Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Heat seen as most-likely landing spot for LaMarcus Aldridge on buyout market

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Vincent Frank | Last updated 3/22/21

It’s looking less likely that the San Antonio Spurs will find a suitor for LaMarcus Aldridge ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. The seven-time All-Star forward has sat out the past nine games as San Antonio works to resolve the situation.

What we do know is that Aldridge has played his final game as a member of the Spurs after a brilliant five-plus seasons with the team. If San Antonio can’t work out a trade for the aging power forward, a buyout later in March and heading into April seems to be the most-realistic end result.

We’re now hearing who might be the favorite to land LaMarcus Aldridge should he end up being bought out. In what can’t be considered too much of a surprise, it comes in the form of the Miami Heat.

“A big week looms for the Miami Heat, who continue to strongly covet Kyle Lowry via trade and who league sources increasingly peg as the most likely landing spot for LaMarcus Aldridge — provided San Antonio can’t find an Aldridge trade before Thursday’s deadline and buys him out,” Marc Stein of The NY Times reported on Monday.

As Stein reported, the Heat remain very much in on Toronto Raptors All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry. In fact, they are one of the favorites to land him ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. However, these two moves would not be mutually exclusive. Miami could add both veterans through different avenues.

How would LaMarcus Aldridge fit with the Miami Heat?

Any trade for Lowry would have to include Miami moving the contract of Kelly Olynyk. Even if Pat Riley and Co. retained the struggling big man, he’s not a starter-caliber player at this point.

Sure Aldridge has taken a step back in recent seasons. With that said, he fits better with what the Heat are trying to move doing forward.

Outside of Olynyk, the struggling Heat have been relying on rookie first-round pick Precious Achiuwa at power forward. After some initial success, he’s hit that proverbial rookie wall. Simply put, Aldridge would be a nice fit for Miami from both a depth and talent perspective.

After a five-year run as one of the better power forwards in the game, Aldridge has finally seen age catch up to him. The 35-year-old former top-two pick is averaging 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds on the season. It would be his worst statistical output since his rookie season back in 2006-07.

Perhaps, a change of scenery to South Beach will help him resurrect his career. We’ll find out soon enough.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: