Could Mavs be a potential trade partner for Spurs center and Dallas native LaMarcus Aldridge?

Before facing the Mavericks on Wednesday night, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said center LaMarcus Aldridge, a 2004 Seagoville graduate, will not play for San Antonio again. He did not travel with the team to Dallas.

“He’s healthy in that respect, but we’ve mutually agreed to work on some opportunities for him, and that’ll be elsewhere,” Popovich said, referring to a trade before the March 25 deadline or a contract buyout. “He’s been a great teammate. There’s no problem there. We just think this is a win-win for both LaMarcus and for the club.”

Could the Mavericks be a potential trade partner?

Unlikely.

Breaking up what coach Rick Carlisle has called a “young veteran” rotation in favor of adding the 35-year-old Aldridge, who’s in the final year of a $24 million contract, does not appear to fit the long-term roster outlook.

The hard-capped Mavericks do not hold a trade exception under the 2020-21 salary cap.

The Spurs could also be hesitant to send their former seven-time All-Star to a Southwest Division rival and fellow Western Conference playoff contender.

San Antonio (18-14; No. 7 in the West) and Dallas (18-16; No. 8) entered their first game after the All-Star break Wednesday separated by one game in the West standings.

Should the Spurs fail to make a trade and buy out Aldridge’s contract instead, making the Dallas native an unrestricted free agent, the Mavericks — and several other playoff contenders across the league — could be amicable matches in cap space and roster availability.

In 21 games, including 18 starts, before the All-Star break, Aldridge averaged 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds.

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