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Report: Nets add LaMarcus Aldridge to increasingly loaded frontcourt

jack baer
Staff writer
·2 min read
26

The Brooklyn Nets just keep adding pieces.

The same month the team added Blake Griffin following a buyout with the Detroit Pistons, it did the same thing with LaMarcus Aldridge after his exit from the San Antonio Spurs. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that Aldridge plans to sign with the Nets.

The deal is for one year and the veteran's minimum, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The Miami Heat had been previously reported to be frontrunners for Aldridge, but one report from the Miami Herald indicates he was drawn by the Nets' chance at contending for a title.

Per Wojnarowski, Aldridge is expected to see significant minutes at center. The six-time All-Star is currently averaging 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and hasn't played since he agreed to part ways with the Spurs earlier this month.

Aldridge agreed to a contract buyout with the Spurs shortly after the team found no takers for his contract at the trade deadline on Thursday. He was among the most attractive names on the midseason free agent market, and now he heads to a team that is increasingly looking like a juggernaut in the East.

Nets have one more roster spot to use

The Nets aren't getting the All-Star version of LaMarcus Aldridge, but they really don't need that player to be a terrifying team. Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving remains options A, B and C on the roster when everyone's healthy.

With Aldridge, the Nets add one more body to a frontcourt that had been a weakness following the loss of Jarrett Allen in the Harden trade. While the team's big man rotation basically consisted of DeAndre Jordan and Jeff Green at one point, the addition of Aldridge and Griffin and the emergence of Nicolas Claxton make it a formidable group when opponents already have to contend with the Nets' backcourt.

Obviously, the group of Jordan, Aldridge and Griffin would be more impactful if it were 2017 again, but the strength of the Nets roster means they don't need to turn back the clock.

The Nets also might not be done adding players, as they still have one more roster spot to use on the buyout market. With plenty of names still available, you can expect the team to try to make another splash.

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