The New York Knicks are expected to be among the top teams to try and convince current Portland Trailblazer star LaMarcus Aldridge to join their ship, something expected considering the ballclub is in need of players to beef up its frontline.
But the Knicks aren't the only one in hot pursuit. There are the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks and even the San Antonio Spurs.
We know Knicks & Lakers will chase LaMarcus Aldridge come July, but at least two teams in Texas believe they have shot at him: Spurs & Mavs
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) April 23, 2015 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">So what would entice Aldridge to join a ballclub? An NBA title no doubt. But how about stamping your class and leaving a legacy on a franchise? That could be possible as well.
Aldridge is believed to be one of the many high profile players who will test free agency. But Aldridge's advantage is that he has already proven his worth. Simply look at the value of Aldridge to his current team.
Damian Lillard may be stealing the show but up front, there is no doubt that Aldridge is a big factor. Though the Blazers may not be among the favorites to fare well in the current NBA playoffs, the fact remains the Aldridge is a hot commodity that will be pursued by multiple teams, both rebuilding and successful ones.
It will be a busy offseason for Aldridge and the choice will be a humdinger. He could join the Knicks and team up with Carmelo Anthony to create a fearsome frontline duo.
The Lakers could be a possibility as well. Traditionally, the Lakers have been known to produce the best centers and forwards in the league so if Aldridge wants fame, El-Ay is a stop that will give his career a big boost.
The Spurs are no different. With Duncan expected to hang it up any time soon, Aldridge could be a good successor. Being a champion team, the Spurs could satisfy his hunger for an NBA title.
All teams in mention (Knicks, Lakers and Spurs) have their winning traditions and are just a few of the teams which will most likely pursue Aldridge.
Hence, the ultimate choice may all boil down to one thing – What does LaMarcus Aldridge really want? What is he after? A title or a legacy?
For now, the task at hand is to finish the season. Aldridge and the Blazers trail the Memphis Grizzlies 0-2 in one of the NBA Playoff pairings in the Western Conference.
