LaMarcus Aldridge has officially been cleared to return to the court after a scary and sudden retirement back in April.
The seven-time All-Star suffered a heart complication only a couple of weeks into his stint with the Brooklyn Nets. The episode forced him into retirement, but reports first surfaced last month that medical consultants could give him the green light to rejoin an NBA team. Now, according to Shams Charania, LaMarcus Aldridge will return this season, and the Nets are the frontrunners to give him a new contract.
Seven-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge has been cleared to play again, passing all of the necessary tests, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Nets are leaders to sign Aldridge, sources said.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 2, 2021
Interestingly enough, the Bulls were reportedly connected to Aldridge around the league earlier this season. NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson reported that this front office once saw him as a “possible fit” in free agency this summer. With him now back in the open market, one has to wonder whether or not Chicago will show interest. The team is still a bit short on frontcourt depth, particularly at the power forward position, and Aldridge will likely covet nothing more than a minimum contract (the team does also have the bi-annual exception worth roughly $3.7 million in their back pocket, as well).
Arturas Karnisovas and Co. also just lost out on veteran big man Paul Millsap. The Bulls were one of three playoff contenders the 36-year-old had considered, but he ultimately chose to ink a fresh contract with the Nets (*waves fist like an angry old man at Steve Nash*).
It’s hard to turn down a title-contender, but maybe DeMar DeRozan can convince his former teammates to come to the Windy City? One can only hope.