Should have traded Aldridge for harden

I did

 

True. But in my mind it doesn't make any difference. It really comes down to a philosophical difference of strategies. I just don't think you trade your all star for basically "potential" because you are afraid you will lose him for nothing as a FA in few years. Not saying that either strategy is fool proof. They are both risky, but I think trading your best player in their prime is way more riskier.

Here is to healthy LMA!

 

You lie!

 

Nope, look back two years and look at my thread start on how I believed Aldridge could average 20/10. I was laughed all throughout that thread.

 

No Mags. No.

This is not just "averaging 20 and 10." He is playing at a superstar level. He is so far beyond 20 and 10 right now.

 

Oh you mean MVP level? Yeah I never thought that

 

Here's a good question.

This years Aldridge....

Or 08/09 Roy?

 

I never thought he had this in him. It's still early, and it's tough to sustain this kind of play over the course of a season, BUT he is definitely playing the best ball of his career.

 

I take this year's Aldridge because what Aldridge does makes things easier for his team mates. Not discounting Roy because I loved him too. Just this year's Aldridge is spectacular

 

Here's the thing. The last 5 years, Aldridge always started out slow and usually did great mid season on. This season, he came out great right out the gate. Could you imagine if he actually hit his norm of being better mid season?

 

It's tough because we're only about 1/4 of the season, BUT Roy could be game planned for. How do you stop this version of Aldridge? He has some moves that are virtually unguardable AND he's getting the benefit of the doubt from the refs now. Historically bigs win championships, and Aldridge might just be the best big in basketball right now.

 

Could you imagine if Houston had harden, Howard and Aldridge?

 

To be fair to Roy, a lot of that was because of Nate's offense. We've never really seen Roy outside of Nate's offense, and we'll likely never know how he would have looked in a motion offense like the one we have now. Still, Roy put up some amazing performances at his peak. I will point out that he still put in 27/5/3 on an 26 PER in the playoffs against the Rockets team who basically stifled Nate's pedestrian offense. Aldridge may be unguardable, but Roy was nearly unstoppable in his (short) prime.

It's tough. If we win a few playoff series this year with LMA playing the way he is, I gotta give it to LMA though.

 

Remember when some of you guys were fine with trading Aldridge for Lee, Barnes and Klay? Or how about the Monroe, stucky and first rounder?

It's good that we were patient with Aldridge and I love seeing him happy. Keep it up Blazers!

 

Question #2

If the Blazers caught lighting in a bottle like the way Dallas did when they won a ring and actually won it all, would Aldridge be considered one of the best Blazers ever?

 

Yes.

Question #3

How many numbers would be retired if this team won a championship?

 

#0....#12.....#88....#2....#42.....

Hell why stop there, might as well retire them all!

 

That's a really good question... Definitely Aldridge, maybe batum and Lillard? Shit Matthews earns mention too.

 

This franchise loves to retire numbers.