Yes it will. WITH Aldridge we are battling for the 8th spot. How in the hell do you figure if we ship out Aldridge for future value (projects/picks) the team will win about the same number of games. Also, I am trying to trade Batum and Matthews as part of the tank. Lillard doesn't play defense yet. One or both of our quality wings is gone. T-Rob would win Most Improved Player award if your fantasy happened. So, that's not happening. We are not winning a lot of games with that roster. Lillard/Wes/??/T-Rob/Lopez. Anywho, it doesn't matter. Because I don't think Paul Allen wants to do it. He wants to try to win. Problem is, most likely outcome of all of this, is that we will see LaMarcus depart in one or two years and not get very much or anything in return, and the team will have to START a rebuild at that time. There are no good or easy solutions. I will just hate to see it play out on a path that looks pretty obvious right now.
Didn't say we would win the same amount of games as if we had Aldridge. This year, we'd be a playoff team with Aldridge. Without, we'd probably be around a +5 win team from last season.
We don't see it the same way. LaMarcus is a cornerstone of the offense, and a solid team defender. Take him out and put in a young player or a mediocre veteran and that is a big hit to both sides of the court. As well, our health was above average last season. If we suffer even an average number of injuries and they happen to key guys, that will impact the win number. With LaMarcus, I don't consider this team a lock for the playoffs. A lot of things are going to have to go right. Without LaMarcus, I don't think the team has any shot at making the playoffs. And you think without LaMarcus we will still be in the hunt. We don't agree this, which has a big impact on our opinion about what to do with the team now. Bottom line, I don't think this team can be a contender for the Western Conference Finals unless we either obtain a player that is BETTER than Lillard and LaMarcus or we add two more players on their level. I don't see how that can be done moving forward. And, if the team doesn't get in front of this with long-range planning we won't even have the Lillard/LaMarcus duo.
Blow up a young team because the PF may not re-sign in two years. Such a small-market mentality. Why not just move the franchise to Seattle, since it's a bigger city and more diverse place to live?
Jack up his value? Do you really think he can up his value more than what it already is? LA is what he is. You know what you are going to get out of him. Hint: He's worth a lot more than many in here want to take back.
the impression I've gathered from his public comments is that losing last season was tough and that he wants to be part of a contending team. Him wanting to stay on is probably tied to the team taking a couple steps forward. He's obviously a great talent. If he generally likes his situation in Portland and he's got the sort of character that can be built around, then you resign the healthy All Star entering his prime. Failing either of those things you explore various trade options while keeping in mind the state of the roster overall and what sort of Free Agents would be available with cleared capspace. Sign and trade possibilities would allow many other teams to compete over his services too. But bottom line I'm sure management has a good idea about LA's state of mind and character, and that will probably direct their decision making/actions I'll note that it's generally a good thing to have a stud player coming up on their contract year. Barring injury, it's unlikely his trade value goes anywhere but up STOMP
This is like when they used to say "barring completely unforeseen circumstances..." in Arrested Development.
I think LaMarcus actually could increase his trade value if he got back to playing more in the low post. One of the reasons LA didn't post up more last season was because he was coming off of hip surgery. LA tweeted that he has been working on his post game this off season. So I'm hopeful that LaMonster will resurface. I don't want to see him traded, but the boatload off assets the Blazers would receive for LaMonster might not be so bad in the long run.
The Houston rumor wasn't bad. We get a quality player, decent pg back up, a prospect and multiple picks. That's exactly what you'd want if Aldridge was traded. Only other possibility would be getting the exact level of player with a longer contract.
Got any proof of this? Because my impression is that it rarely ever works out that way. The player wanting to leave, can always just leave to a team with cap room. Even if just a threat, that threat is real. All-Stars sign with other teams for cap space often enough for the threat to have teeth. If the player wants to go to a contending team, the key problem is this, the team with the nice roster that wants to add a player like LaMarcus, can't send out equal value. If they did - they wouldn't be achieving anything. Their idea is to improve their roster and fight for a championship. So, list me multiple examples where players of LaMarcus caliber (don't use a superstar as an example) who demanded to be traded to a better situation - and were NOT traded, then turned around and agreed to a sign-and-trade where their old team received excellent value.
I don't like the Houston deal. No 2014 lottery picks. Asik is not a young prospect to develop nor is he a cornerstone type player. Lin is not that good and more important, is on a long and expensive contract. Tell what is good about any of this?
deal of Asik, Lin, either Terrance Jones or Donatus Motiejunus and a bunch of picks for Aldridge nearly went down... The prospects are donatus or jones.
This is the TYPE of trade that needs to happen between these three teams.... http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mw52doe NO IF, AND, BUTS ABOUT IT
Chicago gets really hosed. Freeland, Asik and Lin for Boozer and Noah? LMAO!!!!!! I bet you expect us to get picks from Chicago and Houston as well?
This is a better 3 way between Chicago/Houston/Portland. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=kz34v8s Portland trades: LMA Portland receives: Noah, Gibson, on of Houston's first rounders and charlotte's pick Chicago trades: Boozer, Noah, Gibson and Charlotte's pick Chicago receives: Aldridge and Asik Houston trades: Asik and one of their first rounders Houston receives: Boozer The reason houston does it is he has a decent mid range game, average rebounder and is a vet needed to get far in the playoffs. They won't be as concerned with the contract, because they are in the "win now" mode. The reason chicago does it is mainly getting Aldridge, a very capable center that Thibs like anyway and a huge cut in their salary. The reason Portland does it is for the picks, a damn good center and an above average PF. T. Rob and Gibs can easily give you the minutes you need at PF. Noah + Lopez is a pretty deadly center rotation. And we get to reload in the draft.
No I don't want picks. I want a team that will win now. How about this...... http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=kyfno2r Is this better? We are doing the Bulls a favor of taking Boozer off there hands also.
