For a moment, it looked like LaMarcus Aldridge’s career was over. He announced his retirement from the NBA on April 15, 2021 due to an irregular heartbeat, which abruptly ended Aldridge’s storied career. But he was granted medical clearance to return to the field a few months later and joined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2021-22 season.
Aldridge provided a nice change of pace on the Brooklyn bench last season when he played, and showed in the process he still has something to offer in what will be his 37-year-old season next year. . Aldridge ended up being knocked out of Brooklyn’s rotation along the way, but he should be able to find a new team that needs a big man’s help next season.
Aldridge is still chasing his elusive first championship ring, which will likely impact his decision-making when it comes to choosing his next home. There are definitely teams out there looking for a big man’s help, so here are three teams that should be looking to add Aldridge to their bench for the upcoming season.
Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)
3 teams that should sign LaMarcus Aldridge
3. Golden State Warriors
If LaMarcus Aldridge wants to win a championship before calling it a career, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for him to sign with the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors just won the 2022 NBA Finals after all, and they could be looking to add another big man to solidify their rotation. Aldridge may be the ideal solution.
The Warriors are hoping to get James Wiseman back after missing the entire 2021-22 season, and they’ve re-signed their starting center from last season, Kevon Looney, already in free agency. Aldridge can play both center and forward, and he could be the last piece in this rotation for the Warriors.
Aldridge is still a fantastic scorer from inside the arc, and he shot 30.4% from three last season, which isn’t too bad considering how much of a shooter Aldridge was more early in his career. Golden State needs another scorer on their bench to round out their roster, and Aldridge could be the perfect fit for them next season.
2. New York Knicks
The Knicks could blow up their bench shortly, but even if they don’t, they could still use a player of LaMarcus Aldridge’s caliber. New York has a pretty poor center rotation of Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims right now that needs work. Aldridge could be the answer.
Robinson is a solid two-way center who will start no matter what, but Aldridge would easily have a spot on the bench for the Knicks. He’s a solid scoring option inside the three-point line for a Knicks team that currently has plenty of shooters on its roster. This change of pace at Aldridge might be just what the bench needs.
Hartenstein is a bit of a better defender than Aldridge, but when New York needed an offensive spark, Aldridge would be the guy to turn to. He might not be the most conventional option for New York, but they could swing a big trade over the next few days that would shake up their roster. If so, it would make a lot of sense for them to consider bringing in Aldridge at a bargain price.
1.Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics may have the deepest roster of any NBA team right now, but their only need is probably another big man for their bench. They usually lead a double starting line-up with Al Horford and Robert Williams III, but after that there isn’t much support for them on the bench. This is where LaMarcus Aldridge could step in and help.
The Celtics have plenty of outside scorers on their roster and don’t have a real paint presence outside of Williams. Aldridge could offer a unique skill set on the Boston bench if he were to find it. His inside scoring would help open up the perimeter for the Cs and keep their offense flowing as it runs through one of his patented cold streaks.
If Boston can fill that last hole on their roster, they should be title favorites heading into the 2022-23 season. Brining at Aldridge would fill their only real hole on the roster going forward, and his offensive skills are exactly what the team would be looking to incorporate into their game plan. The Celtics fell short in the Finals last season, but adding Aldridge could be the final blow to help them win it all next season.
