SAN ANTONIO >> For every time he nailed a mid-range jumper or posted up on Friday, Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge reminded the Lakers of their failed offseason.
The Lakers targeted Aldridge in free agency last summer, only for him to sign with San Antonio to a four-year, $80 million deal. Aldridge felt turned off with the Lakers’ first meeting that focused too much on Hollywood glitter over X’s and O’s.
“We looked at it more as a business presentation,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said. “It wasn’t basketball, and that’s probably where we made our mistake.”
The Lakers’ first meeting featured AEG and Time Warner Cable discussing branding opportunities.