Subscribe
Follow Us
LaMarcus Aldridge is set to make his Nets debut on Thursday.
Malika Andrews of ESPN reported the veteran big man is available for the team's matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. James Harden, meanwhile, has been ruled out after leaving Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets with a hamstring issue.
The good news for Brooklyn: LaMarcus Aldridge is available to make his Nets debut tonight against Charlotte.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) April 1, 2021
Aldridge elected to sign with Brooklyn after agreeing to a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs.
The 35-year-old is the second player to join the Nets following a buyout, with Blake Griffin being the first. Aldridge was averaging 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc in his first 21 games.
Article Continues Below
It should be interesting to see what kind of role Aldridge has in Brooklyn. He pretty consistently expanded his game to the three-point arc and came to embrace being a stretch-5 for the Spurs. The Nets could use something similar, though Aldridge's mid-range game and work on the low block might be even more important given the Nets have plenty of playmakers on the perimeter.
Aldridge previously expressed a desire to start, though head coach Steve Nash said earlier this week that was still up in the air:
“He definitely can compete to start but we’ll see how it plays out,” Nash said, via SB Nation. “We got to get him up to speed with his conditioning, integrated with the team, comfortable with what we do and with his teammates. There’s plenty of time so he definitely can start.”
Regardless, Aldridge could be an important piece in Brooklyn's championship puzzle. The Nets will see what he has to offer and hope he can help push them past the Hornets sans Harden.
