LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving San Antonio.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters Wednesday that the big man will not play for the team going forward and that a move is coming.
NBA TRADE DEADLINE: Time, latest rumors, news, top targets
"We’ve mutually agreed to work out some opportunities for him and that’ll be elsewhere," Popovich said, per USA Today. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Spurs have been "engaged" in trade talks.
Aldridge, 35, has missed nine of the Spurs' last 12 games, including Wednesday's contest against the Mavericks. He is averaging 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21 games this season. He is in the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
"He's done everything we’ve asked. And at this point, we'd just like to do something that will work for him as much as for our club, because he deserves that," Popovich said, per USA Today.
Jakob Poeltl has taken Aldridge's place in the starting lineup. Aldridge played in three games off the bench in late February and early March after missing six games with a hip injury, but he was a DNP in a blowout win over the Knicks on March 2, the second night of a back-to-back, and did not dress March 4 for San Antonio's last game prior to the NBA All-Star break.
Aldridge is the latest veteran NBA big man to go on the trade/buyout market. The Pistons bought out and waived Blake Griffin, who signed with the Nets on Monday. The Rockets waived DeMarcus Cousins on Feb. 23. The Cavaliers are trying to trade Andre Drummond after benching him in February.
