Aldridge did request a trade

http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/7/1...rcus-aldridge-told-a-reporter-that-he-went-to


So much better to end this now, rather than later.

He will absolutely not re-sign here

 

Couple issues that I find interesting.

1) He chose to confide in a reporter? That's silly.
2) Apparently that reporter doesn't care much about revealing such things.
3) He revealed this desire in April, but the reporter waited until late June to reveal this.

 

I'm just curious, but what exactly do you people want? Do you want him to publicly come out and say, "I want out!"

You realize that hurts our team, right? That hurts his value? He's doing us a favor, but you guys are just refusing to accept the reality that he wants to leave Portland.

1. The Blazers are shopping him. Do you think they'd be shopping him if he had told Neil that he loves Portland and wants to stay?

2. There have been reports that Aldridge has cut all ties in Portland. That seems like a huge red flag to me.

3. There have been reports that Aldridge is unhappy here, from a few different sources.

Where is this all coming from if it's not true?

 

Anyways, looking past the mysterious nature of how and why this news got out, I'm looking at ATL right now. If they're willing to move Smoove in a S&T, is there anyway we can get in on a three way and land both Smith and Asik for LA+ pieces?

For eg:
- LA to HOU
- Leonard + cash + HOU pick to ATL
- Asik and Smith to POR


We'd be top 4 in the west with that starting five, and we'd be able to stick Smith in a position he likes at PF.

 

Or it is all coming from one source. Who knows what the context of his comment was to that reporter. Maybe the reporter made it up. Maybe LMA was frustrated then and still is. Maybe he was frustrated then and is not now. One thing I am sure about is we will have at least 10 more threads about this topic before the start of the season.

 

The problem I see with that are twofold:

1) We make Houston the best team in the West. Easily. Harden/Aldridge/Howard would be crazy good, and young. I don't see how anyone beats that team in a seven game series.

2) If we're going to move Aldridge, I'm not sure if Smith/Asik is the best way to go. It might be better to go for young talent and draft picks. If Aldridge is gone, I'm not sure if Lillard/Matthews/Batum/Smith/Asik is really that much better than what we has last year (if at all).

 

It can't be one source. The trade rumors have come from guys like Bucher, Haynes, Amik, etc.

The trade demand thing has come from Blazers Edge.

The unhappy Aldridge rumors have come from Quick, but I think there was another source on that one too.

There's no way this is all coming from one source. Maybe one report is, but the rumors and the various stories are coming from other sources.

 

I am sure teams inquired about LMA, so i am sure the trade rumors are true. Neil probably did his job by exploring every option as well.

The unhappy LMA rumors could very well be from the one source that everyone locally jumped on. Either way it could be old news. How many times did Kobe demand a trade and then backed off.

If they find a great deal for him then sure take it. But I guarantee that the media will drive him out of town before anything else. He hates talking to them and he will hate having to answer the same questions over and over in September.

 

If Aldridge truly wants out; I don't want to bring in smith or even asik. There is no point. I would rather get significant cap relief from a team like Cleveland. That Thompson, next years first rounder and maybe another first rounder in 06 would be a better fit.

Whatever the case; we need to trade for first rounders and cap space. Then we will have a fun run and gun team to watch for one season that will probably lose a lot of games and have a good shot at winning the lotto. We would have max cap space for the deep free agent class next season, first rounders in a deep draft and cj would get significant burn.

 

If he hates talking to the media, he's in the wrong damn business. I hate when people choose a career that brings fame and then complain about dealing with the media. It's part of the package.

 

I agree, so glad this will be the last thread on this topic. Has got to be a record for the number of threads started on the very same ounce of "news."

 

There are always the options of ignoring and just not opening the thread.

 

I think it will be far better actually. Great D and really versatile.

50mil/4yrs?

 

No wonder Olshey kept repeating during draft time that its important to get people that want to be in Portland.

 

I don't want to move him to Houston. Like was mentioned, he fits too well there with Dwight and Harden. Not interested.
I also imagine Neil is looking for younger pieces, but not rookie-young. More like young vets, where the turnaround time at competing is 2 years instead of 4 or 5. I dunno who that is. Will take some time later at looking. BE broke down team by team. Weren't a ton of good matches really.

 

A Chicago deal would be nice even without Noah

 

Definitely do not want to trade Aldridge for Asik. And not because we would be gifting them a championship piece (again). As Brian outlined, I don't want to take back Asik unless Aldridge is still on the team. (Actually, the only deal I'd be happy with is a S&T Hickson for Asik.) If we trade LaMarcus, I want only young lottery picks, future first rounders, and short-term refuse to make it work.

 

If we were to make a deal for Smith/Asik, there would have to be other deals to follow.

Smith is only 27 and Asik is 26. They're not exactly old. But we would have to try to get some more talent. Tony Allen maybe? I wonder if Kaman would come in as a backup.

Lillard/CJ
Matthews/Allen
Batum/Claver
Smith/Robinson
Asik/Kaman

I think that team makes the playoffs. Not sure how deep it could go.