Lakers Linked to All the Power Forwards: LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Love

LaMarcus Aldridge is going to be leaving Portland via free agency, something that has seemed like a formality since the Blazers were bounced in the playoffs in early May. He’s been with Portland his entire career – nine seasons – and only been beyond the 1st round of the playoffs once.

And he’ll have his options. Aldridge was linked to San Antonio a couple months ago, where he would ostensibly take the baton from Tim Duncan and star alongside Kawhi Leonard for the remainder of his career. Aldridge turns 30 in July. He’s coming off his best two seasons since entering the NBA from the University of Texas.

But the Lakers are an option as well. And so are the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks will throw money at him (and everyone). A sleeper would have to be the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Aldridge’s pick-and-pop game would be effective. Quick reminder: Kevin Love may be a rich kid from Santa Monica, but he went to high school in Oregon.

As teams push tempo, attempt more 3-pointers and get smaller, this is shaping up as the summer of the power forward. But not your Dad’s power forward – out with the burly, rebounding 4s of the 90s; in with the Stretch 4s who can play center, step out and hit jumpers, and defend against the pick-and-roll, chasing guards on the perimeter. Kevin Love, DeMarcus Cousins and Aldridge lead the way. From ESPN:

"The Lakers, sources added to Stein, firmly believe they now will be in the Aldridge hunt."

Isn’t it interesting that the Lakers a) drafted a power forward in the lottery last year (Julius Randle), b) have been linked to Kevin Love, c) have been linked to DeMarcus Cousins and d) are now supposedly high on the list of Aldridge?

The problem with the Lakers here is they don’t have anything to trade … except Randle, the potential of Jordan Clarkson (2nd round pick who looked sharp in February, March and April) and the #2 pick in tonight’s draft.

How can the Lakers get significantly better by acquiring either Cousins or Aldridge (or even Love, via sign-and-trade) and giving up Randle/Clarkson/#2 pick?

Something doesn’t add up.