New York Knicks Rumors: LaMarcus Aldridge Could Sign With Knicks?
New York Knicks rumors got better on the LaMarcus Aldridge front. Aldridge is meeting with the Knicks this week to discuss a long-term contract in one of many stops that he will make on his free agency tour. A report from Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday (July 1) indicates that he met with the LA Lakers already, and that the meeting did not go well at all. It means Aldridge has crossed off the Lakers as one of his potential destinations this season, moving the Knicks up when it comes to suitors.
It has been reported by NBC Sports in prior New York Knicks rumors that the team has already met with DeAndre Jordan and Greg Monroe in free agency. The next player up on the list is LaMarcus Aldridge, who will receive the full-court press from Carmelo Anthony, Phil Jackson, and ownership from the team. Having the Lakers out of the equation is a step in the right direction, even though they will still have to contend with bids from the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.
There are multiple rumors floating around that Aldridge might be close to making a decision on where he will head in free agency, bringing to an end his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, he has already told the franchise that he is leaving. It’s not news that fans of the Blazers have enjoyed hearing, and All-Star point guard Damian Lillard hasn’t stopped trying to convince him to stay. That includes posting a message on Twitter about how he would love to remain teammates with Aldridge.
The reality is that the Knicks have to do a lot to convince Aldridge that he should sign a long-term deal with them. It is a struggling franchise that has been gutted through trades by new team president Phil Jackson as he tries to rebuild the mess his predecessor left him. It might take a little while to make the team relevant again, even if there is a good core with Carmelo Anthony still there.
It has always been a longshot for Jackson and the Knicks to convince a big name free agent to sign this offseason, but that isn’t going to keep the team from trying. After the bad impression LaMarcus Aldridge had with the Los Angeles Lakers, it certainly raises hope that something good might happen. While these New York Knicks rumors are certainly something for fans of the team to take interest in, it’s still more likely that Aldridge signs with a team in Texas. Odder things have happened in the NBA though.
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