San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge agreed he won't return to the team.

 San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge agreed he won't return to the team.

 San Antonio Spurs and LaMarcus Aldridge agreed he won't return to the team.

San Antonio Spurs and veteran forward LaMarcus Aldridge have mutually agreed that he will not return to the team, coach Gregg Popovich announced ahead of Wednesday night's 115-104 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Tottenham are engaged on several fronts with potential deals for Aldridge and believe they can find a deal - perhaps even next week - and avoid having to negotiate a contract.

Sources said that if there is no trade for Aldridge before the expiry of the trading deadline of March 25, and the acquisition contract has not been activated, many of the major teams in the league in particular express their desire to add it as a free agent.

Aldridge, 35, a seven-time All-Star, has been granted permission to "work on some opportunities elsewhere," although he remains officially on Tottenham's list for the time being. He's got a $24 million contract.

"He was a great team-mate," Popovic said while in the virtual media before the game. There is no problem there." "We just think this is a win for both LaMarcus and the club. When an opportunity arises, it will be up to the administration and its agent and that sort of thing, and we will all move forward."

Aldridge    missed  eight of Tottenham's last 11 games before the All-Star break due to a groin and quadriceps injury. He came off the bench in his three games during that period and played as a reserve for the first time since he was a rookie with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006-07. In Aldridge's last game with Tottenham, he scored two points in 15 minutes in a 124-113 overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets. On March 1.

Tottenham have won six of their eight matches before the break. Wednesday's loss to Them 18-15, making them seventh in the Western Conference standings.

Aldridge averaged 13.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game this season, firing 46.4% from the floor and 36% from 3-point range. His record and minutes are the lowest since his rookie year.

"He did everything we asked for," Popovic said. "At this point, we just want to do something that would work for him equally for our club, because he deserves it."

Aldridge averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in five and a half seasons with Tottenham, who signed him into free agency after spending the first nine seasons of his career in Portland.

"He may be my longest teammate," said Patty Mills, a veteran Tottenham goalkeeper who also played for Aldridge in Portland. He is clearly very well respected by this group in particular and every team he has played with. As a team-mate, you only wish him the best."