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03/29/2024 11:19:24 am

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NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Miss On Getting LaMarcus Aldridge, Might Do The Same With Greg Monroe

LaMarcus Aldridge

(Photo : Getty Images) Free agent LaMarcus Aldridge has reportedly crossed the Lakers as his possible destination this summer.

Conflicting reports emerged with regards to the result of LaMarcus Aldridge's meeting with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday about his possible jump ship from Portland to L.A.

Some said that Aldridge was unimpressed by the Lakers presentation's lack of basketball vision and the surplus of off-the-court branding opportunities in Hollywood. Others indicated that the discussions "went well" and Bryant was "very good" the entire time.

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Lakers representatives were in full force trying to convince the 6-foot-11 sweet shooting power forward to join the team and be a part of the franchise's championship tradition. The four-time All-star is also being recruited by the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors to name a few.

Aside from Bryant, the large contingent included head coach Byron Scott, executives Jim and Jeanie Buss, GM Mitch Kupchak, assistant GM Glenn Carraro, SVP of basketball operations Tim Harris, and publicist John Black together with AEG and Time Warner Cable SportsNet execs, as per the Los Angeles Daily News.

NBC Sports Pro Basketball Talks' Brett Pollakoff reported that the meeting turned out great and that Aldridge was "completely focused" in listening to the team's pitch. The article even mentioned that Kobe was effective during the talk.

Reports said that the five-time NBA champion told Aldridge that their partnership would be like what he and former Laker Pau Gasol had during the 2009 to 2010 championship years. Again, conflicting speculations have arisen on Aldridge's reaction to Kobe's statement, which prompted Bryant to post a social meme that said "reporting shouldn't diminish the quality of content".

The popular opinion was that the Lakers already missed the opportunity to get Aldridge and that they might do the same with Greg Monroe after their meeting with him later that Wednesday did not produce the required result.

Monroe is another free agent big that the Lakers are currently eyeing, but reports said that the management did not offer the 6-foot-11 center a maximum contract which could play a major factor in the recruitment.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski had just reported that the Lakers are set to have a second meeting with Aldridge on Thursday. A source intimated that the team wants "to see if they can get it right," which means they intend to discuss basketball more and how the team plans to win the title with Aldridge around. 

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