One of the best teams in the Western Conference just got a lot better. All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge has decided that he will leave the Portland Trail Blazers and sign with the San Antonio Spurs. If teams in the NBA did not want to face the Spurs before, they certainly do not want to play them now.
Breaking: LaMarcus Aldridge to Sign with San Antonio Spurs
It was expected for a while that Aldridge was going to leave Portland. Although he has been there for his entire career, the team was never able to get over the hump. He is still in his prime and is looking to win now instead of waiting for a few more years. That is a big reason why he decided to go to San Antonio instead of signing with the Los Angeles Lakers or New York Knicks.
On paper, the Spurs look like the best team in the league. They may have lost Marco Bellineli and Tiago Splitter, but it is worth it when a team signs one of the best power forwards in the league. From a basketball standpoint, I do not think there will be many issues regarding team chemistry. The Spurs already focus on ball movement and not just letting one player carry the team. They are going to let Aldridge continue to play the same way he played in Portland. It will be fun to see him play in the Spurs system.
Among other reasons, Aldridge most likely picked the Spurs because of the future of the franchise. We know that Manu Ginoibili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker are nearing the end of their careers. Even though those three will be gone soon, the franchise will still dominate. The Spurs recently signed Kawhi Leonard to a max contract for five years. He has been labeled as the future of the franchise since his rookie season. Add Aldridge to that, and the team will still continue to contend for championships.
The Spurs are simply not going to go away. As of right now, they are the favorite to knock off the Golden State Warriors.
