Mavericks’ target seven-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge following Kyrie Irving trade
LaMarcus Aldridge might be eyeing a return to the NBA as he has been working out with the Dallas Mavericks.
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LaMarcus Aldridge
LaMarcus Aldridge returned to basketball after a brief retirement and re-joined the Brooklyn Nets last season. His reintroduction to the sport, however, only lasted a few games, as he was soon released by the Nets. The seven-time All-Star has remained away from basketball for over a year now. However, a return might be in the pipeline again, as Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the 37-year-old is working out for the Dallas Mavericks.
After rejoining the Nets last season, Aldridge averaged 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds and shot a career-high 55% from the field. However, the former San Antonio Spurs standout appeared in only 47 games. He did not play in the postseason games due to a hip injury he sustained later in the season. At one point in his career, Aldridge was one of the best frontcourt players in the league. He has been in the league for 16 years. The Texas-born player has proved that he still has a lot of basketball left in his tank.
Although he might not be as athletic as he once was, his game has never been about athleticism. In fact, his game revolves around playing at his own pace. Moreover, he is nearly automatic from mid-range. The big man is a specialist at getting buckets and is one of the league’s most lethal midrange shooters. Adding Aldridge to the Mavericks’ roster has the potential to make them more formidable and provide a scoring lift off the bench.
Related: Brooklyn Nets’ LaMarcus Aldridge abruptly retires due to health scare
Can LaMarcus Aldridge help the Dallas Mavericks offense?
LaMarcus Aldridge was gradually phased out of the Nets’ lineup after the acquisition of Andre Drummond last season and the continued strong play of Nic Claxton. Furthermore, his lack of defensive zeal worsened the Nets’ defense. In his career, he has averaged 19.1 points and 8.1 rebounds. He has tallied over 20,000 career points so far. Furthermore, under coach Gregg Popovich, the big man was an important part of the pick-and-rolls and pick-and-pops and could score from the block any time.
True, the former Spurs star is old now and doesn’t have much to contribute defensively. However, his addition might benefit the Mavericks on the offensive side of the floor. He can relieve some of the scoring burden from Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic’s shoulders and bring veteran leadership to the squad. He has played under the legendary coach Popovich, so there is no doubt he has a wealth of expertise to pass on to others.
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