LaMarcus Aldridge Rumors: Tim Duncan Willing To Take Paycut So San Antonio Spurs Can Sign Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge rumors could soon revolve around Tim Duncan. Rumors indicate that to get Aldridge to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan is willing to give the franchise a “hometown discount” to make sure it happens. A report from CBS Sports on Friday (June 26) seems to confirm how Duncan feels about the pursuit of Aldridge.
It is very clear that LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the biggest prizes in the upcoming NBA free agency period. Aldridge already told the Portland Trail Blazers that he wouldn’t be returning for the 2015-16 NBA season, making teams that want to sign him pretty excited. It’s going to be an expensive endeavor for any franchise, but Duncan is trying to give the Spurs every opportunity.
For the next NBA season, the Spurs have about $34 million in guaranteed salaries to pay out. That does not include Tim Duncan, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, or Manu Ginobili though. Those four players are free agents, likely costing the team a lot to potentially re-sign them all. Leonard is a restricted free agent, meaning the Spurs can match any offer extended to him, but he will also be the most expensive player of the group.
As previously reported on the Inquisitr, the LA Lakers are making moves to try to offer Aldridge a max contract in free agency. The Lakers won’t be the only team waiting to do that, as the Dallas Mavericks have also expressed interest in bringing him back to Texas. Aldridge is originally from the Dallas area, suggesting that the two Texas teams have an advantage when it comes to signing the All-Star power forward. Being the best name available in free agency is likely going to create a bidding war as well.
The early playoff exit that the San Antonio Spurs experienced in 2015 might have the team feeling that there is some unfinished business on the table. If Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili agree to sign inexpensive deals with the Spurs, that will leave a lot of money on the table for a player like Aldridge. It might not be easy to make all the pieces work, but if any franchise is able to do it, it would probably be the Spurs.
As soon as the free agency period begins in July, expect the LaMarcus Aldridge rumors to get even more buzzworthy than they currently have been. And why would they not, as he is clearly one of the best players in the league.
[Image Source: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images]
