Barry Jackson: Sources close to Heat reiterate to me and @Anthony Chiang today that there remains optimism LaMarcus Aldridge will sign with Heat after clearing waivers. Nothing 100 percent definite, but that remains expectation.
More on LaMarcus Aldridge Free Agency
LaMarcus Aldridge: Five years of unforgettable memories....Thank you, San Antonio! pic.twitter.com/tRscfpnZax
Shams Charania: LaMarcus Aldridge gave back $7.25 million in contract buyout with the Spurs, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium . Aldridge was due $24M this season. The Miami Heat are a strong candidate to sign the former All-Star as a free agent, per sources, with Portland among others in mix.
Shams Charania: The Spurs have bought out LaMarcus Aldridge, released him and he will now be a free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Once LaMarcus Aldridge completes a buyout with the Spurs, the Miami Heat are expected to emerge as a frontrunner to sign him, sources tell ESPN. Aldridge plans to talk with several teams before finalizing a decision.
Chris Haynes: San Antonio Spurs are proceeding to buy out LaMarcus Aldridge in which he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell @YahooSports.
Keith Smith: Per a source, the Celtics will look at the buyout market with an eye on LaMarcus Aldridge and possibly Otto Porter Jr. if the latter is bought by Orlando.
Barry Jackson: Heat now with two open roster spots, expected to be active in buyout market, with LaMarcus Aldridge an obvious target after his inevitable release from Spurs.
The Jump: Miami is a frontrunner to get LaMarcus Aldridge, per @Adrian Wojnarowski. #NBA #NBATwitter #TheJump #HEATTwitter
Ryan Ward: Odds on LaMarcus Aldridge's next NBA team (via @SBD): - Heat: -120 - Celtics: +215 - Blazers: +550 - Lakers: +800 - Suns: +1200 - Nets; +1500
There is a growing belief around the league that the Los Angeles Lakers have an edge over the Nets to sign Drummond if he makes it to free agency, and the Heat are widely regarded as the leaders to sign Aldridge.
The Heat has until April 19 to sign a player earning no more than $4.7 million or trade for a player in the final year of his contract who’s earning no more than that. That money seems more likely to be spent on the buyout market if used at all, with DeMarcus Cousins still an option (though some in the organization are very much opposed to that) and Aldridge if the Spurs can’t trade him and decide to release him instead.
If there's no trade for Aldridge before the March 25 trade deadline expires and a contract buyout does come into play, many of the league's top teams are privately expressing interest in adding him as a free agent, sources said.
During the presser, Olshey fired back in fierce denial, saying: I spoke with LaMarcus... I actually asked him, "how would you like me to address this?" And he said, "Just say it's not true. You and I know where we are right now." It was misreported. It's not true. I can tell you he has not informed anybody in this organization of his intention not to return to the team. How much of this was true? According to our source, some...depending on perspective. Both sides knew at that point that Aldridge was gone. Olshey was painted into a corner, having to defend something that he couldn't tell the whole story about. The source also shed some light on official procedure. Usually if you're a pro about it, you place a phone call to the team you're leaving first then you call the other team and accept. Olshey hadn't received that official phone call.
This just in: They never had a shot at LaMarcus Aldridge, which insiders knew for months. Even if he talked to them, and six other teams, his likeliest destination all along was San Antonio. Coming of a 21-61 season, they had little more chance at getting DeAndre Jordan or Kevin Love to play alongside old Kobe Bryant, young Jordan Clarkson and unproven D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Free agent LaMarcus Aldridge will sign with the San Antonio Spurs, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Greg Stanton: Hey @aldridge_12, check out what we’re dropping in Downtown PHX tomorrow! #WeArePHX #LMAtoPHX pic.twitter.com/963VFHu6QC
Bobby Marks: So here is your LaMarcus Aldridge cheat sheet going into Day 4 of FA: POR: Full Bird Rights. Can sign up to the max salary. 5yrs and most $. PHX: Would need to trade Mk. Morris and PJ Tucker to get to that $18.8m slot for Aldridge. Alex Len would be close but not sure you move him. SAS: TD would have to come in around $6m. Renounce Manu and sign for Room ML, Waive Reggie Williams. That will get you to $18.8m. But do not count out HOU in all of this. If LA really wants to go to HOU, the Rockets have the players to possibly make that work.
As if San Antonio Spurs fans need to be teased more about free agent LaMarcus Aldridge and his possibility of joining the Spurs, comes video of him with coach Gregg Popovich, Ime Udoka, and Sean Marks in L.A. as the courting of the big man continues. There’s still no word on any decision from the big man as to whether he will or will not sign with San Antonio. The Suns are reprotedly in the hunt for LaMarcus as well.
Ken Berger: The Spurs, Suns and Blazers have separated themselves in the chase for LaMarcus Aldridge, two people directly involved tell @CBSSports. One source stopped short of describing other teams (beyond obvious) as eliminated. But Spurs, Suns, Blazers at top of Aldridge's list.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Spurs and Suns have solidified themselves as frontrunners in pursuit of free agent LaMarcus Aldridge, league sources tell Yahoo.
Selz: #Spurs Gregg Popovich still recruiting LaMarcus Aldridge at lunch in LA. #NBA #FreeAgency pic.twitter.com/t8vlYRr1Lz
Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard said he had an "honest" phone conversation with LaMarcus Aldridge late Thursday that centered around Aldridge's impending free agent decision. "I just wanted to express to him how important he is to the organization,'' Lillard said. "And give my honest feelings of how I feel about him as a player/teammate and what I think we can accomplish together.'' Lillard said he couldn't recall how long the conversation lasted, but there was back and forth between the two All-Stars. "I said a lot,'' Lillard said. "And so did he.''
LaMarcus Aldridge currently has no plans to make out-of-town visits and, at this stage, plans to take "a couple of days" to digest all the pitches he's received after meeting with multiple teams, sources told ESPN.com on Friday. The Los Angeles Lakers got a second chance to impress Aldridge, their top free-agent target, on Thursday night in a meeting that lasted about 90 minutes and focused entirely on basketball, sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
John Canzano: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich looking for another meeting w LaMarcus Aldridge today or tomorrow, per source.
Bill Ingram: A front office source was told no point in meeting with Aldridge...he's sold on the Spurs... awesome fit if he lands @San Antonio Spurs
Jabari Young: Lillard had been traveling overseas and couldn't reach Aldridge, but wants to meet him if possible....could be a game changer #Blazers
There's yet another wrinkle, too, the agent for Portland Trailblazers point guard Damian Lillard, Aaron Goodwin, told USA TODAY Sports that his client is planning an impromptu visit to Los Angeles to try and convince his former teammate to stay. Lillard, who finalized a five-year extension worth between $125 and $129 million on Thursday, just returned from a promotional trip in Paris. The relationship between those two players has been a focal point of Aldridge's possible departure from Portland.
Portland center LaMarcus Aldridge will meet with the Lakers on Thursday in Los Angeles, according to a league source familiar with the situation. The discussion will center on basketball, a league source said. Wasserman Media Group had dismissed various reports that said Aldridge had ruled the Lakers out, tweeting out on Wednesday that Aldridge “has not made any decisions yet. All reports to the contrary are false & he looks forward to sharing his plans soon.” But those outlets outlined in detail that Aldridge apparently was not impressed with the Lakers’ basketball presentation.
Marc Stein: LaMarcus Aldridge's meeting with Miami tonight will be a dinner with Pat Riley, sources say
David Aldridge: Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings: LaMarcus Aldridge has cancelled his meeting with the Knicks today, per source.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Lakers will get a second meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge today in Los Angeles, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Yahoo Sources: Another high-profile team is pursuing the possibility of gaining an audience with LaMarcus Aldridge: The Miami Heat.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Lakers have expressed a desire to get a second meeting with Aldridge, but unclear if that'll happen, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
David Aldridge: Raptors did well in meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge, but it is unlikely he picks the Raptors, per source.
Jake Pavorsky: Source: Houston Rockets aren't convinced they're out on LaMarcus Aldridge, and have talked to Philadelphia about possibly taking on players. No word on how far these talks have gotten, could possibly be exploratory. But Philly and Houston have talked about guys like Terrence Jones. Please do not take this as "ALDRIDGE TO HOUSTON". I'm just saying, Houston has had discussions with Philly just in case.
Jabari Young: So Patty Mills meet with Aldridge today too....interesting #Spurs #Blazers
Calvin Watkins: Just heard Rockets felt real good about their meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge.
David 'Dubi' Pick: I've been told LaMarcus Aldridge is not going to Phoenix.
Marc Stein: Says once source close to the talks: Phoenix has moved into a contending position alongside San Antonio in the LaMarcus Aldridge Sweepstakes
Aldridge, who turns 30 in two weeks, also failed to connect with Kobe Bryant, who spoke for about three minutes at the presentation. Bryant said he envisioned Aldridge working with him the same way Pau Gasol did, a message that apparently fell flat, though Lakers officials were quick to defend Bryant. "It wasn't his fault at all," said a team official who requested anonymity.
Wasserman Media: .@aldridge_12 has not made any decisions yet. All reports to the contrary are false & he looks forward to sharing his plans soon.
Marc Stein: Note from a traveling @Ramona Shelburne: While Aldridge was undeniably cool on Lakers' pitch source says LMA hasn't formally told LA it's out
Adrian Wojnarowski: As @Mike_Bresnahan says, Aldridge felt too much of Lakers presentation focused on outside opportunities; wanted clearer, better b-ball focus
Mike Bresnahan: LaMarcus Aldridge will not be joining the Lakers, The Times has learned. They were a 50-50 choice but he disliked bball part of presentation
Ken Berger: LaMarcus Aldridge came away from his meeting with Spurs "impressed for sure," said one person who has spoken with the All-Star free agent.
Jared Zwerling: Source close to LaMarcus Aldridge's situation said he will not be returning to Portland. Spurs, Lakers, Mavs and Rockets are front-runners.
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Suns are bringing Tyson Chandler into the meeting with LaMarcus Aldridge as part of their pitch, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
The Spurs were said to be meeting Aldridge this morning, with Popovich himself joining Duncan and Tony Parker in the group making the pitch. All of this is an amazing show of faith in Aldridge by the Spurs, who generally don't chase big-time free agents, a tactic that seems to go against their culture. Add the fact that one of Aldridge's sons lives in San Antonio, and he has ties to nearby Austin, where he went to the University of Texas (although the school did fire his former coach, Rick Barnes), and you can see why the word "front-runner" gets thrown around about the Spurs in the Aldridge derby.
Sam Amick: And yes, the Rockets folks met with LaMarcus Aldridge tonight in LA as well. His sked, and by association our sked, continues tomorrow...
The Los Angeles Lakers were the first to sit down with LaMarcus Aldridge when free agency opened Tuesday night, and their meeting lasted nearly two hours, sources told ESPN.com. The meeting went "really well," a source who was in the room for the Lakers' presentation told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne.
Though some around the NBA feel a sign-and-trade would make sense for the Blazers, as they can possibly get some assets if Aldridge leaves, the team is showing no interest in discussing such a move. If teams want his services, they'll have to make their own way to create cap space to sign Aldridge.
The Spurs have emerged as the frontrunners to lure Aldridge out of Portland, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
JT: Timmy & Pop just arrived in LA for the Aldridge meeting in a few days. It's about to get real pic.twitter.com/AMi7YwDMI6
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Lakers are working to unload contracts, trying to create significantly more salary cap space, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Around the league, executives believe the Lakers are pursuing space to offer free agent deals to LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan.
According to a person with knowledge of the Lakers' situation, Bryant is expected to be part of the meeting with Aldridge on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The meeting with the big man who is widely expected not to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers is also expected to include Lakers president and governor Jeanie Buss, general manager Mitch Kupchak, assistant general manager Glenn Carraro, coach Byron Scott, senior vice president of finance Tim Harris, as well as representatives from Time Warner Cable and AEG. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the process.
According to one source, the chance of Aldridge staying with the Portland Trail Blazers is "very unlikely." Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has already called Aldridge, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns are among Aldridge's suitors, but a source close to the situation said the Spurs are currently the frontrunner. Aldridge is from Dallas, but has an offseason home in Orange County, south of Los Angeles. His representation agency, Wasserman Media Group, is based in Los Angeles.
David Aldridge: LaMarcus Aldridge itinerary starts Tuesday at 9 PDT (midnight EDT), with the Lakers, and goes, in order: HOU, SA, PHO, DAL, TOR thru Thursday. And, sorry, the Knicks get the last at bat, after Toronto Thursday. So, LaMarcus visit order again, starting Tue at 9 PDT: LAL, HOU, SA, PHO, DAL, TOR, NYK. (No need 2 meet with POR; they're already offered.)
Tim MacMahon: Mavs have DeAndre Jordan meeting Wednesday morning, LaMarcus Aldridge that afternoon. Both in LA. Mavs' recruiting committee: Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle and Chandler Parsons. Dirk is available this week if needed.
Ben Bolch: Heard that LaMarcus Aldridge was leaning toward Lakers, a sign that their brand is not only back but never went away despite appearances.
