LaMarcus Aldridge done for season and San Antonio Spurs' postseason hopes are done too

The race for the last playoff spot in the NBA's Western Conference just got a bit more interesting with the news that San Antonio Spurs All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge will not take part in the regular-season restart in Orlando due to shoulder surgery. That Spurs were fairly long shots on the William Hill sportsbook NBA odds to get the eighth and final playoff spot as it was, but now they are longer shots (+1600, down from +1000). San Antonio is four games behind No. 8 Memphis and has three other teams ahead of it as well. The Spurs have made the playoffs an NBA-record-tying 22 seasons in a row. 

Aldridge actually underwent an arthroscopic procedure and rotator cuff debridement on his right shoulder April 24 but it just became public knowledge Monday. While Aldridge isn't what he used to be at age 34 (35 in July), he's still a darn good player in averaging 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks this season.

He also added a three-point threat. His 61 three-point makes and 157 attempts are by far career highs as is his 38.9 shooting percentage from deep. Aldridge is one of just two active NBA players (LeBron James) to score at least 1,000 points in the past 13 seasons. Aldridge had returned from a six-game absence because of that right shoulder on March 10, one day before the coronavirus shutdown.

Could be that Aldridge, who ranks 49th in scoring all-time in the NBA, has played his last-ever game for the Spurs. They seem likely to start a rebuild next season with DeMar DeRozan able to hit free agency if he chooses (player option on contract). Aldridge has one year left on his contract at $24 million. San Antonio likely will shop him, although it might be tough to find a team to take on all that money – especially with Aldridge now coming off surgery.

Jakob Poeltl likely will see an uptick in minutes with Aldridge sidelined and probably moves into the starting five. That is unless Coach Gregg Popovich wants to go small with Rudy Gay. 

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