LA gone before or on draft day

Disagree.

 

Okay, but why wouldn't Aldridge stay if we get a "Brian Grant" type player? All we need to do is make it past the first round. We actually have the talent to do that, we just need to get there.

And remember, we were contenders before Pippen and Smith came to town. They were brought in to get us over the hump.

 

No way to really know that. Guys like Buck Williams and Grant liked the NW and it worked out well. You just have to find the right player who wants to come to Portland. I'm not sure who that would be in today's NBA. I would vote for the pick at this point, just because I can't finger a FA that would fit that description.

The reality is that Portland is more likely to get a second tier max player. The top players go to the big endorsement markets, leaving the guys who got barely maxed to go to the smaller markets.

 

And let's not forget the fact that we'd have, I believe, somewhere in excess of $16M in cap space now. So, if letting him walk for "nothing"/$16M is good, then isn't trading him for multiple draft picks, players, AND $16M+ in cap space even better?

 

True, and the only reason pippen wanted to come was because we could contend.

I'd rather us keep lma, and if we can get someone that makes him happy, I'll be happy.

If we cannot, trading him for a star would work.

If we can't trade him for a star, picks and cheap assets are fine.

If we let him walk for nothing it will be so stupid

 

I 100% agree with everything you said in this post.

 

We obviously need bench help, but I think Blazers are focused on getting a solution at center by the end of next season. Having one or two bigs that assure LMA he won't play center, and then finding a bench may be enough. That plus Lillard and Batum developing may do it.

 

I hope so because Aldridge is my favorite player on the team.

 

You and me both. Lillard is a very close second.

 

I didn't say the situations were similar. I said the argument was similar. Lots of emotion and denial. How did you even get that?

 

This place is starting to look like a Keystone Cops movie...