LaMarcus Aldridge has played his last game for the San Antonio Spurs. The team’s head coach Gregg Popovich told the media on Wednesday that the seven-time All-Star won’t suit up for the organization anymore and will get traded.
According to Popovich, this is the result of a mutual agreement between the two sides.
“He’s been a great teammate. No problem there,” said Popovich ahead of the game against Dallas Mavericks. “We just think this is a win-win for both LaMarcus and the club. When an opportunity arises, that’ll be up to management, his agent, and that sort of thing, and we’ll all move forward.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Spurs already had trade talks about Aldridge with several teams. The team is optimistic that they can find a partner and avoid the contract buyout scenario.
Aldridge is currently in the last year of his deal that pays him $24 million in 2020-21. He played only 21 games due to injuries this season, averaging 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.
Teams that have been mentioned as Aldridge’s next destination include the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. In case of a buyout, the 35-year-old veteran will likely be on the radar of championship contenders like the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers.
LaMarcus Aldridge spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he led the team to five playoff appearances, including a Conference Semifinals in 2013-2014. As a Blazer, he earned four All-Star nods and three All-NBA selections.
Aldridge left Portland in 2015 to sign a four-year, $80 million contract with the Spurs as a free agent. In San Antonio, he added three more All-Star appearances and averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
