On this page
Brooklyn Nets Add LaMarcus Aldridge and are Seeking First NBA Championship
Introduction
On Saturday, March 27th, 2021 the NBA All – Star center/power forward, LaMarcus Aldridge, has decided to sign with the already loaded line-up of the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the 2020 – 2021 season of the National Basketball Association. Most people thought that Aldridge was planning on heading to Miami to play for the Heat for the rest of the year after he agreed to a contract buyout with the San Antonio Spurs, but he made the choice to join the Brooklyn team in their hope of winning an NBA championship this year. LaMarcus has averaged 19.4 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 0.7 steals per game, and 1.1 blocks per game over the course of his excellent 15-year career playing in the NBA with both the Portland Trail Blazers as well as the San Antonio Spurs.
Recent Player Additions
On Sunday, March 7th, 2021 the Brooklyn Nets agreed upon terms to sign the former NBA All-Star forward and NBA Rookie of the Year award winner, Blake Griffin, to a contract to play for the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the 2020-2021 NBA season. Griffin had been previously playing for the Detroit Pistons, but the Detroit Pistons accepted a buyout for Blake offered to them by the Brooklyn Nets. Griffin had generated a lot of interest from the majority of NBA’s best playoff contending teams, and he cleared waivers last Sunday night after agreeing to the buyout of the remaining $56.5 million left on his contract with the Detroit Pistons.
On Thursday, January 14th, 2021 the Nets and the Houston Rockets officially announced that they have reached an agreement on a four – team blockbuster trade that also involved the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Houston Rockets sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, and the Rockets received guard Caris LeVert as well as 3 first round draft selections in return. The Houston Rockets then delt LeVert to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the star shooting guard Victor Oladipo.
The Brooklyn Nets traded center Jarrett Allen and forward Taurean Prince to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Houston Rockets acquired guard Dante Exum from the Cleveland Cavs as well as forward Rodions Kurucs from the Brooklyn Nets. The Houston Rockets gained three unprotected first round draft picks from the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, 2024, and 2026 in addition to pick swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2027.
The Houston Rockets also received the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first round selection in the 2022 NBA draft through the Milwaukee Bucks. The Houston Rockets sent a 2023 second round draft pick to the Indiana Pacers. The Cavaliers gave the Nets a 2024 second round pick from the Cavs.
Aldridge’s Career Achievements, Honors, and Awards
- 7 Time NBA All – Star (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- 2 Time All – NBA Second Team (2015, 2018)
- 3 Time All – NBA Third Team (2011, 2014, 2016)
- NBA All – Rookie First Team (2007)
- Third – Team All – American – NABC (2006)
- First – Team All – Big 12 (2006)
- Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2006)
- Big 12 All – Defensive Team (2006)
- Second – Team Parade All – American (2004)
- McDonald's All – American (2004)
Odds to Win the 2020-2021 NBA Championship
According to Intertops sportsbook these are the odds as of Sunday, March 28th, 2021 to win the 2020-2021 NBA championship outright. The Brooklyn Nets have now taken over from the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA team with the highest odds of winning the 2020-2021 NBA championship.
| Team Odds |
|---|
| Brooklyn Nets +275 |
| Los Angeles Lakers +300 |
| Los Angeles Clippers +425 |
| Milwaukee Bucks +650 |
| Utah Jazz +850 |
| Philadelphia 76ers +1100 |
| Denver Nuggets +1600 |
| Phoenix Suns +2200 |
| Miami Heat +2500 |
| Boston Celtics +4000 |
| Dallas Mavericks +4000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers +5000 |
| Toronto Raptors +7000 |
| Indiana Pacers +7500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans +8000 |
| Golden State Warriors +9000 |
| Atlanta Hawks +10000 |
| San Antonio Spurs +15000 |
| Memphis Grizzlies +15000 |
| Washington Wizards +15000 |
| Chicago Bulls +15000 |
| New York Knicks +15000 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder +25000 |
| Charlotte Hornets +25000 |
| Sacramento Kings +30000 |
| Orlando Magic +50000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers +50000 |
| Houston Rockets +100000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves +100000 |
| Detroit Pistons +100000 |
Sources:
“Brooklyn Nets continue to add depth for postseason, agree to deal with LaMarcus Aldridge, agent says”, Adrian Wojnarowski, espn.com, March 27, 2021.
“LaMarcus Aldridge”, basketball-reference.com, March 28, 2021.
“United States, NBA Futures – NBA 2020 / 21 Championship: To Win Outright”, intertops.eu, March 28, 2021.