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Report: Aldridge steps back to consider plans

By The Sports Xchange

Free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge will take some time to weigh his future after meeting with multiple teams the past few days, according to a report.

Aldridge met a second time for about 90 minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night for a discussion centered on basketball, ESPN reported.

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The Lakers sought a second meeting after they learned their first presentation in Aldridge's eyes was too focused on off-the-court opportunities and not on how the team envisioned using him. General manager Mitch Kupchak, coach Byron Scott and assistant coach Mark Madsen were in attendance to make the presentation.

The 29-year-old Aldridge also has met with the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns, according to multiple reports. ESPN reported that Aldridge met with Heat president Pat Riley for dinner on Thursday night.

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The Spurs are mentioned by several media outlets as the favorites to land the All-Star.

It appears unlikely that Aldridge will return to the Portland Trail Blazers next season. Teammate Damian Lillard reportedly was traveling to Los Angeles in an attempt to persuade Aldridge to remain in Portland.

"We've built something great in #RipCity... Would love to continue that playing along side @aldridge_12 ... Sure our team feels the same!" Lillard tweeted.

In nine seasons with the Blazers, Aldridge has played in 648 regular-season games and averaged 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds. In 2014-15, he averaged a career-best 23.4 points per game and 10.2 rebounds.

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