The sweepstakes for LaMarcus Aldridge appeared to reach its finale recently when Aldridge finally wrapped up his laundry list of meetings. Just as the meetings were ending, there was a new dynamic thrown into the fold. Aldridge wanted to take a second meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers. This time with just Mitch Kupchak and Byron Scott to talk basketball.
Oh, and he decided to take a meeting with Miami Heat president Pat Riley.
Oh, and less we forget, the new max deal man for the Portland Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard will now also be visiting Aldridge in Los Angeles to try and convince him to return to Portland.
Following from Sam Amick of USA Today.
There’s yet another wrinkle, too, as the agent for Portland Trail Blazers 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, but Lillard is determined to send a clear message that theirs is a powerful pairing that should not come to an end.
Lillard trying to convince Aldridge to stay might be good news for Portland. He hasn’t agreed to any sort of deal to this point and who knows what the two would be able to talk about.
At this point, the Blazers do have the room in their salary cap to offer a max contract to LaMarcus. They’ve made some moves to bring in different talents like Al-Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee but is that enough for Aldridge to want to return to the team? Only time will tell.
