LaMarcus Aldridge has decided to join the Brooklyn Nets, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported on Saturday. It did not take him long to agree to a one-year, minimum veteran's deal to join the "Big 3" at Barclays Center.

The 35-year-old reached a buyout agreement in the last year of his $24-million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He has reportedly given up about $7.5 million to leave. He has played 21 games for the team and averaged 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds.

So, what does his arrival mean to the Nets?

It's easy to make sensational comments like Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Aldridge together  41-time All-Stars and 31-time All-NBA Team players. It's true. But they are at different stages in their careers. For example, you can’t expect Aldridge to score 89 points in two playoff games in a row and play second scorer like he did in the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nonetheless, he can still be helpful to the Nets.

First, they can now send a five-out squad to the court. Sure, Jeff Green can play center, but he's only 2.06 meters tall and weighs 106 kilograms. By contrast, Aldridge is 2.11 meters tall and 113 kilograms and can tussle better with Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo in the paint. Of course, Green shoots better around the 3-point line and can defend multiple positions.

Second, Aldridge's stats in the Spurs are misleading to a certain degree. His average time on the floor dropped to below 30 minutes for the first time since his rookie season. His field goal attempts (11.8) were also his career's second-lowest. However, two years ago, he scored a career-high of 56 points in the overtime game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like Griffin, Aldridge still has gas in his tank, and he just needs the right reason to burn it.

Third, Aldridge has collected rich playoff experience from the 72 games he has played in the post season. Thirty-eight of them were for the Trail Blazers, and 34 were for the Spurs. In 2017, he even reached the Western Conference Finals with the Spurs.

When Miami Heat won the NBA Championship in 2006, veterans like Jason Williams, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton were not integral, but they made key contributions in some of the important games. That's probably what the Nets expect from Aldridge and his size and shooting skills give him a better chance of making such contributions.

Moreover, landing a valuable target from the market is a blow to your opponents. Since they did not get Aldridge, the Miami Heat will have to squeeze Bam Adebayo more in the playoffs. The two Los Angeles teams, the Lakers and the Clippers, will be only more desperate chasing Andre Drummond. So will the Boston Celtics.

Also, one thing must be pointed out. The four teams will not like it, but the Nets still have one spot available in their lineup. They also have about $7 million, from Spencer Dinwiddie's player exception and the mini-mid level exception, to sign another player.

That leads the topic to Drummond. Unlike Aldridge, Drummond is only 27 years old and going through the best time of his career. He is definitely after a ring, but that's not everything he's after. He also needs a starting position and enough time on the floor to get good enough numbers as bargaining chips to negotiate another big contract, if not a maximum deal.

Of the several teams trying to sign Drummond, the Lakers are the frontrunners, according to ESPN. Back in 2011, before he went to college, Drummond used to tweet that one of his biggest goals is to play with or against LeBron James. Considering that the purple and gold are seriously understaffed at the moment, they can use a big man like him.

So, what can Drummond give the Lakers?

Before he was benched for trade by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Drummond has averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.6 steals per game. The four-time NBA rebounding leader remains dominant in that area. His defense is not at the elite level but good enough to protect the paint in most cases.

However, that's probably everything Drummond can do for the Lakers, which may not be good enough. Nearly 95 percent of his shots happened within three meters from the rim. When he posts beyond the free throw line, you would wish he wouldn't because defenders ignore him, and he commits more turnovers than assists.

Drummond cannot settle down in the low block either. Neither his finishing ability, touch nor skills are good enough to make him a productive scorer, not to mention efficient. Meanwhile, his standing under the paint will only make it more difficult for James to charge the basket.

Unfortunately, the Lakers cannot afford to be picky since James is four to six weeks away from returning, and Davis has not come back either. They love Kyle Lowry like everyone else does, but they can't get him.