Lillard's and Aldridge's relationship. (He will come back Portland one day)

I’d love to have Aldridge back. Presuming we don’t give up too much to get him back, I think you are crazy/biased if you don’t want him back.

The way I see it, it is all contingent upon a few factors.

1. Whitesides fit here, and the probability of his long term commitment to the franchise.
2. Nurks recovery progress and ability to be as productive for us as he was prior to injury.
3. Dame/CJs willingness to have him back
4. Aldridge’s willingness to fill the role he is asked to fill, not the one he may want to fill.

Now if Whiteside does not fit as hoped, or he makes it clear he wishes to depart in FA then I would say a Whiteside for LA swap is well within the realm of possibilities.

Likewise if Nurk comes back and is able to contribute as he has, even if in limited minutes, then I believe regardless of where we are with Whiteside(unless he is playing the best ball of his career) that a Whiteside - LA swap is again in the realm of possibilities.

As for #3 and #4, I don’t think Dame or CJ would have any problem welcoming LA back, so long as #4 is met; which would mean that Aldridge has to be part of the bigger whole, that Dame and CJ don’t have to change ‘what they do’ in order to acclimate Aldridge into the picture.

For #4 I don’t think LA would have a problem if his role here wasn’t exactly the same as before. That he isn’t “the guy” per say, but he’s “the guy” in the sense that he is a key piece for a championship caliber team.


Let’s be honest here... If Nurk is healthy being Nurk, and we add LA as well; then our S5 of Dame-CJ-Hood-Aldridge-Nurkic WOULD be a championship contending team for years. A well balanced S5 in terms of defense and offense, floor spacing and options for where/who to go to in offensive sets.


All in all, I think it makes more sense for Aldridge to return in FA than it is for him to return as part of a trade. But I do think we would be the undisputed #1 on his list if he ever leaves SA. Perhaps at that point we could have him on a ‘favorable’ contract as well.

I do think it is highly probable that we will see LA in a rip city jersey again some day. Book it!

 

You called people who dont want him as "Biased/crazy" then failed to discuss how his skillset would fit within the concept of the team which those who dont want him back are doing at a detailed level. So you can want him back, but it's silly to call us biased or crazy.

I want 4 things in our starting forwards
- Good, consistent 3pt shooting
- Good, versatile defense
- Able to make plays off the dribble
- Are young or still in their prime

Aldridge doesnt check off a single one of those boxes. Meanwhile, Porter and Griffin check off three and Otto Porter Jr. checks off all 4.

Even Kevin Love checks off 2 of those. Obviously contracts and injuries matter too, but it makes 0 sense to give up assets for a 34-year old who doesnt have any of those skills. It makes no sense to sign a 35-year-old to be our starting PF when he doesn't have any of those skills.

That starting lineup is no better than the starting lineup we'll have next season assuming Collins continues improving. Let alone two seasons from now.

 

Your wants are irrelevant to both Stotts and Olshey though. They might be looking as other qualities than what you want. Didn't seem to hamper Denver last year with a PF that is older than Aldridge. I haven't seen anyone say they would like to sign Aldridge to a long term contract either. He has 2 years left on his contract and it can either propel us up and if it doesn't, he's a tradable asset in the off season or before the following season's deadline. He also just came off one of his best seasons as well and can stretch the floor just fine with his outside shooting out to the 3 point line.

 

Thanks captain obvious.

And Millsap can shoot and make plays off the dribble and Jokic can shoot too.

His mid-range shot isnt an efficient one. Less than 1 PPP on those.

 

I’m just gonna put this here...

 

Fantastic!!! Lol

 

Love and Aldridge to Portland confirmed... wait what?!?

 

...rumor has it Lillard just started following Aldridge on Twitter moments ago, FWIW

 

He will definetly come back

 

That's cool, but he also straight up told Lillard he wants to come back.

 

Yes i know, i'm just bored haha

 

Great this threads back, @hoopsjock and I can use it to argue about trades for Iggy some more.

 

As far as teams that could pop up as potential Aldridge suitors, HoopsHype asked various NBA executives for their thoughts on the matter, and one of the first landing spots that was mentioned was a familiar team for the big man: “The Portland Trail Blazers could make sense,” a Western Conference exec told us. “Would Portland give up Hassan Whiteside plus Zach Collinsor a pick?”
https://hoopshype.com/2019/12/01/lamarcus-aldridge-trade-value/

Whiteside and a first sounds about right. I’d do it in a second.

 

Y'know....I uh...y'know..? Pops has LA playing defense and blocking shots last two seasons...I like Melo's game at the 4...I like Zach....tough call. If they wanted to move LA and Patty Mills then I'd be strongly considering it...Patty Mills would help us a lot..

 

Whiteside & Collins for Aldridge & Mills works on the ESPN Trade Machine!

 

Fuck that quitter. We would have been solid contenders the past few years if he didnt try to ride the spurs gravy train.