LaMarcus Aldridge reportedly signed with the Brooklyn Nets because he believes they are better suited to win a title than the Heat.
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As if the Brooklyn Nets weren’t already stacked enough, former Spurs big man LaMarcus Alridge has decided to sign with the Nets on a 1 year/ veteran’s minimum contract.
Upon reaching a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs a while back, it was assumed the Miami Heat were at the top of Aldridge’s preferred destinations.
However, it seems as though the Heat’s recent struggles have persuaded the 36-year-old to look elsewhere in pursuit of his first ever NBA championship.
There are two sides to Aldridge’s addition to the Nets when it comes to fans: one faction of these fans claims that the big man in his late 30s is washed and will not make a substantial difference for the Nets. The other side, which is unsurprisingly the more popular take on the ordeal, suggests that he is still serviceable and can contribute to a winning effort.
LaMarcus Aldridge outlines his reasoning for choosing the Brooklyn Nets over the Miami Heat
Upon reaching the decision to play in Brooklyn rather than in Miami, LA was asked what his train of thought was like when picking who to play for.
I asked Aldridge associate what changed his mind from original expectation that he would sign with Heat, which was expected by the Heat. He said was convinced to join Brooklyn because they are in good position to compete for a championship. Heat recent losing streak didn’t help.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 27, 2021
When it came to picking which Eastern Conference team he wanted to play for this late in his career, Aldridge had his priorities in check. Having played in the league for 15 years and not once winning a chip, it makes he would join forces with the team that feature Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.
The Miami Heat would’ve not been a bad choice, if he had decided to play down in the Sunshine State. Though the Heat have had a rollercoaster of a season featuring both winning and losing streaks, they are still the defending Eastern Conference champions. Not to mention they did just add Victor Oladipo to the mix. On paper, however, the Nets are the far superior team.
Aldridge is anything but a scrub, even at 36 years of age. He is fresh off a season where he averaged nearly 20 points per game and fits quite well into the Brooklyn system.
He is a decent screener who can pull away for pick and pop action with Durant or Harden and can spot up in the corner as well. You may possibly see Aldridge play a similar role to a Nemanja Bjelica on steroids.
