LaMarcus Aldridge’s meetings with the Lakers this offseason went infamously poorly, but contrary to popular belief, that didn’t have anything to do with Kobe Bryant.
Bryant is notoriously prickly and competitive, and his desire to remain the Lakers’ top dog reportedly rankled Dwight Howard when he was weighing his options in free agency. That wasn’t the case with Aldridge, however, who said Bryant was a plus.
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“I’ll go on the record as saying Kobe was not an issue at all. He was a very positive part of the meeting,” Aldridge told Sports Illustrated. That’s good news for Lakers fans hoping they can attract Thunder star Kevin Durant this summer.
Bryant has developed a reputation for being difficult to play with in the later stages of his career. He’s 37 years old, rarely makes it through seasons unscathed anymore, and is as often now as he did a decade ago. He is also making $24 million this season, which does nothing to help his case as a “team player.” These are the reasons why Stephen A. Smith’s recent report that Durant was favoring Los Angeles if he were to leave Oklahoma City raised eyebrows.
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The ensuing spat over social media and television stole the show, but Aldridge’s comments shed light on a possible misconception – perhaps the NBA’s top players do still see playing alongside Bryant as a plus.
Smith has continued to report on Durant, and confidently stated that if the Thunder do not with the title this season, Durant is likely to walk this summer. The Lakers can never be ruled out for any free agent that hits the market, so Kobe’s recruitment skills may prove vital, and the Lakers may end up happy they couldn’t land Aldridge.
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