The Please Come to Phoenix LaMarcus Aldridge Thread

[crisper57]

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt 27m27 minutes ago
Knicks meeting was cancelled once it became clear NY wanted Aldridge to play center, something he is adamant against doing, per source.

Marc Stein ‏@ESPNSteinLine 6m6 minutes ago
Dinner with Riley, sources say, will come AFTER LaMarcus Aldridge has his afternoon briefing with Laker GM Mitch Kupchak & coach Byron Scott

That'd be Pat Riley. Is he gonna deal Bosh to make room or is he going to whiff like NY did?

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't see how. They don't have the cap space and that is without even paying Wade a cent. They'd have to work out a sign and trade with Portland and I don't see any chance Portland decides to take back 20 million in salary from the Heat.

I still think its the Spurs vs us.

I think the Heat would have to offer up Bosh or Wade to do it.

 

[PDXChris]

I think the Heat would have to offer up Bosh or Wade to do it.

Wade is a FA.

 

[elindholm]

I don't see the Heat as being players. If they keep Bosh, it means Aldridge spends time at center, and if they don't keep Bosh, they're irrelevant.

With Chandler, the Suns -- incredibly -- have one of the better center rotations in the league. If Aldridge wants protection to play PF exclusively, Phoenix is a good bet.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think the Heat would have to offer up Bosh or Wade to do it.

Fine, but why would Portland do that? They just blew up their team, even with Bosh or Wade healthy they don't have a competitive roster and those guys being healthy is dubious.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I don't see the Heat as being players. If they keep Bosh, it means Aldridge spends time at center, and if they don't keep Bosh, they're irrelevant.

With Chandler, the Suns -- incredibly -- have one of the better center rotations in the league. If Aldridge wants protection to play PF exclusively, Phoenix is a good bet.

Additionally, the winning with the Spurs or Heat, or even the Lakers (doubtful of course), is simply same 'ol same 'ol. Winning the Suns would be epic and to be part of that history has to also be extremely enticing!

 

[Mainstreet]

Wade is a FA.

I don't know.

What if the Heat wanted to trade Hassan Whiteside? That would be quite a chip.

 

[Phrazbit]

This "does not want to play center" bit is huge in our favor. Of the teams on the radar we are the only one that has two legit rotation centers. The Spurs dumping Splitter has to work against them, may have been a serious misstep by a team that never makes them.

 

[Mainstreet]

Fine, but why would Portland do that? They just blew up their team, even with Bosh or Wade healthy they don't have a competitive roster and those guys being healthy is dubious.

Hassan Whiteside?

 

[Phrazbit]

I don't know.

What if the Heat wanted to trade Hassan Whiteside? That would be quite a chip.

He does not make much money, they'd still be like 10-20 million short (because of Wade's cap hold). And without Whiteside Aldridge ends up at center.

 

[82CardsGrad]

This "does not want to play center" bit is huge in our favor. Of the teams on the radar we are the only one that has two legit rotation centers. The Spurs dumping Splitter has to work against them, may have been a serious misstep by a team that never makes them.

I think the biggest plus on the Spurs side, apart from playing for POP, is that he has family ties to San Antonio...

 

[Mainstreet]

This "does not want to play center" bit is huge in our favor. Of the teams on the radar we are the only one that has two legit rotation centers. The Spurs dumping Splitter has to work against them, may have been a serious misstep by a team that never makes them.

I just never underestimate the Heat to mess things up.

 

[Phrazbit]

I think the biggest plus on the Spurs side, apart from playing for POP, is that he has family ties to San Antonio...

If I were to bet I'd still wager on the Spurs, they have the pedigree and Az teams never win these races.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the biggest plus on the Spurs side, apart from playing for POP, is that he has family ties to San Antonio...

I thought about this earlier but Phoenix is closer than Portland to Texas.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I thought about this earlier but Phoenix is closer than Portland to Texas.

For sure... but, it's not closer to San Antonio than San Antonio...

 

[crisper57]

I think the biggest plus on the Spurs side, apart from playing for POP, is that he has family ties to San Antonio...

And when Duncan retires after this season, and Pop follows him out the door, none of the assurances they made to bring LMA to San Antonio will matter and he will be playing the 5 spot.

 

[Mainstreet]

If I were to bet I'd still wager on the Spurs, they have the pedigree and Az teams never win these races.

I'm going to try to block this thought.

 

[Phrazbit]

I thought about this earlier but Phoenix is closer than Portland to Texas.

If he signs here I don't think the proximity will to his family will be a factor. Ands its the jet age anyway. The difference there is minimal, especially to a guy that can afford to fly at the last minute any time he likes.

 

[Mainstreet]

If he signs here I don't think the proximity will to his family will be a factor. Ands its the jet age anyway. The difference there is minimal, especially to a guy that can afford to fly at the last minute any time he likes.

You're messing with my geography lesson.

 

[splitsecond]

On thing San Antonio DOES crush Arizona on: no state income tax

 

[Phrazbit]

On thing San Antonio DOES crush Arizona on: no state income tax

This is another one I think gets overrated. Pretty sure all he needs to do is have residency in Texas and he will get that benefit no matter where he plays. Toronto is the only one that might be tricky.

 

[crisper57]

This is another one I think gets overrated. Pretty sure all he needs to do is have residency in Texas and he will get that benefit no matter where he plays. Toronto is the only one that might be tricky.

Yep. He just has to buy a $100K condo in Texas and he can get that benefit. Agents advise their clients to do this kind of thing all the time (I know my brother was advised to do it when he was drafted for baseball).

Here is a crazy article on the tax hoops athletes have to go through:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/professional-athletes-big-league-tax-071447565.html

 

[TJ]

I don't see the Heat as being players. If they keep Bosh, it means Aldridge spends time at center, and if they don't keep Bosh, they're irrelevant.

With Chandler, the Suns -- incredibly -- have one of the better center rotations in the league. If Aldridge wants protection to play PF exclusively, Phoenix is a good bet.

It makes too much sense. So much so that Aldridge will pick San Antonio for whatever reason.

 

[Covert Rain]

Have we been downgraded?

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/616726803013459968

 

[Iceman]

Have we been downgraded?

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/616726803013459968

Figures. Seems like this maybe another Az pro sport tease!