San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge agree to part ways

It seemed inevitable, but LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs have mutually agreed to part ways. The team will look to find a new team for him before the trade deadline later this month.

In a pregame media session prior to Wednesday’s game at Dallas, Coach Gregg Popovich announced that LMA will be held out and this time, it will be for good. According to him, both sides have mutually agreed to seek for opportunities elsewhere and that Aldridge will not be with the team moving forward.

San Antonio Spurs parting ways with LaMarcus Aldridge

While the timing could not be more abrupt, the looming trade deadline has prompted the Spurs PATFO to move the seven-time All Star’s expiring contract. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that “there is a level of confidence that a trade partner will be found for Aldridge”. The front office also seeks to avoid a buyout, likely to seize the chance to net for some assets in return.

Trades are not common for the Silver and Black, but LMA’s drastic decline – he’s only averaging 13.7 points and 4.5 boards per game – is well below his 19.4/8.3 career marks. This decline combined with the organization’s pivot to the young core has made the 14-year veteran expendable. In fact, LMA was relegated to bench duty for the squad earlier for only the first time since his rookie year.

Since signing with San Antonio in 2015 as the team’s biggest free agency splash in history, Aldridge has made three All-Star teams and two All-NBA teams to the tune of 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in his five and a half-years donning the Silver and Black. He was also the franchise’s last All Star back in 2019.

Though championship hopes have not materialized for LMA, he has made lots of cherished moments in his Spurs tenure. Game 1 vs OKC, the extraordinary 2017-18 season, two 60-win campaigns and the 56-point game are just some of the bits that made LaMarcus notable for the Alamo City.

Good luck on the next chapter of your career and thank you for everything, LMA.