It looks like All-Star point guard Damian Lillard will have a depleted supporting cast next season as fellow All-Star, forward LaMarcus Aldridge, is expected to opt out of his deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and become a free agent come July.
The Blazers already traded one of their most consistent contributors in forward Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets because of the uncertainty of Aldridge staying with the team, a source told ESPN's Marc Stein.
In return they acquired veteran guard Gerald Henderson and budding big man Noah Vonleh who can get some minutes with Portland if Aldridge leaves.
In ESPN's report a source close to Aldridge said, "He's gone. There's a 99.9 percent chance that he's out of Portland."
According to the source, Aldridge feels he is unappreciated with the Blazers and him wanting to be in a new environment are some of the reasons for a possible departure.
The source also said the 29-year-old cites the Blazers' incapability of signing top free agents to make the team better as a reason for leaving.
Among the teams having strong chances of signing Aldridge are the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs.
Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki already said they would love to have Aldridge in the their team and he will be willing to step aside if the Blazers big man joins them.
Although according to Stein's sources, Aldridge is looking to join the Lakers as a free agent.
Along with their goal of singing Aldridge, the Lakers are also pushing for a trade deal to acquire Sacramento Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.
Los Angeles' chances of signing Aldridge improved after drafting point guard D'Angelo Russell as the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Other sources say San Antonio is the next destination for Aldridge, ESPN reported.
The Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks are also likely destinations for Aldridge once he chooses to be a free agent.
