LaMarcus Aldridge would have ended up a Knick if it weren't for one request that didn't sit well with the All-Star player.
Such was revealed by Aldridge who, as all know by now, has hooked up with the San Antonio Spurs. New York was one of the stops that Aldridge had and he was pretty much excited at what the Knicks had to offer. And the sour note is that he would not only be playing support to Carmelo Anthony but to an incoming rookie who would later on turn out to be Kristaps Porzingis.
Was the payoff that good?
One has to wonder about the whole scenario. When Porzingis was drafted, not many New York fans were ecstatic. Many felt that they could have done better by picking someone else at the no. 4 pick like maybe Willie Cauley-Stein, Justise Winslow, or Emmanuel Mudiay.
Regardless, the Knicks stood pat on that decision and the drama continues to get interesting. According to the NY Daily News, Porzingis was practically the reason why Aldridge decided to shun the Knicks and join the Spurs.
Will it pay off? If ever it does, it may take time. The only advantage that the Knicks may have had for now is that Porzingis is young and could blossom into another Dirk Nowitzki. But all that remains to be seen.
Aldridge, 30, would have been an instant force the Knicks would have benefitted from but the Knicks master plan was apparently different.
For most of his career, Aldridge was never comfortable at the center position and preferred to play power forward.
Hence in San Antonio, such could be the case. With a roster full of big men led by the ageless Tim Duncan, such shouldn't be a problem for the Spurs in the coming season and maybe for seasons to come.
Did the Knicks just pass off a golden opportunity in Aldridge?
