did we overpay fpr LA??? sporting news article
Before I get around to previewing those pesky Blazers (and having to take yet another stand on Andre Miller(notes)), it's worth taking a closer look at the LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) extension. Aldridge and his team appear to be well on their way to a five-year, $70 million deal.
That's a hefty chunk of change for a player who, by most accounts, has either yet to fulfill his potential or reveal exactly what his game's going to be, or maybe both. Not exactly the kind of semi-speculative investment we're used to seeing in these troubled economic times. But here's what people don't seem to understand about Portland: as good as they've been, Kevin Pritchard's five-step program to a championship depends on Aldridge, Roy and Oden. Since Oden's lagging way behind, it's all the more important that Aldridge be kept in the fold.
I know it's cool to say stuff like "just don't pay the bum" or "why would we give that dude that much?" We heard similar things about Rashard Lewis(notes) when he signed with the Magic. While Lewis was overpaid by any objective measure, he was the ideal fit for that team—that is, before Turkoglu stole our hearts. Regardless, the signing was based on what he meant to that team's plan for the future, not some universal index of value. Brandon Roy(notes) is great, but the ascendant Blazers need the rest of a core. That's Aldridge and Oden.
Plus, if Aldridge does get this vote of confidence from the team, it may sink in just how much he means to them, what the task at hand now is, and that he needs to come into focus to help the Blazers go all the way. It's vintage Pritchard that they kept Aldridge hanging and were careful to not break the bank on him. But while some see a soft tweener overpaid, anyone looking at it through Portland's goggles sees an essential piece of the roster, even if he's not there yet. There's just no other option.
Expect to see Oden handled this season with this destiny in mind. Because if Portland can't make it work with this well-laid model, they really have to blow it up and start from scratch.
duly noted.
