Remember last summer, when Kevin Love was spotted in Boston hanging out with Rajon Rondo and going to Red Sox games, which clearly indicated that he was going to play for the Celtics in the near future? Well, we might have a similar situation on our hands with arguably the top player available in free agency this summer, LaMarcus Aldridge.
Via Red’s Army, Aldridge was recently spotted in Boston’s Logan International Airport. Someone even got a photo, which you can see here.
This photo and Aldridge’s visit likely mean nothing, but the idea of Aldridge signing with the Celtics makes a lot of sense if he decides to leave Portland. He’d be going to the Eastern Conference, meaning he’ll have a much easier path to the playoffs than battling through the tough West. He’d indisputably be the face of the franchise, a title he’s had to share his whole career with either Brandon Roy or Damian Lillard. Boston needs a big man badly, and they’ll have max cap space. They’re a team on the upswing, having made the playoffs this season with a promising rookie guard in Marcus Smart and a highly regarded coach in Brad Stevens.
The team that has most often been linked to Aldridge as he prepares for free agency is the Spurs, and it’s hard to top their organization and track record. But that space won’t be open unless Tim Duncan retires, which is far from a sure thing. If Aldridge looks to leave the Blazers, Boston will definitely be a player.