Aldridge: I haven't given Neil a chance yet

[illmatic99]

@SpearsNBAYahoo

Blazers @aldridge_12 tells Yahoo Sports he was extremely frustrated with last season but not to the point where he asked for a trade.

"I wasnt ready to make a move yet. I was just frustrated in the moment. I haven't given Neil (Olshey) a chance yet," @aldridge_12 told Yahoo

 

[KingSpeed]

Obviously he was upset that Neil purposely gave us a bad bench. I was upset too. There were lots of good players available that would've made our team better last season. It makes sense that Aldridge would be upset. Well, now we get to see if CJ McCollum was worth it.

 

[BlazerWookee]

"All he is saaaaaayiiiiiing... Is give Neil a chaaaaaaaaance..."

 

[PapaG]

Obviously he was upset that Neil purposely gave us a bad bench. I was upset too. There were lots of good players available that would've made our team better last season. It makes sense that Aldridge would be upset. Well, now we get to see if CJ McCollum was worth it.

It was more than just CJ. It was also about gaining cap space, and maximizing it. On paper, Olshey accomplished this goal, considering that almost nobody from the Blazer bench last year will even be a rotation player in the NBA this year.

 

[Strenuus]

Obviously he was upset that Neil purposely gave us a bad bench. I was upset too. There were lots of good players available that would've made our team better last season. It makes sense that Aldridge would be upset. Well, now we get to see if CJ McCollum was worth it.

I'm glad we stunk last year. It would have been a first round exit regardless... now we can actually do something.

And CJ wasn't the reason we tanked. That's just silly.

 

[Public Defender]

I'm glad we stunk last year. It would have been a first round exit regardless... now we can actually do something.

Now we can actually do something, like get bounced in the first round, a year later.

And CJ wasn't the reason we tanked. That's just silly.

No, the reason the Blazers tanked is because they had no other option. The starters were exhausted, injured, or both; the bench was inept as a bench and even worse playing anything resembling starters' minutes. Even if Stotts had squeezed every possible minute of playing time out of the best talent available on the roster, the Blazers wouldn't have been no more than a couple games better than it turned out.

Just as no one at One Center Court will admit to "tanking," no fan should think that the Blazers were really capable of doing a whole lot better with last year's team than they actually did.

 

[jlprk]

I'm glad we stunk last year. It would have been a first round exit regardless... now we can actually do something.

And CJ wasn't the reason we tanked. That's just silly.

The team is more fun then. Some of my most enjoyable years have come from stinking.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I like cheap tickets

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm glad we stunk last year. It would have been a first round exit regardless... now we can actually do something.

And CJ wasn't the reason we tanked. That's just silly.

CJ was all we got for tanking. We could've signed Kenyon, Nate, and Birdman to one year contracts and keep our cap flexibility.

 

[jlprk]

Olshey learned his craft from the Clippers. He wants to keep tanking, but is outvoted by Paul Allen and Aldridge.

 

[dviss1]

I'm glad we stunk last year. It would have been a first round exit regardless... now we can actually do something.

And CJ wasn't the reason we tanked. That's just silly.

If you don't think we tanked last season to make sure we got our #10 then you are sorely mistaken.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Olshey learned his craft from the Clippers. He wants to keep tanking, but is outvoted by Paul Allen and Aldridge.

Olshey seemed to do really well with the Clippers, and Allen and Aldridge's plan has given us what exactly?

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

"All he is saaaaaayiiiiiing... Is give Neil a chaaaaaaaaance..."

Funnnnnny!

 

[Strenuus]

If you don't think we tanked last season to make sure we got our #10 then you are sorely mistaken.

Nah. Not mistaken. I know.

Lets tank for a second round pick masked as the #10 pick. Sounds like a logical thing to do. Our team sucked, we didn't tank. If you don't think that, you're sorely mistaken.

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

If you think we sucked, I believe you're sorely mistaken. We had no depth, but we were otherwise a formidable team. We weren't great by any means, but as injuries and lack of depth took its toll, we finished poorly. But I was generally happy with where we were after 66-68 games considering the roster. And we still finished ahead of where I expected.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Nah. Not mistaken. I know.

Lets tank for a second round pick masked as the #10 pick. Sounds like a logical thing to do. Our team sucked, we didn't tank. If you don't think that, you're sorely mistaken.

I agree with this. We flat out had a bad team. No tanking.

 

[Strenuus]

If you think we sucked, I believe you're sorely mistaken. We had no depth, but we were otherwise a formidable team. We weren't great by any means, but as injuries and lack of depth took its toll, we finished poorly. But I was generally happy with where we were after 66-68 games considering the roster. And we still finished ahead of where I expected.

Uhh... this is a definition of a team that sucked. Thanks for being on my side.

 

[e_blazer]

By the end of the season, with injuries to Nic, Wesley and LMA, the Blazers were the poster children of suckitude. You have to have at least a chance to win before a losing streak can be classified as tanking.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Funny how small this thread is considering LMA came out and said he wants to stay on the team!

Maybe it is the holiday weekend or maybe fans have finally figured out that LMA pretty much stated what every NBA player in his prime says. They want to win now, they get frustrated with losing, and as long as management has a game plan on how to get better without a long rebuild then they are happy to stay.

I don't think it was ever a LMA vs Portland thing. It was always a winning vs losing thing. Now I know it can be a little hypocritical at times when the players complain about losing when it is often their fault when the team loses. I mean they are the ones playing, but the bottom line is LMA is just like every other player, he gets frustrated being on a losing team. It wears on players. The media just makes it worse by consistently asking them about it. Of course they are not happy about it. Who would be? Winning is fun, losing is not. All players want to be in a positive environment. It was never anything more than that with LMA.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Funny how small this thread is considering LMA came out and said he wants to stay on the team!

Maybe it is the holiday weekend or maybe fans have finally figured out that LMA pretty much stated what every NBA player in his prime says. They want to win now, they get frustrated with losing, and as long as management has a game plan on how to get better without a long rebuild then they are happy to stay.

I don't think it was ever a LMA vs Portland thing. It was always a winning vs losing thing. Now I know it can be a little hypocritical at times when the players complain about losing when it is often their fault when the team loses. I mean they are the ones playing, but the bottom line is LMA is just like every other player, he gets frustrated being on a losing team. It wears on players. The media just makes it worse by consistently asking them about it. Of course they are not happy about it. Who would be? Winning is fun, losing is not. All players want to be in a positive environment. It was never anything more than that with LMA.

REPPED!!! and agree 100%.

So, where are all the Chicken Littles, Debbie Downers and Negative Nancys now? Wait what, Aldridge says he wants to stay on the team??? That must be a misquote, because if it's true then the sky isn't really falling. I'm so confused. I don't know what to do.

The facts remain unchanged. We have Aldridge under contract for TWO MORE SEASONS. The team will definitely be better this season than last. Aldridge got what he asked for in his exit interview - a real center with a big body who can bang down low for 25 minutes a game. Plus, he got a MUCH better bench with proven veterans like Mo Williams and Dorell Wright. We added another lottery pick and our other young guys now have a full season of experience under their belts.

I never understood the reason to panic and trade Aldridge NOW!!!! He never demanded it, and it would have been totally premature. He's looking forward to playing on this new, improved team, and I'm looking forward to watching it. Should be more fun for both of us than last season.

BNM

 

[Mediocre Man]

REPPED!!! and agree 100%.

So, where are all the Chicken Littles, Debbie Downers and Negative Nancys now? Wait what, Aldridge says he wants to stay on the team??? That must be a misquote, because if it's true then the sky isn't really falling. I'm so confused. I don't know what to do.

The facts remain unchanged. We have Aldridge under contract for TWO MORE SEASONS. The team will definitely be better this season than last. Aldridge got what he asked for in his exit interview - a real center with a big body who can bang down low for 25 minutes a game. Plus, he got a MUCH better bench with proven veterans like Mo Williams and Dorell Wright. We added another lottery pick and our other young guys now have a full season of experience under their belts.

I never understood the reason to panic and trade Aldridge NOW!!!! He never demanded it, and it would have been totally premature. He's looking forward to playing on this new, improved team, and I'm looking forward to watching it. Should be more fun for both of us than last season.

BNM

I for one am shocked that Aldridge, still with the team and having to play in front of our fans, says he never asked for a trade

 

[Boob-No-More]

I for one am shocked that Aldridge, still with the team and having to play in front of our fans, says he never asked for a trade

Yes, of course you are. Why accept words directly from the source when they contradict those in the media who have papers to sell and blogs to pimp and "fans" in this forum who have never even met the man, let alone have any insights into what he actually wants.

Of course, if I was Aldridge and read the constant, never ending stream of negative crap spouted by some of the "fans" in this forum, I'd want the hell out of town. Why even follow the team if you're so eager to see something negative in everything they do?

BNM

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yes, of course you are. Why accept words directly from the source when they contradict those in the media who have papers to sell and blogs to pimp and "fans" in this forum who have never even met the man, let alone have any insights into what he actually wants.

Of course, if I was Aldridge and read the constant, never ending stream of negative crap spouted by some of the "fans" in this forum, I'd want the hell out of town. Why even follow the team if you're so eager to see something negative in everything they do?

BNM

Other famous words from people

Clinton did have Sexual Relations With That Woman
First everyone understand OJ had everything to do with Nicole's murder
Nixon was a crook
Pete did bet on baseball
A-Rod and others actually did take steroids.

Hey, it came directly from their mouths, so obviously you believe the above, and not what really happened

 

[Draco]

Other famous words from people

Clinton did have Sexual Relations With That Woman
First everyone understand OJ had everything to do with Nicole's murder
Nixon was a crook
Pete did bet on baseball
A-Rod and others actually did take steroids.

Hey, it came directly from their mouths, so obviously you believe the above, and not what really happened

Aldridge is a lieing cheating PED crook who bets on sexual relations?

 

[Boob-No-More]

Other famous words from people

Clinton did have Sexual Relations With That Woman
First everyone understand OJ had everything to do with Nicole's murder
Nixon was a crook
Pete did bet on baseball
A-Rod and others actually did take steroids.

Hey, it came directly from their mouths, so obviously you believe the above, and not what really happened

Yeah, because all of those things are EXACTLY like Aldridge's situation. Seriously, what a ridiculous thing to say. Aldridge isn't facing impeachment, jail time or a lifetime ban from the sport. Really, you don't see the substantial differences?

BNM

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Blazers are in a rebuilding mode and LA doesn't want to be part of a rebuilding team. Blazers have one year to prove the team is on the short path to being a playoff team and a title contender. If Blazers fail to make the playoffs, I think Olshey looks to move Aldridge.

This is, at the very least, the message LA wants the Blazers organization to know. I would love to know what was exchanged between Olshey and LA's agent . . . but we probably will never know what that summertime discussion was exactly about.

Sidenote: I remember just recently when Howard made some representation to the media that he likes his coach and never went to management looking to get him fired (contrary to media reports). Then they interview Van Gundy right after and he basically let the media know that Howard was flat out lying. Anyone remember this . . . awkward.

 

[Draco]

I would love to know what was exchanged between Olshey and LA's agent . . . but we probably will never know what that summertime discussion was exactly about.

His agent (Arn Tellem) also represents Robin Lopez and Dorrell Wright. During the Mo W signing press conference Olshey said something about them talking about players other than Aldridge.

Maybe all three of them are demanding trades.

 

[MickZagger]

We don't make the playoffs this year I think Aldridge is good as gone.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yeah, because all of those things are EXACTLY like Aldridge's situation. Seriously, what a ridiculous thing to say. Aldridge isn't facing impeachment, jail time or a lifetime ban from the sport. Really, you don't see the substantial differences?

BNM

I think you are flat out lying to yourself. Multiple people have reported he, or his people asked for a trade. What is he supposed to say since it didn't, or hasn't happened yet.

 

[BBert]

Aldridge is a lieing cheating PED crook who bets on sexual relations?