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Phoenix Suns: Don’t Hold Your Breath On LaMarcus Aldridge

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 30, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots over Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Brandon Knight (3) shoots the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Suns won 110-96. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

The Finances

Unfortunately, for the Suns to even bring in LaMarcus Aldridge, that core isn’t even possible. For the Suns to be able to afford Aldridge, they’d need to renounce their rights to Knight, Brandan Wright, Gerald Green AND Marcus Thornton to clear up the necessary cap space.

If Aldridge wants to sign a long-term deal, the Portland Trail Blazers have the advantage. Because they own his Bird’s Rights, they can re-sign him to a maximum five-year, $109 million deal. The best any other team can offer is four years and $81.1 million.

The salary cap for the 2015-16 season is projected to be $67.1 million. The Suns already have $42.3 million on the books for next season, including Danny Granger‘s $2.1 million player option…but NOT including an extension for Brandon Knight. Knight’s qualifying offer is worth $5 million, but the Suns are intent on re-signing their restricted free agent.

That also doesn’t include Brandan Knight and Gerald Green, two unrestricted free agents the Suns have an interest in re-signing.

However, if they want to take a legitimate shot at Aldridge, there’s no conceivable way to do so without making some major changes (you know, without putting together some sort of sign-and-trade package revolving around the Morris twins).

Aldridge will have plenty of suitors this summer, which means if he’s searching for long-term security, the Suns would need to offer him a max deal to have any chance at wooing him. That $20 million a season would be quite a hefty price to pay for one player while having to basically renounce the rights to four others.

Next: Aldridge's Priorities

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