more All-Star games (doubling your current total).
3. Our young guys are too young to have ANYTHING given to them. They're here to build you up for at least the next 4 years until they're ready to carry a team.
4. Without you, we're confident these young guys will come through in a few years time for at least the playoffs. WITH you, we're talking playoffs THIS season.
5. Kobe is on his way out, but with you he's got enough in the tank to fight again.
6. YOU are the piece that will attract more FAs next season as we plan to put forth bids on guys like Durant, Westbrook, Noah, and Butler over the next few years.
7. You live in LA, you know there's countless opportunities for businesses that just don't exist in Texas or Washington.
8. You're neighbors with Kobe, so LA is just as much your home as Texas is... just sayin'.
9. We've got a history of great big men, but none quite like you. If you bring home the rings we think you can, you'd have your own unique place on our wall of jerseys.

Most importantly-
10. No matter what happens, you're the first FA to embrace LA in the last couple of years making you a hero and the spotlight shines on you. Our #2 pick is only 19 years old and while we are wildly confident in his abilities, he won't be ready to lead us into the future right away. YOU are. You will the light at the end of the tunnel for millions of Laker fans worldwide. Fame in our industry doesn't get any greater than that.

11. We're willing to play ball and move a couple young guys for you if you want, but we'd prefer not to. We have great confidence in their abilities and their low contracts help us build around you not only this summer but next. We know you don't want to play Center, so we have a short list of guys we can get leading off with Ed Davis. He's not a big name, but he's willing to settle on price to play with you and he's willing to do all the dirty work down low so that you can be free to operate. We've got great talented youngsters that you can lead. If you NEED a different Center to play with, let us know and we'll do our best but we really think we can make something work with the young guys we have and the remaining cap space available.

 

Missed this one on my list. Nicely done.

We've got the means to assemble a super team ON TOP OF a young core so that when the older guys start feeling their age, the young guys make the leap forward. There's potential here to build something outlandishly special. If Randle, Clarkson, and Russell are everything we think they are AND we can pick up Aldridge/Another big FA next summer we could be looking at a Showtime caliber roster within the next few years.

Who doesn't want to be a part of that?

 

Boom!

I think in that instance, you give Koufos a call. Even among NBA circles his value isn't really a known quantity. A stage like LA could really help him cash in on another deal if he gives us one of those 1+1 kind of things for what we have left in cap space after Aldridge. If not, then I bet we can get Davis to bite if we offer him a starting job, even if it's way below the dollar amount his agent is asking for.

 

What I heard is that they like Sacre and plan to keep him. I also heard there's some help from the NBA so that his cap amount is less than his salary.