Los Angeles Lakers: At this point, why not sign LaMarcus Aldridge?

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and the Los Angeles Lakers did not make any trades to improve the team. No trade is better than a bad trade but there certainly were some relatively cheap trades that the team could have made.

The focus has now turned to the buyout market, which will continue to develop in the coming days. Whether it be players who were not traded from their original team or players who were traded to new teams that they don’t fit on, there will be plenty of buyout players to monitor.

The biggest name on the buyout market is former all-star Andre Drummond. Drummond has officially been bought out by the Cleveland Cavaliers and he would fill exactly what the Los Angeles Lakers need not only now but in the NBA Playoffs.

Another big name available on the market is LaMarcus Aldridge, who the San Antonio Spurs were unable to move and will not buyout. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers are one of several teams Aldridge is having conversations with.

While Aldridge is not the most exciting player, is not his former self and does not fill a necessary need for the Los Angeles Lakers, he still could be a sensible target for the team to sign.

At this point, why wouldn’t the Los Angeles Lakers sign LaMarcus Aldridge?

If this was before the trade deadline then the Lakers would be best suited to wait it out and see what could come available. That is not the case. The deadline is passed and the Lakers have a good idea of who will be available on the buyout market.

The Lakers need all the help they can get and while Aldridge is not the same player he is still better than what the Lakers have at the backend of the rotation, especially with the injuries that the team is suffering. Getting a veteran to produce and take some of the weight on Kyle Kuzma while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are hurt can be helpful in itself.

And it is not like the Lakers are waiting for anyone. Sure, the team would benefit more from getting Andre Drummond but it is not an either-or situation. The Lakers currently have one roster spot open and they can easily open up another.

Alfonzo McKinnie and Jared Dudley are both candidates to be released. McKinnie practically does not play and his contract is not guaranteed and Dudley has a torn MCL and was not really playing either.

The Los Angeles Lakers realistically have enough room to bring in three buyout guys and there are now three buyout guys who are all better than LaMarcus Aldridge.

I am not a huge fan of Aldridge’s game at this point in his career but the Los Angeles Lakers might as well stack the deck as much as they can. I would rather have him on the roster than Jared Dudley, that is for sure.