Roy was never in consideration for number one pick. It was between Gay, LMA, Tyrus Thomas, Bargs, and Adam Morrison (lol). The only ppl who turned out better than Bargnani are Rondo (wasn't a serious contender), Roy (look at him now), LMA (not with Bosh around), and Gay (we effed up).
Wasting the number 1 pick in the draft on Andrea Bargnani is not dodging a bullet, it's taking one right between the eyes. BNM
You got that backwards. It should have been Bargnani (not with Bosh around). LaMarcus Aldridge actually puts up better stats when he plays center than when he plays power forward. He did it his rookie year when he played center next to ZBo at the 4 and he did it when he played center for the bulk of last season with Oden, Camby and Przybilla all injured. A front court of Aldridge at the 5 and Bosh at the 4 would have been MUCH better than any front court you've had in the entire history of your franchise. Bargnani, on the other hand, is absolutely HORRIBLE at the 5. He's the worst rebounding 7-footer since Brad Sellers and the worst rebounding starting center in the entire history of the NBA. He doesn't defend the paint well and his best position, by far is power forward. The Raps couldn't really figure out how to use Bosh and Bargnani together. The best combination was Bargs rookie year when they had him coming off the bench to provide some instant offense. But, who wants to admit they wasted their No. 1 over all pick on a career bench player. When they tried to force him to play starting center next to Bosh at the 4, it was horrible. The Raptors missed the play-offs both seasons and Bosh was gone. Who knows, if you'd have drafted Aldridge, Bosh may not have left. He's the player Bosh wanted you to draft. They are good friends, and the Raptors would have been a much better team. You would have made the play-offs every year, would have been a higher seed and may have even advanced past the first round. Aldridge is so much better than Bargnani, it's not even close. Aldridge's worst PER (17.1 his rookie year) is better than Bargnani's best (16.4 last season). Bargnani's one supposed strength is scoring, but he's an inefficient scorer (0.448 FG% for your starting center = pathetic) on a BAD 22 win team. Aldridge is a much more efficient scorer (0.500 FG%), and he does it as the offensive focal point on a 48 win team that was the 6th seed in the very tough Western Conference. Of course, Aldridge is also a better rebounder and defender than Bargnani (who isn't?). In terms of overall impact, these numbers pretty much tell you all you need to know about Aldridge vs. Bargnani: Andrea Bargnani (2010-11): ORtg = 105 DRtg = 115 Difference = -10 LaMarcus Aldridge (2010-11): ORtg = 114 DRtg = 107 Difference = +7 That's a difference of 17 points per 100 possessions in favor of LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge's contributions at both ends of the court help his team to the tune of +7 points per 100 possessions. Bargnani hurts his team by -10 points per 100 possessions. Is it any wonder the Blazers, with Aldridge as their leader in scoring and field goal attempts won 48 games and the Raptors with Bargnani leading the team in scoring and field goal attempts won only 22? Anyone who STILL thinks Bargnani was a better pick at No. 1 than Aldridge is every bit as delusional as Portland fans who still try to rationalize that Sam Bowie was a better pick than Michael Jordan. BNM
Ed Davis had a very good rookie year (PER = 15.8), I'll give you that. But Aldridge (PER = 17.1 as a rookie, 21.5 last season) was the offensive focal point on a team that won 48 games and was the 6th seed in the Western Conference and he was 3rd team All-NBA. From what I've seen of Davis, he has the potential to be a GREAT role player, but his offensive game (including his poor FT shooting) is FAR too limited to ever be the focal point on a winning team. Aldridge is a much more versatile, better all-around player than Davis. He was his rookie year and has improved greatly. Of course, Davis has a lot of room to improve, but I just don't see his offensive game ever becoming as good, or as varied as Aldridge's. Aldridge has a great combination of inside (lead the league in alley-opp dunks) and outside scoring (sweet 18 - 20 ft. jumper), and he's a good FT shooter. I can see why you are high on Ed Davis' potential, but to say you'd take him long term over a proven All-NBA player and team leader like LaMarcus Aldridge seems a bit overly optimistic to me. BNM
Your stats are moot because I am in no way saying the Bargnani is better than LMA. LMA is head and shoulders above Bargs and is one of the top 4-5 PFs in the League. However, we now have the privilege of hindsight. LMA seemed to play like Bosh, so I'm sure the thinking was "let's get someone different to pair with Bosh." LMA started playing inside last year but prior than that he liked to play on the outside like Bosh. I haven't watched the Blazers much because of your stupid west coast time, but i think this was the case. Obviously now we can say that Raps should have picked LMA but you can also say that about Oden/Durant. Hindsight is 20/20.
Aldridge played almost exclusively center his rookie year. He's always had a good low post game to compliment his sweet face up jumper, but he definitely improved last year. He went from a good low post scorer to a dominant one. Last year was also the first time the Blazers offense was set up to get Aldridge the ball in the low post. Prior to that, they moved Aldridge away from the basket to create lanes for Roy to drive and dish. With Roy injured and a shadow of his former self last season, the Blazers finally started to fully utilize Aldridge's low post game. Bargnani, on the other hand has always been, and will always be, a perimeter oriented big man. His best role is as a stretch 4. That made him a bad fit with Bosh from day 1. And that was my point, that even on draft day, Aldridge was a better fit next to Bosh than Bargnani ever would be. For Bargnani to be most effective, he really needs to be paired with a dominant low post scorer (preferably one who can also rebound and defend the paint). That would free Bargs to float on the perimeter and knock down open shots when the dominant big man draws the double team. Unfortunately, the Raps didn't have that when they drafted Bargs and still don't. BNM
That's some pretty twisted logic. Whether, or not, Rondo is better than Aldridge has NOTHING to do with who is being shopped for Chris Paul. NOH are having a fire sale. They are cash strapped and know they are going to lose CP3 for nothing unless they trade him this season. And, they still turned down the Rondo offer. It's really hard to compare two players that play such different positions and such different roles. Rondo is a great defender, but VERY limited offensively. He has NO range on his jump shot and is a terrible FT shooter. That severely limits his offensive game. Aldridge and CP3 were both 3rd team All-NBA. You won't find Rondo's name on any All-NBA teams, but you will find it on the All-Defensive team. Aldridge is a big man with a very versatile offensive game, slightly above average rebounding and defense. Rondo is a PG who can pass and is one of the best defenders in the league, but very limited offensively. Which is better? Depends on what you need. You have to ask though, if Rondo is so good, why are the Celtics continually shopping him. This is the second off season in a row where Ainge has tried to move him to multiple teams, but hasn't found any takers. Supposedly, he's a bit of a head case with an attitude problem. In his five years with Portland, I haven't heard a single trade rumor involving LaMarcus Aldridge. He's a hard worker, who continues to improve and doesn't cause problems with his coach or teammates. Would I trade Aldridge straight up for Rondo? Not in a league where there is a severe shortage of quality big men. No way, even without Rondo's attitude problems. BNM
Hi, stop pretending you have a clue what you're talking about. You read idiotic rumors on websites like insidehoops, realgm and hoopsworld and believe them all to be true. You believe articles that quote Ainge and Rivers from years ago and try to pass them off as current. Rondo's name may have come up in potential deals for superstar players like Paul and Russell Westbrook, but I'm pretty sure any idiot knows if they actively "shopped" him, he'd be gone.
Wow, a bit defensive are we? Looks like I struck a nerve. The fact remains that Rondo's name continually comes up in trade rumors, or are you denying Boston tried to trade him for CP3? Perhaps he hasn't been traded because the Celtics are overvaluing him and want too much in return. Or, maybe nobody else wants an uncoachable head case that can't shoot or make his FTs. BNM
You must have missed this: And given that Chris Paul has the same degenerative condition in at least one of his knees that forced Brandon Roy into medical retirement at 27, I think I'd prefer to keep Aldridge. Between Roy and Oden, people in Portland are a bit gun shy when it comes to players with a history of knee injuries. BNM
