Exclusive The official Lamarcus Aldridge free agency thread

I understand (as much as one can in my shoes v. his). But let's not be so dramatic. I mean, for fucks sake, he's getting life-changing dollars either way, he can make way more by staying with PDX, etc. He's a grown-ass man being paid top dollar to play basketball. He knew free agency was coming. It ain't no surprise. He said he was staying, though it appears he may not. It's not like where he plays will hinder his living situation that much (he does have a place in LA alread). In today's world, you can live wherever in spite of where you work assuming you make the money. I have a hard time having pity for dudes that put the "lifestyle" thing out there.

I don't really care to get worked up about it, but for those that do, I don't blame 'em.

 

So one meeting is enough to decide one's future? Everything is fluid? Pick up and go. Stay with PDX. Done and done?

 

That leverage is why if I were Olshey, I wouldn't deal him to accomodate him. Make him take that $27 million dollar hit. Oh no, we lose out on suck-ass phoenix prospects, big fucking deal.

 

This is the pic of LMA on nba.com's homepage:

Dunno if this is the most flattering pic they could've found of him.

 

Perfect picture to photoshop a joint into.

 

For LA's reasons... After everything he said.... I'm surprised he's doing the tour. I mean, you're playing basketball for a living. You know what the teams have to offer. It's a job. When I've switched jobs, I knew what I was looking for long before the interview. I did my homework. And I usually didn't have any advance warning I'd be look elsewhere.

 

yeah, this whole dog and pony show is starting to wear thin, not liking it at all

 

http://deadspin.com/the-lakers-really-boned-themselves-out-of-lamarcus-aldr-1715251663My favorite breakdown of the Lakers meeting with Lamarcus

 

Like Brainiac said earlier, if he comes back, everyone will be excited, but the love will be lost. I couldn't say it much better.

 

So basically it'll be like it was for most of his career?

 

It's not something most people can relate to I think. He's the one doing the interviewing. It'd be like if all the top tech companies wanted to hire you (Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, etc.). You could interview them all and see which one really is the best fit for you. Most of the time the company is doing the interviews to weed out employees, LA can interview employers and weed out the shitty ones.

LA isn't the one making the media report all these rumors and most likely he doesn't want to make it as big of a deal as it is.

 

I love seeing Lamarcus reject teams after taking their giftbags home. It's a rare opportunity for Lamarcus to say "nah nah nanah nah" To Kobe..thanks for the cool stuff but you're an asshole and your boss knows nothing about basketball, the coach is terrible..Kaman warned me about this so I thought I'd see for myself." I owe Kaman 50 bucks now

 

Like I said, I don't really care, but for the fans that pay his salary, I get the emotion. The emotion is tied to why they support and pay to see the game, buy his jersey, etc.

 

I think somebody took down the article since I linked it..that sucks

 

It won't be "love lost" in any incredibly perceptible way, but in the alternate universe, where lma is acting like Marc Gasol and not going on any visits...there is more love in that universe.

 

At this rate I feel like LA is looking for a special on ESPN. It's getting ridiculous. I would love to see Lamarcus and Monroe down low. It would make us threats again with that front court alone. It's only been 24 hours since free agency but feels longer because we have been hearing the same rumors about LA for a few months now. Honestly at this point I have accepted hes gone so in that case he signs to the Spurs, I wont be upset but if he really wanted this to work with Portland, if he really meant what he said a year ago, this wouldn't be going on. I mean, the Suns? really?!? Dudes being a diva at this point. Why even give the Knicks or Toronto a meeting? or even Dallas after the fact they have already lost a few of their players? by the 9 years in Portland and how quiet he always is, I wouldn't of imagined this Lebron type scenario of meeting with countless teams and then to setup secondary meetings. Who knows where his head is at but to seriously consider the Suns after San antonios presentation tells me this isn't about winning at all. Give it up already, either sign to the Spurs or come back. Only logical places. He might of embarrassed the Lakers and we love that right? well look what he is doing to us, dude is embarrassing the franchise with this diva attitude.

 

Ftfy

 

Exactly. I don't think Memphis is any closer than we were, but he loves and appreciates what he has so much that he didn't explore the alternatives.

 

When all those rumors came out, Neil said Aldridge said to tell people none of it is true. I think he's staying with us.