LaMarcus Aldridge And Spurs Agree To 3-Year Deal Worth $72.3M
The San Antonio Spurs and five-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge agreed Monday to a three-year $72.3 million contract extension.
The contract extension will secure Aldridge, 32, under contract with the Spurs until the 2020-2021 season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. The deal reportedly contains a partially guaranteed salary in the third year. Aldridge will elect a $22.3 million player option on his 2018-2019 contract, and the extension will begin in the 2019-2020 season.
Aldridge will earn $21.4 million in the 2016-2017 season.
Aldridge beat the 11:59 p.m. deadline Monday to reach an agreement with the Spurs. He had $21.4 million left on his contract and could have opted out for his 2017-2018 contract to become a free agent.
The All-Star forward has had a bumpy two seasons with the Spurs since he signed in 2015 with the Texas-based team as a free agent from Portland. Aldridge has reportedly expressed discontent with the franchise in the past, and the franchise reportedly hasn't been happy with him either. In June, the Spurs discussed trade scenarios with multiple teams featuring Aldridge, but nothing happened.
Aldridge struggled in the playoffs and averaged career lows with 16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. He's averaged 19.1 points and 8.3 rebounds for his 11-year NBA career.
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The contract extension comes after Aldridge arrived at training camp this summer in good shape and with a stronger relationship with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
"The success he's had, the stability that he's brought to the franchise is just underappreciated," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford told ESPN.com last May. "I just think there are a lot of things that people don't appreciate about what LaMarcus has brought to our group, our team, our organization.
"He's made the transition of this year's team after Tim [Duncan] very, very successful without getting very much recognition. Oftentimes he's gotten overlooked or maybe even misjudged."
Aldridge averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds for the Spurs last season.
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