Sounds like a good plan to me. Take one of our guys who actually knows how to play at an NBA level, trade him for a bunch of guys who don't and a shot at another lottery pick in a weak draft. This is the exact model that kept the LA Clippers the losing team they always were until Olshey finally convinced Sterling not to keep having wet dreams over college prospects.
I'm just reading the trade suggestions above, and it seems that most involve trading him for a bunch of young prospects who still have a lot to learn about playing in the NBA.
The only trade that I think Portland should ever consider regarding Aldridge would be with Indiana for Paul George and Roy Hibbert. Portland trades: Aldridge, Smith and Jeffries Portland receives: Hibbert and Paul George New starting 5: Lillard, Batum, George, Hickson, Hibbert 6th man: Matthews Notable bench: Leonard, Babbitt, Freeland Washed up bench: Rice, Claver and Pavlovic
If we could go back in time to around 2002 and trade Sheed for picks and a young big, would you do it? Personally, I probably would (and I was a huge Sheed fan). Add in that Hickson is a very serviceable starting PF (but a lousy starting center) who will walk away for nothing, and yeah, I can see a good argument for parlaying Aldridge. Hickson's stats aren't as good as his actual play, but you have to remember he's only 24 and has been playing out of position at center for the majority of his NBA career. He's a high percentage scorer and a fantastic rebounder. He just needs to play at his natural position. And he needs to work at developing some offensive moves. I'm not desperate to unload LMA, but Hickson's weird contract situation and his ability to give you a lot of Aldridge's productivity at PF make it a viable option. Has to involve a good center and a very nice pick coming back, though.
Obviously, you'd have to be a moron not to blow up your young playoff team to acquire a guy who has been soft in the playoffs.
After they finished laughing, they MIGHT counter with Granger and Hibbert for Aldridge, but only because Granger and George play the same position and because Granger is coming off an injury. I'm still not convinced that Indiana wants to move Hibbert in the first place.
We did trade Wallace when we had a serviceable PF (Zach) for draft picks and youth. How did that work out for us?
There is no way this rumor is legit. We are overachieving at the moment no underachieving and everything Olshley pointing away from something like this. It makes to much sense to play the season out like it is and then bolster the part of the team that sucks which is also the part of the team we will have the ability to bolster (our bench). I could see us trading with the Wizards something like this Portland trades - LA/Wes Wiz trade - Okafer/Beal/Seraphin 2013 unprotected first (with Wes/LA they have a shot at the playoffs so they probably wont care to protect it) 2015 top 10 protected first. I'm not a fan of trading away proven good talent for unproven talent but I couldn't be pissed with this trade.
Draft picks and youth? We traded him for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff...... What are you talking about?
Another trade idea that nobody mentioned. Although I don't really want Aldridge to leave but if it's better for the team then do it. I would love to get Terrence Ross here http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ay597wb
Shareef (28) was younger, and so was Dickau (23). Theo Ratliff was used to give us a center, who was an allstar, since we cashed in on having Zach be our starting PF. The same could be applied for Aldridge; but he (28) is much younger than Sheed (30) was when he was traded.
We would then have to overpay for Hickson to keep him this summer (probably starting around 9 mill a year). Just seems like a bad idea.
Mags you're flying over the cookoo's nest today buddy. Firstly, you said "youth and draft picks"..... A 28 year old Abdur-Rahim, a 33 year old Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau does not equal "youth and draft picks". Not now, not ever. Secondly, 28 years old is not "much younger" than 30 years old.
