NBA Free Agency: Latest Buzz Surrounding LaMarcus Aldridge

NBA free agency began at 12:01 a.m. ET on Wednesday, and teams around the league wasted no time in dishing out expensive contracts. On the first day alone, teams agreed in principle to pay over $1.4 billion in player salary, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

That includes massive contract extensions given out to Anthony Davis and Kevin Love, but it does not include a player that still remains unsigned—LaMarcus Aldridge.

Aldridge is the top free agent still available, and a lot of teams around the league have made moves in anticipation of landing him.

The Portland Trail Blazers agreed to sign point guard Damian Lillard to a five-year, $125 million extension on Thursday. After it was announced that Aldridge was meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers for a second time, Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, told USA Today that Lillard was planning on traveling to Los Angeles to convince Aldridge to re-sign with Portland.

The Phoenix Suns were not viewed as likely suitors for Aldridge, but they emerged as serious contenders after agreeing to a five-year, $70 million extension with Brandon Knight. They also agreed to a surprising four-year, $52 contract with Tyson Chandler. Phoenix then traded three players to clear enough cap space to be able to sign Aldridge.

However, the perceived leader of the pack is the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs sent the fear of God throughout the league with a flurry of moves on Wednesday that seemed to position them perfectly for an Aldridge signing.

In the span of about an hour, San Antonio re-signed Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to extensions, then traded center Tiago Splitter to Atlanta to free up enough cap space to sign Aldridge. It appeared as if Gregg Popovich’s evil plan to rule the NBA forever was well underway.

Then there are the Lakers. After a first meeting with Aldridge did not go so well, the team was able to land a second meeting in an attempt to make amends. With a fan base that never loses hope easily, Lakers supporters were rejuvenated at the news.

"

LAMARCUS!!! HOPE IS ALIVE!!!!! ITS LIKE WHEN CHARLIE GOT THE GOLDEN TICKET AT THE LAST SECOND!!!! COME ON @Lakers !!!!!! DIG DEEP HEART!!

— Flea (@flea333) July 2, 2015"

The Dallas Mavericks also remain firmly in the race, and they are still pushing hard to sign DeAndre Jordan. According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t Sports Illustrated), Jordan is "torn" between the Los Angeles Clippers and Mavericks.

(UPDATE: Jordan reportedly is on the verge of signing with Dallas)

With the barrage of deals being agreed to already, the number of marquee free agents available is dwindling fast. The teams that lose out on Aldridge will have little in the way of contingency plans. 

While the Suns have made great strides just to become legitimate contenders, the Spurs make the most sense for Aldridge. There is a clear opening at power forward, and Aldridge would team with Leonard and Tony Parker to form the next “Big Three” for San Antonio after Tim Duncan retires.

Wherever Aldridge ends up, the rest of the league will have to scramble to find alternatives. With power forward alternatives like David West, Josh Smith, Brandon Bass and Amar'e Stoudemire, the LaMarcus Aldridge sweepstakes is one in which second place won’t be anything to get too excited about.