Suppose you knew that the Blazers were about to sign and trade Whiteside for one of the following PFs - which one would you hope it was? (Standard disclaimer: don't bother posting with "NONE!" or some other guy. If you want that, start your own poll.) KEVIN LOVE BLAKE GRIFFIN LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE
Also he's the most durable. Tempted by Griffin's excellent passing, but he breaks down ALL THE TIME. Aldridge might be the least-bad defender, too. I'm sure lots of fans would not want to see him back, though.
Just on injuries alone, you’d have to go with LA. Blake is always hurt and his knees aren’t what they used to be. Without his athleticism, he slides into meh pretty quickly. Love also is injured way too much to be worth the risk. Plus, I don’t think you can have a poor defense backcourt and PF and expect to win. The thing with LA is that he’s going to be a UFA after next season and he’s likely to command no more than MLE money. Wouldn’t it be smarter to keep Whiteside for next season and try for LA the next year?
I guess I'd go Aldridge mainly because of his contract. But hes much more a C now. I'd turn him into our 6th man to add scoring to the bench.
exactly because of age and the evolution of the small ball era, LA has spent 94%, and 95% of his court time filling the role of center the past 2 seasons according to basketball referance.
Aldridge. Least bad defense, least bad contract, most likely to stay on the court, beautiful redemption arc in his narrative. The prodigal son returns home and helps the home team win the championship.
Aldridge just by contract alone. Those other guys aren’t going to age well and those numbers are scary.
I'll be the first to say anything other than LA. I think Blake's skill-set meshes better with the current squad, and I actually like the idea of getting someone for two years rather than again having someone on an expiring deal. When healthy, I think Blake is the best of the three, so while his health is certainly tenuous at best, I'd rather gamble on him.
Love and Griffin both too injury prone and Love both have too much time left on contract, agree with mos that LMA could make the most sense but a lot depends on what happens with the salary cap and lux tax levels
Blake. Love won't contribute that much. Aldridge burned his bridges with me, wasted several years of Prime Lillard where we could have been contending. There is no redemption there. He has shown to have no loyalty, he sulks and withdrew from the team in the playoffs, taking his own flight home.
Nurk isn't the scorer Aldridge is, but I'd rather have Nurk starting over Aldridge at the 5. I have doubts that they could play together at the 4/5. Not really interested in another 5. Rather have Collins. You know I brought this up last year when something similar to this thread pop'd up. I was yelled at by multiple posters claiming Aldridge was a 4 still because Poeltl was starting at Center. With Pau the year before. Nevermind the fact that Aldridge would slide to the 5 and Gay would play the 4. Good to see the forum has changed and doesn't just yell get off my lawn anymore.
Didn't really think my stance was anti-LA so much as pro-Blake. Blake can handle the ball and be a tertiary playmaker in ways that Aldridge simply can't. I imagine the offense with Dame/Blake/Nurk to be much more dynamic than an Aldridge-inclusive version.
I'll give KLove some love. He's the best passer of the three and especially outlet passer. I also think he's the better O rebounder of the 3. And, he's as good a shooter as the other two. He's a Champion too. His health is a determent for sure. LA ids 34 the others are 31
