Most clubs looking to improve their squad by signing free agents will certainly view LaMarcus Aldridge as a very attractive option. It seems that he has set his sights on a move to Texas.
The San Antonio Spurs were seen as his next destination, but the Dallas Mavericks have also entered into the negotiations. Moving to the Spurs offers a great chance to challenge for trophies on a regular basis.
The Spurs were not involved in the NBA Championship series odds from Betfair for the 2014-15 season. It is contested between Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, with the latter being favorites at odds of 4/5.
The Portland Trail Blazers power forward will be able to join a team of his wish if he decides against extending his contract with the Blazers. It was just a year ago when he stated his intention to stay with Portland until the summer of 2016.
Top stars have been criticised for being greedy, but Aldridge will stand to lose at least $30 million if he decides against staying at Portland. The collective bargaining agreement rules prevent him from getting the same maximum contract on the table from Portland.
Spurs had been favorites to sign the 30-year-old up until now. However, it is understood that Aldridge is more focused on returning to Texas than it would be with any other team. A key factor in Dallas Mavericks entering into the race is assistant coach Kaleb Canales, who is a close friend of Aldridge.
The Boston Celtics also seem to have an opportunity to sign him. However, weather could play a massive role in this potential transfer not going beyond the negotiation stages. Aldridge is clearly unhappy with Portland’s weather, and it could only be worse in New England. Further, neither the young heavy men nor the 16th pick for Boston Celtics will appeal to Portland.
As the weeks pass by, the possibility of a move to Spurs is diminishing. This is largely due to the lack of clarity on the level of interest from Spurs. Aldridge looked like the top transfer target for Spurs a few months ago, but he may not be in the same position when it comes to the priority list.
A huge improvement in TV revenue will be boosting the maximum salary cap. This would allow clubs to spend more on top names. It would also open up the market for several younger players on free transfers.
The likes of Kevin Love, Brook Lopez, Greg Monroe, and DeAndre Jordan are all seen as worthy alternatives to someone like Aldridge. After only recently been discovered with a heart condition, teams will think twice about paying the big bucks for Aldridge.
It has been suggested that one of the reasons behind Aldridge looking for a move away from Portland is the lack of attention.
This could suffer even more if the club is keener towards completing a deal for Wes Matthews. The swingman is a free agent, but he recently suffered a torn Achilles tendon. However, the club will have to shell out a massive chunk in terms of salaries in order to retain both players.
Will it be a good decision considering that they have been injury-prone in recent years? The investment needs to come if the club are to challenge for titles.
Betfair expects Cleveland Cavaliers to be crowned as the NBA Finals winners at odds of 11/4 with a series score of 4-2.
For someone who has never been crowned as a NBA champion, the next step will be a key decision in his career.
