The Los Angeles Lakers are the most popular franchise in the NBA. They’ve won 16 championships and play in the glitz, glamour, and sun of Southern California. And though the team went just 21-61 in 2014-2015, three promising youngsters and hordes of present and future cap space givee the purple-and-gold reason for optimism going forward.
But none of it was enough to lure LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency. According to the Los Angeles Times’ Mike Bresnahan, the four-time All-Star has opted against signing with the Lakers this summer. Why? He was wholly unimpressed by the “basketball part” of the franchise’s pitch.
LaMarcus Aldridge will not be joining the Lakers, The Times has learned. They were a 50-50 choice but he disliked bball part of presentation
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 1, 2015
Aldridge was floored in a good way by Houston's analytics, on-court projections in their presentation. Not so with the Lakers.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 1, 2015
And not only was Los Angeles’ pitch lacking in terms of on-court possibilities, but Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports that it supposedly focused far too much on external factors for Aldridge’s liking, too. Even less surprising? That Kobe Bryant supposedly didn’t roll out the welcome mat.
As @Mike_Bresnahan says, Aldridge felt too much of Lakers presentation focused on outside opportunities; wanted clearer, better b-ball focus
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2015
More LMA: He and Kobe didn't quite gel. It's a little vague, but Aldridge apparently didn't quite get answers from Kobe he was seeking.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 1, 2015
Shocking, right? After whiffing on Aldridge and Kevin Love, the Lakers have reportedly set their sights on Detroit Pistons big man Greg Monroe.
[Via Mike Bresnahan, Adrian Wojnarowski]
