Free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs completed a four-year, $84.1 million contract.
“I’m happy to say I’m going home to Texas and will be a Spur!! I’m excited to join the team and be close to my family and friends,” said Aldridge last week after a free-agent tour that included seven teams.
Aldridge is from Dallas and played at the University of Texas. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Aldridge’s deal has an opt-out after the third year.
Aldridge received a face-to-face pitch from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich in Los Angeles. ESPN reported that meeting made the difference — as did the enticing arrangement of playing with Tim Duncan in his final days in the NBA and then taking over for him in the Spurs’ frontcourt alongside Kawhi Leonard.
That was the Spurs’ second meeting with Aldridge. Popovich, Duncan, Leonard and Tony Parker all made their pitches to Aldridge directly.
Aldridge informed the Trail Blazers on Friday night that he had narrowed his choices to either the Spurs or Phoenix Suns, then chose the Spurs the next day.
After the NBA’s free-agent market opened Wednesday, Aldridge met with the Spurs, Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, in addition to speaking with the Blazers.
In nine seasons with the Blazers, Aldridge has played in 648 regular-season games and averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds. In 2014-15, he averaged a career-best 23.4 points per game and 10.2 rebounds.