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Are The Los Angeles Lakers A Landing Spot For LaMarcus Aldridge?

By Jackson Sanders

Apr 15, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) warms up prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 14, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (left) hugs Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (right) talk after game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 104-82. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (left) hugs Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (right) talk after game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 104-82. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bad: LaMarcus Aldridge Wants To Win…Right Now

For those riding on the “LA-to-L.A.” bandwagon, there is reason to be optimistic. The team will assuredly pursue the free agent forward, and should at least have a small shot at landing him given the location, history, and financial resources of the franchise.

But then there’s the 15,000-pound elephant in the room: the Los Angeles Lakers are a bad basketball team right now, and LaMarcus Aldridge wants to win sooner rather than later.

Sure, quick turnarounds can happen in the NBA. The 2007-08 Boston Celtics and 2010-11 Miami Heat completed a whirlwind of offseason moves to field Finals-bound teams. But to count on that happening is foolish.

Even in a dream situation it’s probable that the Lakers are title contenders in the 2017 playoffs at the earliest. It could certainly be later than that depending on how the chips fall in the draft and free agency.

Their competitors won’t have to rely on such “if” and “when” scenarios when pitching Aldridge.

LaMarcus Aldridge’s other suitors will be able to offer a recent history of success and real hope of contending for a title in 2015-16. The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and even his current team, the Portland Trail Blazers, will be able to offer a stronger roster than the Los Angeles Lakers.

Of course, there’s that not-so-secret suitor, the San Antonio Spurs, and their vaunted infrastructure. The Cleveland Cavaliers could creep in too, depending on Kevin Love‘s situation.

The truth is that at 30, LaMarcus Aldridge is primed to win now. He’s in the middle of his prime, and needs to make the most out of those years by winning big. Does he have the time to wait for the Lakers’ draft picks to develop or for another free agent to team with him in Los Angeles? Probably not.

The Lakers won’t be able to offer the immediate success that any of the above teams can. That alone could disqualify them from the LaMarcus-Aldridge-sweepstakes.

Next: The Verdict

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