When 2015 NBA Free Agency begins later tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers will have the first crack at wooing Portland Trail Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his eight-year NBA career.

As soon as the clock strikes midnight on the East Coast, the Lakers will be meeting with Aldridge.

The Lakers are moving quickly, will meet with LaMarcus Aldridge immediately after free agency begins Tuesday at 9:01 pm.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) June 30, 2015

While it’s unclear at this time what Aldridge’s free agency plan is, it’s obvious he’s seriously considering the Lakers. They’ll be his first stop once he’s allowed to officially meet with teams, which gives them the first crack at convincing him to sign.

There was talk that Aldridge would likely be deciding between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, but it’s hard to believe the Lakers couldn’t become a serious consideration if he likes what he hears on Tuesday night. If all goes as planned, they could have a verbal agreement in place before he leaves Los Angeles.

The Lakers are bent on adding some premier talent this offseason and getting back to contender status in 2015-16. The addition of Aldridge, a power forward with excellent range and scoring abilities, would certainly help them in that quest.

It’s going to take a lot of money to lure Aldridge to Hollywood, but the Lakers have no problem with spending big for big talent. While they might not convince the big man to cancel his other meetings – including one with the Houston Rockets – they may do enough to solidify their status as the frontrunner for his services.

We’ll see what happens on July 1.