Thursday is a heartwarming day for the NBA as multi-time all-star LaMarcus Aldridge is going to get to play in the league once again. Aldridge was forced to prematurely retire during the 2020-21 season due to health concerns around his heart. On Thursday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Aldridge has been cleared to play.
This is great news for Aldridge and it adds another big name to the free-agent pool. The Los Angeles Lakers currently have two roster spots open and have been connected to other players in free agency.
DeAndre Jordan is working on a buyout with the Brooklyn Nets and is an option for the Lakers, as well as the possibility of bringing in a young free agent after letting Jared Dudley walk away.
LaMarcus Aldridge should get priority over everything else from the Los Angeles Lakers.
While the Lakers have options, there is not an option better for the team than LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge was one of the players that we theorized the Lakers were simply waiting to sign and it would not be surprising to see the team in the mix.
Full of experienced veterans and led by LeBron James, the Lakers are bonafide title-contenders, which will always put them in the running for role players like Aldridge. However, even if he is only getting a minimum contract either way, it is not a guarantee that Aldridge joins the Lakers.
Let’s get into the two reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers should be prioritizing LaMarcus Aldridge above all else now that he is cleared to play.