Should the Miami Heat be in on LaMarcus Aldridge?
During the summer of 2015, it was somewhat surprising to see LaMarcus Aldridge give Pat Riley a free agency meeting considering the Miami Heat didn’t even have cap space. There was clearly respect on both sides and certainly something to put a tab on.
Roughly six years later, both Riley and Aldridge could have an opportunity to revisit things said in that meeting between the two figures.
The San Antonio Spurs and Aldridge have agreed to part ways ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline and it appears that a trade could be coming in the next couple of weeks. One potential landing spot appears to be the Heat.
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Miami should be scanning the trade market for additions along the frontcourt. The team is searching for a capable starting 4 or 5 to stick next to Bam Adebayo and a case could be made for Aldridge, even during this late stage of his career.
During his time with the Spurs, Aldridge may have never lived up to his high free agent billing but even at the age of 35, you can make the case that he has something left in the tank. Aldridge struggles on the defensive end, but his offensive game fits into what you want from a big in this incarnation of the NBA.
Aldridge can stretch defenses with his patented mid-range jumper and has even extended his range to the 3-point line over the last two seasons. He may not be a player that an offense revolves around, but he can certainly excel as a team’s third or fourth option on offense.
For a team like the Heat, there are ways to hide him on the defensive end of the floor. If Miami would elect to strongly pursue him, there are ways to make it work.
While Aldridge, at this stage of his career, shouldn’t be the team’s No. 1 option head into the trade and buyout market, the Heat should certainly dig around and see what it would take in order to acquire him.
Ultimately, it may come down to whether the Heat would want to swap Kelly Olynyk for LaMarcus Aldridge. At this point, I’m not sure if Miami is willing to make that trade. No matter how bad the team may have wanted him back in 2015.