LaMarcus Aldridge has averaged 25/10 for the last 29 games. To put this in perspective, I searched for all players in the last 25 years who averaged 25/10 or better for the whole season. Eight players did it for a combined 36 seasons. The names are among the all-time great big men: Shaq 10 times Karl Malone 9 times Barkley 5 times Hakeem 4 times David Robinson 4 times Ewing 2 times Duncan 1 time Webber 1 time All but Duncan and Webber are on the NBA’s top 50 of all time list, published in 1996 on the NBA’s 50th birthday. Certainly Duncan would make the list today. So you can conclude that during LaMarcus’s streak, he has been playing at an all-time top 50 level! Keep it up, LA! It’s a pleasure to watch you! http://bkref.com/tiny/T9m76
The above was from a post on Blazersedge and is in reference to LaMarcus' 36+ point games. He needs one more game to be part of the elite. Also remember, Aldridge had 25/10 for 5 straight games this season. The last person to do that was Shaq in 03-04. And a year or two before that was Tim Duncan who had 27/10 for 5 straight games.
30.54 points and 11.97 rebounds... I think that's probably a little out of his reach, which is too bad.
I never thought I'd say this at the start of this season, but I don't think that there's a power forward in the league that I'd trade LaMarcus for right now.
Not even Kevin Love? I'd probably think hard about Blake Griffin or Pau Gasol. No one else, I don't think.
I too would have to look hard at Griffin, but I wouldn't consider Pau. He's too old to take over LA, imo. Go Blazers
I'd want Griffin, but not for LMA in the system we have now; Blake has amazing athleticism, but isn't as offensively polished. In the current offense, he'd be only half as good as he is right now. If it were an explosion/rebuild, I might go for it, though it'd be painful.
He's only 30. But yeah...ultimately, the 5 extra years that Aldridge has in the tank is probably much too valuable.
I don't think I'd trade Aldridge for any PF in the league. The level he's playing at right now is about as good as it gets. It'd take a prime KG or Duncan for me to do it at this point. As far as right now off the top of my head Griffin is really the only one that comes close but I'm a little worried about his long term health and the fact that he's a tad undersized. Longer players(like Aldridge) can bother him on both ends of the floor. Aldridge is playing at a ridiculously high level right now and I'm not sure that it's a fluke. I think he's just that good now. edit - Amare is right there as well. He's older though at 28 and had MF surgery. I'd rather bank on Aldridge's health which has just been amazing. Being able to stay healthy is pretty valuable.
It's hard for me to think of players at any position I'd trade LaMarcus Aldridge for, at this point, should Aldridge keep playing the way he is right now. Kevin Durant. Otherwise? The top players in the league are either a little older than Aldridge (and therefore not as good a long-term investment), or not as versatile and dominant.
You wouldn't trade him for Griffin? Griffin is arguably better than Aldridge right now and about 4 years younger too.
I put in my reasons why I probably wouldn't. I'm concerned about Griffin's long term health. He's already missed an entire season. And if he is better than Aldridge it's not by much. The level Aldridge is playing at right now is about as good as it gets. Griffin's main strengths are strengths of Aldridge's as well but Aldridge has the advantage when it comes to size and length. Aldridge is still only 25 and not even in his prime years yet. I think in the end it would be a lateral move. Aldridge is playing at that high of level right now. The only real argument is age but seeing how Aldridge is only 25 I don't see it as that big of deal. Then when you add in the health factor I'd rather go with Aldridge then gamble on a guy that's already missed an entire season to injury.
it isn't the points total that's impressing me, because if you think about it, one could argue he's basically doing what Monta Ellis did last year that we all pooh-poohed (and rightly, imo)...play 42-45mpg and you'll score a bunch more than you're used to. After all, he's "only" averaging one bucket more per 36 than his last 3 years. It's his TS% that's making me happy. Even on days where his shot isn't falling (and he's still somewhat erratic, last three beautiful games notwithstanding), he's doing things that get him to the line. In 14 of the 26 games this season (until 15 DEC, when Roy went down) his TS% was below 50% (and only once over 70%). In the 28 since, he's had 6 under 50% and 5 over 70%. Amazingly enough we're 5-0 in the 70% games, and 1-5 in the <50% games. Whoever got him into the paint and getting FTs (whether Nate, one of the assistants, Hat Guy, whoever) deserves a ton of credit. It's literally keeping us above .500.
