Mavericks are in hot pursuit of Aldridge while keeping tabs on Aminu

While the Dallas Mavericks are chasing Portland Trail Blazers free-agent power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and other high-profile free agents, they also are keeping close tabs on Al-Farouq Aminu.

Aminu’s career doesn’t compare with Aldridge’s at this point. But the five-year veteran improved considerably last season in his first year with the Mavericks, who certainly wouldn’t mind retaining his services, especially if they lose out on Aldridge.

“He was one of the really bright spots of this year,” free-agent center Tyson Chandler said. “He reminded me a little bit of myself and others who have been in similar situations where you’ve kind of been on teams that you didn’t necessarily find your spot and your home.

“I feel like he’s always been a promising player throughout his career. Teams never put him necessarily in a position to succeed, and this year was kind of a growing experience for him because I think from those teams that he’s played on, you almost sometimes become a whipping boy.”

In addition to Aldridge, Cleveland’s duo of LeBron James and Kevin Love, Atlanta’s Paul Millsap, San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Golden State’s Draymond Green are the other top free-agent forwards. Leonard and Green, however, are restricted free agents and are unlikely to leave their current teams.

While James will likely re-sign with the Cavaliers and Love must decide if he wants to continue being the third wheel in Cleveland, Aldridge is reportedly leaning toward leaving the Pacific Northwest.

The Mavericks would love to sign Aldridge — the four-time All-Star grew up in Seagoville — then have enough money to re-sign Chandler. They figure a front line of Chandler Parsons, Aldridge and Chandler would help get them in the championship conversation.

Meanwhile, if Aldridge signs elsewhere, the Mavericks want to be in position to at least sign Aminu, who will likely receive a hefty long-term offer from another suitor outside of Dallas.

In that case, the Mavericks will try to convince Aminu to sign a two-year deal with a player option. That would enable him to become a free agent next summer when the salary cap makes a gigantic increase.

Under that scenario, the Mavericks would have ownership of Aminu’s Bird rights and conceivably could exceed the salary cap and award him with a long-term contract up to the mid-level exception, which will be considerably higher next summer.

“I would love to come back,” Aminu said. “I felt like this organization gave me an opportunity, gave me a chance, took a chance on me.”

In 74 games for the Mavericks last season, Aminu averaged 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18.5 minutes per game and shot 41.2 percent from the field.

But when given 30 minutes per game during the team’s five-game first-round playoff series against Houston, he averaged 11.2 points and 7.2 rebounds and shot 54.8 percent from the floor.

Dirk Nowitzki especially praised the job Aminu did in the playoffs on defense while using his angular 6-foot-9, 215-pound frame in guarding Houston’s James Harden.

“I thought he played extremely well during the playoffs,” Nowitzki said. “I thought he was phenomenal, made it hard on James, just using his length really well.

“I think he worked on his shooting throughout the year, so he had some good shooting games. But he’s a slasher and a great energy player.”

The Mavericks believe Aminu can become an everyday starter and allow Nowitzki to come off the bench.

“He grew, he was encouraged every day, coaches were working with him every day,” Chandler said. “He saw the fruits of his labor on the run that he made in the playoffs, and he showed a lot of teams, including this organization, how valuable he is and what he’s capable of doing.

“I think he’s going to have a bright future. I said it when I saw him early in the summer before preseason started that I thought he had the potential to be a great defender, [and] by the end of the year he really showed it.”

Aminu, who turns 25 on Sept. 21, played for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2010-11 season and for New Orleans from 2011-14 before joining the Mavericks as a free agent last summer. At that time, Aminu signed a two-year contract, with the second year being a player option.

He’s hoping for a bigger payday. The Mavericks are hoping he’ll be patient enough and wait until next summer to secure a long-term contract.

“I’m a loyal person and I would love to be back, but that’s not my decision,” Aminu said. “Hopefully, management and my agent can work something out.”

This story was originally published June 30, 2015 at 10:22 PM with the headline "Mavericks are in hot pursuit of Aldridge while keeping tabs on Aminu."