LaMarcus Aldridge Reportedly Eyeing NBA Comeback

LaMarcus Aldridge never wanted to step away from basketball. And if he gets medically cleared to play in 2021-22, it seems his premature retirement will have barely lasted an offseason.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Aldridge is mulling a return to the NBA next season after consulting on his heart condition with doctors.

After medical consultation, seven-time All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge is seriously considering a return to the NBA this season, sources told ESPN.

Aldridge has reportedly yet to speak with teams interested in signing him, but expects to engage in those discussions soon. As of now, there's still no guarantee he suits up again in 2021-22.

Aldridge is expected to have conversations with prospective teams in the coming weeks, sources said, and still ultimately needs an individual organization's medical clearance to sign a contract. Nevertheless, Aldridge, 36, has yet to make a final decision on playing again.

The 15-year veteran abruptly retired due to the discovery of an irregular heartbeat on April 15, less than three weeks after he signed with the Brooklyn Nets. Aldridge had flirted with returning to the Blazers following his buyout from the San Antonio Spurs, but ultimately chose what would have been a bigger role and better chance to win a championship with the Nets.

Aldridge, the second overall pick of the 2006 draft, played nine of his 15 NBA seasons in Portland. He was named an All-Star four times during his tenure with the Blazers, leading them to the playoffs on five occasions.

Bad blood existed between Aldridge and Rip City in wake of his surprising free agency departure in 2015. But time heals all wounds, and Aldridge spoke fondly of his tenure in Portland after retiring. He even openly pondered what could have been in Portland with a trio of he, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

"So you put us all three together, and the sky could definitely be the limit," he said.

Aldridge is a long way past his prime. He isn't the third star who could suddenly vault the Blazers toward a level of contention that would make Lillard comfortable re-committing to Portland long-term.

Prior tension between Aldridge and Lillard has thawed, though, and the Blazers still have a hole at power forward multiple days into free agency. Whether Aldridge, no doubt playing on a minimum contract, is the right player to fill it seems questionable at best. He's most impactful at center in the twilight of his career, and obviously couldn't be counted on to play regular minutes on a game-by-game basis.

Still, there's clearly mutual interest in Aldridge returning to Rip City. The question now is if it happens as a player next season, or when his jersey is eventually raised to the Moda Center rafters.

READ MORE: LaMarcus Aldridge Believes His Departure Was 'Great' For Damian Lillard