Sat, Mar 27, 2021
By Jim Vassallo (Veri.bet Writer)
Various reports today say that LaMarcus Aldridge is joining the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season. Brooklyn recently added Blake Griffin after he was bought out by the Detroit Pistons.
The Nets are sitting in second place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
Aldridge is joining a loaded Nets roster looking to make a deep playoff run in the hopes of winning the NBA title this summer.
“I’m not going to comment on any players,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “That’s for the front office, anyone who’s not on our roster. So I’ll leave that for Sean and his group to discuss.”
Aldridge was recently bought out by the San Antonio Spurs. He very well could wind up as the starting center for the Nets, replacing DeAndre Jordan. Aldridge is now 35 and his defensive prowess is no longer what it once was.
“The buyout market, that is one of the reasons we want to remain flexible in my eyes to see how we can improve our team,” Nash said. “Maybe there are some teams that are set. But for us — especially with the roster changed after the big trade — we have to remain flexible in order to keep our options open.”
Nets’ general manager Sean Marks began improving the current roster in January by adding James Harden in a trade with the Houston Rockets. Then, the Nets signed Griffin and are now reportedly adding Aldridge.
Aldridge has made seven All-Star teams and has been named an All-NBA player five times. Griffin has made six All-Star games and has been named an All-NBA player five times.
Aldridge was last named to an All-Star team two years ago. He averaged 21.3 points and 9.2 rebounds. This season for the Spurs, Aldridge averaged 13.7 points and 4.5 boards, shooting .464 overall and .360 from the 3-point range.
What does Aldridge do for the Nets? Check out the odds for the Nets with and without Aldridge on the roster below.
As you can see, the addition of Aldridge improves the Nets’ chances of not only winning the Atlantic Division but also winning the Eastern Conference and the NBA Championship. The best improvement in odds with the addition of Aldridge is the 5.3% increase to win the Eastern Conference.
If you have been struggling to decide which team you should bet on to win the Eastern Conference this season, the Nets adding Aldridge to their roster should make it easier for you to place a wager. While the Philadelphia 76ers are a strong team, they only added George Hill at the trade deadline and there isn’t much chatter about them adding any players recently bought out of their contracts. Put your money on the Nets to secure the Eastern Conference crown.
Latest NBA News