Los Angeles Lakers: 3 way-too-early midseason buyout candidates
By Jason Reed
LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge is a future Hall of Famer. He is a seven-time all-star, five-time All-NBA player (two Second Team, three Third Team). That might not sound like a Hall of Fame resume but the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame does have a fairly low acceptance bar and in his five-year prime Aldridge averaged 22.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Aldridge has more win shares than some other notable Hall of Fame-worthy players who also have seven all-star appearances. He has more career win shares than the likes of Chris Bosh, Elgin Baylor (already a Hall of Famer), Grant Hill (already a Hall of Famer), Allen Iverson (Hall of Famer)… you get the point.
Anyway, Aldridge is no longer the player he once was and he is in the last year of his contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Aldridge absolutely has value to an NBA franchise this upcoming season, but the Spurs are a well-run organization that know they are not going to contend and (should) give him his chance to play for a contender.
He is not valuable enough to warrant his contract, though, hence why no team would be willing/able to trade for him.
Aldridge is making $25 million this season, which is a really hard number to match up in a trade, especially for a 35-year-old forward.
If he is bought out he would be one of the best bought-out players in recent memory and would instantly slot into a role on the Lakers’ bench. The Lakers are a bit deep at the forward position but who knows how the roster will look in a few months.