First Sheed, then ZBo, now Aldridge...

And we did the same with Zach....

 

I not an Aldridge hater but do you know what it takes to be a HOFer?

 

We traded Zach because he was a knucklehead. Just like the Knicks traded him for that reason, and the Clippers. Whether it was because Roy asked for him to be traded, or because they didn't want him around Oden...... It certainly wasn't because of age or talent.

Also, how could you compare that situation to this one?

We had the ROY.

We had a promising big behind him.

We had also just won the #1 overall pick and thought we were drafting a franchise center. The future was bright on that team. We had depth, we were young (I think we were the youngest overall team in the league at that time), and we had a go-to-guy in Roy.

How is that comparable to the team now? We have a possible ROY in Lillard, and we have a very inconsistent Batum.... what else does this team have? Wes? Leonard? Hickson? All three of those guys are nice pieces, but we need another difference maker. Of all the players on the roster, Aldridge has the most value. He's an All-Star, he is still young, and he's on an affordable contract. I'm not saying I don't like him, or think he's a good player. I think we need to move him because he would help our rebuilding.

What can we realistically add this summer if we keep him? A mid-level lotto pick and maybe a couple of bench players? Hickson will most likely be gone unless we throw some money at him. I don't see Milsap or Jefferson coming here to back him up. I'm just curious what you guys think we will do that will take us to the next level....

Is our starting five, with the addition of some bench guys, a contender? Are they a contender in two years? Three?

 

Hopefully Batum will step up and start to contribute so he won't have to. Regarding the dirk role, LMA's jumpshot heavy shot chart can directly be related to him being out of shape and lazy.

Kinda like Sheed, he was so good in the post, but would always get lazy and settle for jumpers.

 

I would say it is more that he doesn't care to bang in the post.

Stotts isn't helping with the way he is using him in the offense though. He is encouraging those jumpers. Nate (even with all his faults or flees) got LMA to play inside last year even though LMA didn't like it.

Very little to recovering from injury imo. This is just the true mentality of LMA.

 

It's not far from being an All-Star right?

You never know, Aldridge is durable and consistent enough to stack up a lot of numbers over a career.

 

Agree to disagree. Of course Stotts is encouraging him, it's a lot easier on Aldridge's body to take Jumpers. Throw away season right?

 

Haha, yes far from just being an All-Star.

And while Aldridge hasn't missed too many games he has had a lot of "issues" or scares that could potentially come back and not just end a season but a career.

 

Yes throw away season as a team but not for LMA personally. You know he wants to make the All-Star game and points won't just do that. Even though he is scoring almost as much as last year he is doing it very inefficiently and rebounding less. Last years Aldridge was great for the team. This years Aldridge isn't doing anything to expand his game.

 

This is not a HOFer type of attitude.

 

It is not even necessarily true (jumpers easier on the body) And if it is true you shouldn't be out there.

 

Exactly why having the offseason to practice is so important. In the NBA you gotta constantly be innovating and thats what the off seasons for. LMA didn't have that luxury this summer.

As for the All-Star game, something tells me he'd almost rather have the weekend off.

 

GTFO, this is the NBA, the game of giants. So hard on a big mans body.

Takes a heck of a lot less energy than bangin in the post. Look at Greg Pop, he knows what's up about taking care of your players.

 

LA doesn't bang all that much. Definitely not this season. And he's barely an all-star. HOFers do more than make one all-star appearance.

 

That is exactly how you handle it if he needs to expend "less energy". You give him a day off. You don't have him go out there and just shoot jumpers because it "might" be easier on his body. That is not Pop or SA at all.

 

Well if By Almost All-star you mean guaranteed to get in than your right. Aldridge will have a good long career and plenty of time to acquire accolades.

 

I think the possibility is there, with a few things bouncing our way.

 

Aldridge will coast to a long career. I can agree with that.

 

I am not sure what you mean by guaranteed? Because nothing is in this league especially not the way he is playing this season. So please explain.

 

Those better be some great bench players. We are looking like a long way away at this point.