Aldridge is the man, he knows the timeline and is the antithesis of the modern day star. In Oshley I trust. Arm chair GM's GTFO.
You won't pay him. He's going elsewhere. He's a FA for all intents and purposes. Just as blue9 said, you'd be signing him as a FA. If he were signed already and had years to run on his contract, he'd be your asset. I guess he's an asset in the sense you might sign and trade him rather than let him walk for nothing.
Ok, then we won't pay him. But we have the option right now to offer him whatever we want to. All the cap space in the world or no space at all doesn't change that ability to offer him a deal. I don't really want to, and don't think we will. I don't think trading away Aldridge would change that at all.
So we've had at least two down years, and then if the team adds a couple of pieces this summer, there's a chance we'll be mediocre and then the year after THAT we'll be really good? Wow. Yeah, it's crazy for fans to want to have significant changes with that kind of timeline and track record in place! Ed O.
They all were borderline all-stars that didn't win anything of significance until they turned 30. Then they started winning rings. C'mon, man. Try to keep up! Ed O.
Oh man, and here this whole time I thought Duncan and Parker both won in their 2nd year, and Ginobili in his 1st?
We started a retooling process last season. So we've finished year one of that plan. Our "new plan" started when we dumped Wallace and Camby. Why do people try to fit where we are in our path right now to basically before we added Gerald Wallace? Have you not already seen changes to the roster in the attempts to move away from that older core? We were the third younges team in the league last season. We were the 9th oldest the previous season. Maybe fans complaining about the timeline and track record and calling for significant changes should recognize the significant changes that have happened.
He's played well into his 30's as well Aldridge will continue to be really good for 5-6 more years. Relatively healthy, game will age nicely, works hard. A lot to like
Thompson certainly isn't on Aldridge's level, but he is only 22 and has shown nice improvement....I don't think it is inconcievable that he could end up at his peak as a 18 & 10 type guy...plus getting the #1 this year (McLemore\Oladipo)...maybe they could even parlay that pick, drop down a few spots for some additional assets to a team that wants Noel and still get thier guy... They would have thier own #10...Plus get a 2014 pick from CLE (either thier own or SAC if it isn't top 12)...Maybe parlay a few 2nd round picks and the rights to Papnikalou to DAL (whom they apparently like) for the #13... They could even try and offload Freeland's contract onto CLE as part of the deal to free up a little more capspace.... End up with assets of Thompson, #1, #10, #13 (maybe) + 2014 mid-1st ? The problem is LA wants to be on a contending team 2 years from now, not just a 1st round and out team, and I am not convinced that POR will be that type of team in 2 years time, and if they aren't I don't think it is a reach to think that LA might look to move on elsewhere....I don't think mgmt will deal him though...
Where's he going to walk to in 2 years that is already a contender, and would have the space to sign him?
I'm not as surprised that many are acceptable to the idea of trading Aldrdige (even for young unproven players). But I don't think that is an indication it will happen this summer. If one is to believe Olshey, PA has said he does not want to rebuild and is expecting the team to have a win now mentality. Olshey may be twisting things up or PA can always change his approach . . . but I think it would be unlikely to see Aldridge traded with the team becoming worse in the short term to be better in the long term.
The Blazers can give Aldridge more money and already have a young developing core that Neil will continue to add pieces to. This is going to be a really good team in 2 years. Aldridge won't find a better situation.
I think the Lakers thought Hey, we can get Dwight Howard for Bynum. Sweet. I dunno how my question about Aldridge relates to their thinking on Dwight.
It means, if a team is smart they shouldn't go into an offseason with thier FA player thinking that there isn't another team out there who has\could clear cap space to lure thier player away, especially when that player has stated a desire to win in the playoffs....
