[Jason Quick] Trail Blazers' list of concerns after Game 1 should include the future of LaMarcus Ald

Hope he stays away from Dallas and San Antonio, although I fear he may wind up with the latter.

 

Would be hilarious if he went to Dallas. They're much further away than Portland.

San Antonio going from the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili era to Aldridge-Kawhi would not be good, however.

 

Aldridge-Kawhi and what is Parker doing? Thats not a bad team at all. Of course, it will be hard for any team to compare to that 16+ year dynasty

 

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Now which team?

 

Especially because that might entice Duncan to stay around for another two, three years. I was hoping he'd retire after the Finals last year- but that ****er keeps playing.

 

He's coming back for atleast one more year Pop pretty much confirmed it a month ago.

 

If he leaves Portland, is there really anywhere else he's going to go? Those are the best teams that can still offer him a lot of money.

 

I'm not buying that LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of Portland because the West Linn home he's lived in has a "For Sale" sign in front of it today.

List price: $1,375,000.

The 7,900 square-foot house on two acres, turns out, is owned by Damon Stoudamire. Aldridge was renting from Stoudamire and moved out last month, per neighbors and friends.

Let's see: Aldridge dumped his south waterfront condominium last year. He gave up some of his local endorsement deals. He hinted that he may (or may not) be interested in staying in Portland forever. Also, he played through an injury that would have ended a lot of other player's seasons. And all of the above amounts to exactly nothing in the big picture because Aldridge doesn't live in a world like the one you and I do.

Is Aldridge staying? Going? I'm not buying that Aldridge is gone because of that "For Sale" sign. I'm buying that he's gone because it just hasn't worked out in Portland for him.

Stop looking for small signs and hints. Instead, consider that the biggest factor isn't a "For Sale" sign but the sobering realization that the power forward has been in Portland nine years and advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs only once. That's where the speculation begins and ends and it's why I think he's unlikely to be back next season.

Not because Stoudamire has listed his home. Not because Aldridge looked weary at the end of last season, standing in the locker room in Memphis, beaten again. But because I remain unconvinced that the Blazers can do what it takes to build a winner around him while simultaneously trying to keep Damian Lillard happy.

Marc Spears, a long-time veteran reporter for Yahoo Sports who knew Aldridge before he became an NBA All-Star, recently told me a story about the Blazers unrestricted free agent. Aldridge attended Seagoville High, a public school with limited resources that eventually resulted in a school lockdown. The story goes that Aldridge was pressured to switch schools and attend a more affluent school with better resources and a better chance for exposure.


He stayed at Seagoville. He chose the University of Texas, in his home state for college. And now, he's spent nine years with the NBA team that declared its love for him on that draft day that feels so long ago.

Spears' strategy for the Blazers wasn't about more years and more money or promises about championships, but about emotions. Said Spears, "They need to make sure they tell him they love him."

The Blazers tried to do that this season, presenting Aldridge with pieces of hardwood court and a ceremony built around his place in franchise history. But I look back at all the loyalty that Aldridge has extended in his basketball life, the choice of high school, the decision to stay in-state for college, and the sacrifice (see: injured thumb) he's given for a franchise that didn't take him far in return and I wonder if this isn't Aldridge's last and only opportunity to finally do something for himself.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2015/06/canzano_the_signs_about_lamarc.html

 

^ If he is going to go with loyalty there is nothing to be done.

If he is open to leaving, the question is can the Rockets lure him in? Can they make cap-space or do a sign and trade of sorts?

If so, how to convince him to come? Same way you convinced Dwight. There is no other team in the league right now that is a more obvious fit for him to go to, if his goal is to both (1) be a KEY cog to the team, and (2) win a championship

Although, I would note that San Antonio is a VERY VERY close 2nd there.

 

I'm so jealous of a team like San Antonio. They drafted a finals MVP one pick after us. We mocked our horrible 14th pick purgatory and they drafted their next franchise player at 15. And what do we have to look forward to now that Tim Duncan is on his last legs? Marc Gasol and Aldridge clamoring to sign there. Mark my words, they have their pick of the two. It's just ridiculous how well-run that organization is. I don't even hate them, I respect them, but I sure want their success to stop.

 

Isn't Leonard a RFA?

 

I mostly agree... but would note that I don't think Leonard becomes a "franchise player" on most other teams if drafted... and I'm frankly not sure if he is now.

He probably is, but I'm going to have to give it more time than the 2 solid months to end the season. He still generally hasn't been guarded like a franchise player...

But it doesn't matter, as you note... if Gasol or LMA end up there, he'll continue to have the other tier 1 players alongside him to keep him at that Tier 1 level himself.

he's clearly tier 1 defensively.

 

He sells a house every year for the last half decade. Its a way to make a profit for rich ppl or smth and not pay taxes. Dont take it so seriously.

 

I'm not 100% buying into him leaving (70/30 leaving) but it's quite a coincidence to sell your house a month before free agency hits when you could have put it up at any other time.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">From yesterday morning :Submitted to <a href="https://twitter.com/SherrodbCSN">@SherrodbCSN</a> Facebook page yest. Lamarcus Aldridge at Logan Airport <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash">#Celtics</a> <a href="http://t.co/dz2uNx0sAO">pic.twitter.com/dz2uNx0sAO</a></p>&mdash; Danny Jaillet (@DJaillet95) <a href="https://twitter.com/DJaillet95/status/607184825594822657">June 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

Don't think he goes to Boston. Lots of people, radio folk, up here in Portland are suggesting that he wants to be in Texas. Someone on the radio said that its reportedly

1. San Antonio
2. Houston
3. Dallas

 

Also, if Kevin Love leaves Cleveland, that is a possibility.

 

Haha I go through that security line all the time at Logan.

But yea just because he's somewhere doesn't mean he's going there.

 

Ric Bucher. So take it for what it is worth.....

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...the-texas-team-to-lure-lamarcus-aldridge-away

So, for Aldridge, returning to TEXAS has appeal. Spurs are not high on his list and we're unsure his feelings regarding an aging Dallas roster.

If only there was another Texas team that had a need for a PF and was a title contender!

 

Another Portland superstar with ties to Texas left to pursue a title and has a ring to show for it, along with a spot in the Hall of Fame. He found the success he was searching for right here in Houston. Perhaps it will happen again.