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Aldridge to sign four-year deal with San Antonio Spurs

By The Sports Xchange
Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) holds the ball against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) in the second half at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) holds the ball against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) in the second half at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Free agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge made his decision Saturday and will sign a four-year, maximum contract with the San Antonio Spurs.

Aldridge, who turns 30 on July 19, announced the news on Twitter:

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"I'm happy to say I'm going home to Texas and will be a Spur!! I'm excited to join the team and be close to my family and friends."

Aldridge is from Dallas and played at the University of Texas. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Aldridge's deal will be a four-year contract worth more than $80 million, with an opt-out after the third year, a source told ESPN's Marc Stein.

ESPN reported that the pitch Aldridge received Friday in Los Angeles ?from coach Gregg Popovich made the difference -- playing with Tim Duncan in his final days in the NBA and then taking over for him in the Spurs' frontcourt alongside Kawhi Leonard.

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It was the Spurs' second meeting with Aldridge. Popovich, Duncan, Leonard and Tony Parker all made their pitches to Aldridge directly Wednesday morning, according to ESPN.

Aldridge informed the Trail Blazers on Friday night that he had narrowed his choices to either the Spurs or Phoenix Suns, then chose the Spurs on Saturday morning.

After the NBA's free-agent market opened Wednesday, Aldridge met with the Spurs, Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors, in addition to speaking with the Blazers.

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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