KEY POINTS

  • The Miami Heat are considered the plausible landing spot for LaMarcus Aldridge
  • The San Antonio Spurs have not shown any plans to buy out Aldridge
  • Aldridge will likely be taken in as a backup center as his game continues to decline

LaMarcus Aldridge is one of the big names to watch this NBA trade deadline, someone whose performance has waned as of late.

Since moving to the San Antonio Spurs, the 35-year-old saw his game dwindle. As most know by now, both sides have mutually agreed to part ways by the end of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Despite his declining performance, pundits feel that teams could still put the 6-foot-11 big man to good use. However, he is likely to be held to a backup role unless that particular team truly needs a tested bruiser in the middle.

While several teams could make sense, it appears the Miami Heat are the frontrunners to land the seven-time All-Star.

According to Marc Stein of the New York Times, Miami is seen as the plausible landing spot for Aldridge. But this is based on the premise that the Spurs do not find a trade partner before them.

Though it has not been mentioned, this will depend on what lies ahead for the second overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft. A buyout is one route that most clubs are anticipating, but nothing close to that has been mentioned thus far.

An NBA trade involving Aldridge could make sense. But considering he still owed part of that huge $24 million salary this season, the potential teams where he could end up may diminish.

Hence, it makes sense for the Heat and other prospective NBA teams to wait until the March 25 trade deadline before making any move.

This season, Aldridge has played in 21 games averaging 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 rebounds in 25.9 minutes of action.

Those are considerable drops from his career-high numbers, possibly a sign that his performance is dipping. But then again, teams in need of a backup player could still benefit from those numbers.

LaMarcus Aldridge LeBron James Spurs Lakers
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes for a layup against LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game at Staples Center on February 4, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The Heat do have Bam Adebayo at the helm, someone who could benefit through the guidance of Aldridge.

If not Miami, other teams who are linked to the Texas native include the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and his former team–the Portland Trail Blazers.

If not by the March 25 trade deadline, Aldridge could wait until the offseason to determine his next stop.

But this early, he is likely to settle for a backup role and also get a short-term deal from any NBA club.

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