The San Antonio Spurs are a top free agent target for LaMarcus Aldridge this offseason and the team is going hard after Aldridge in free agency, as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are set to recruit the forward and this comes as Kawhi Leonard is expected to return as a restricted free agent, while Danny Green is hitting the market this summer as well.
The Spurs are one of the premier franchises in the NBA and while they do not usually go big in free agency, Aldridge has been mentioned as a target all season for San Antonio. According to ESPN.com, Marc Stein reports that a poll of unnamed NBA executives predicted that Aldridge is the player most likely to change teams in free agency. The Blazers would like to keep Aldridge, but all signs are pointing to him leaving, including a report that he told the team he will not be signing back in Portland.
The Blazers GM came out to refute that report, but either way, Aldridge is expected to meet with numerous teams in free agency this summer. According to Chris Broussard at ESPN, Aldridge has a meeting set for the end of the week with the Knicks, while the San Antonio Spurs are also lining up a visit. Marc Spears at Yahoo Sports has the details about the Spurs, reporting that the team is meeting with Aldridge and they will have Duncan, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich as part of the group that meets with the free agent.
The Spurs also have Kawhi Leonard hitting restricted free agency and he is expected to return on a deal with San Antonio. Some teams could consider trying to steal away Leonard from the Spurs, but the team reportedly will do whatever they need to do to keep Leonard in San Antonio. According to CBS Sports, the team "will exceed the cap" for Leonard if needed and he will be offered a five-year, max contract by the Spurs. Danny Green is also a free agent and he could be a target for the Knicks this offseason and could price out for the Spurs.
Aldridge reportedly has meetings set with the Lakers and Knicks for the first week of free agency and Spears reports that the top targets for Aldridge include the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns. The Suns are prepared to go after free agents like Aldridge and Kevin Love, while the Raptors reportedly are looking to meet with Aldridge. Marc Stein at ESPN reports that the Texas teams are the favorites for Aldridge, as he may want to return to his home state.
The Mavericks have been connected to a number of free agents, including DeAndre Jordan and Tyson Chandler, while Aldridge is also a top option. The Rockets are expected to chase Aldridge, while Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times reports that Aldridge is "leaning" towards signing with the Lakers this offseason. Aldridge is very likely to switch teams, as he is in the prime of his career and the Blazers may not want to pay him max money right now with Damian Lillard still to come.
