LaMarcus Aldridge News Not Good For Dallas Mavericks

By Christian Blood | Jun 26, 2015

Apr 27, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) before game four against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dallas Mavericks have never really been a preferred destination for NBA free agents, at least not the really big ones like LaMarcus Aldridge. It doesn’t look like things will change this summer as recent news has suggested that Aldridge plans on leaving the only team he’s ever played for, the Portland Trail Blazers.

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What’s that? You’re thinking his plan to leave Portland means the Mavericks have the inside track? Well, hang on.

While it’s true that Aldridge played his high school basketball at Dallas Seagoville and his college ball in Austin at the University of Texas, there’s more to digest here.

In this case, it seems there’s this little – or huge – problem in Southern California known as Los Angeles. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Los Angeles akers?

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Yeah, all-world guard Kobe Bryant is both fading fast and nearly done, so plans need to be made for the future. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chris Broussard, Aldridge is now leaning towards joining the Lakers next year, a rebuilding team that just drafted the top point guard prospect in the country, D’Angelo Russell of Ohio State, in the 2015 NBA Draft.

It’s believed that even if Aldridge had any real interest in basically playing out the remaining years of his NBA career in the state of Texas, it probably wouldn’t be in Dallas. After all, the Mavericks are only the third best team (out of three) in the whole state, right?

But it’s a fair question to wonder what exactly the Lakers have that the Mavericks don’t. The California state income tax is ridiculous, even if you happen to live in Fresno, and the team just chose second in the draft – in other words, the Lakers are nowhere near contention in the Western Conference, even with a healthy Bryant.

In contrast, the Mavericks have their own fading superstar in 2011 NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who’s taken way less money than Bryant keep his team competitive. Asking which fading star is easier to play with is much like asking where do you get a better hamburger, your own backyard grill or a fast food joint?

Plus, Texas has zero state income tax, possibly one of the reasons that the Houston Rockets’ Dwight Howard bolted SoCal after just one season (or was it Kobe?).

See, Dallas used to be home for Aldridge.

Then came Austin. Then came Portland.

But were you aware that Aldridge spends most of the offseason living in – wait for it – Los Angeles?

Look, free agency is still days away and the dust will have just settled from this year’s draft proceedings by the time millions of dollars begin flying around on Jul. 1. But are the Mavericks even in the discussion?

Well, I wouldn’t bet on it, at least when considering the recent ESPN report and also this franchise’s history of trying to land other local talent from around the NBA, like Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams or Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh, as though the latter was ever even a thought.

But this does not mean that the Mavericks won’t field a contender next season. Free agency will also offer additional opportunities for Dallas to take advantage of, if in fact they do not end up with Aldridge on a max-level contract in the coming days.

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