Veteran NBA star LaMarcus Aldridge's tenure with the San Antonio Spurs is apparently coming to a close after five-plus seasons.
The seven-time All-Star and the team have mutually agreed to part ways coming out of the NBA All-Star break, coach Gregg Popovich announced prior to Wednesday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
"We've mutually agreed for him to work on some opportunities elsewhere," Popovich said.
The team was exploring potential trade scenarios involving Aldridge and were "engaged on several fronts," according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Aldridge joins Blake Griffin, formerly of the Pistons, in agreeing to part company with a rebuilding team. Griffin, perceived as being on the downside of his career, was snapped up by the Nets upon his buyout with Detroit. Cleveland center Andre Drummond was in a similar situation, with the Cavs reportedly still attempting to find a trade partner.
Aldridge, a 35-year-old former Texas Longhorns standout, sat for San Antonio's final two games before the break due to what the Spurs called an undisclosed non-covid illness, and missed a handful of games earlier in the season with wrist and hip ailments.
On the season, Aldridge has per-game averages of 13.7 points and 26 minutes in 21 games.
The veteran big man started his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, who acquired him in a post-draft trade with the Chicago Bulls after they had selected him second overall in 2005.