LaMarcus Aldridge got the answers he needed from the San Antonio Spurs.
And the Spurs apparently got the answer they wanted.
Ending a frantic few days of courtship — and perhaps cementing the Spurs as the preseason favorites to win yet another NBA championship — Aldridge announced Saturday that he will sign with San Antonio. He will align with Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard to form what would figure to be among the NBA’s most formidable frontcourts.
“I’m happy to say I’m going home to Texas and will be a Spur!!” Aldridge, a Dallas native, posted to his verified Twitter account. “I’m excited to join the team and be close to my family and friends.”
The Spurs could not comment because of the league’s offseason moratorium. Aldridge’s representatives did not respond to requests for further comment beyond the tweet.
Aldridge, who spent his first nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, will be eligible to sign his new contract Thursday.
Aldridge met with several teams, all of whom were offering what the Spurs did: $80 million for four years.
The Los Angeles Lakers tried to woo him to play alongside Kobe Bryant. The Mavericks tried to sell him on coming home. The Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns — who cleared a ton of cap space in an effort to get Aldridge — made pitches too, and Pat Riley flew to L.A. to try to talk Aldridge into leaving the loaded Western Conference and joining the Miami Heat.
Some of the pitches were more appealing than others to Aldridge. But how the Spurs responded to his questions, most recently in their second meeting in Los Angeles on Friday, obviously won the battle.
“So happy he’s going to be a Spur!!” Spurs guard Tony Parker tweeted.
Harris stays with Magic.
A person with knowledge of the details said Tobias Harris agreed to sign a new contract to remain with the Orlando Magic.
The person said Harris’ deal — a restricted free agent — is for four years and $64 million.
The 22-year-old forward completed his fourth NBA season and second full year with Orlando after coming over in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2013. He averaged a career-high 17.1 points last season, while shooting a career-best 36 percent from the 3-point line.
