Aldridge would re-sign

[Draco]

The good teams don't need to trade often. Look at SAS or Miami… They haven't made significant trades since they became contenders. Same applies with OKC and Indiana.

Spurs traded for Kawhi Leonard.OKC traded away Harden. Indiana traded for George Hill.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

The good teams don't need to trade often. Look at SAS or Miami… They haven't made significant trades since they became contenders. Same applies with OKC and Indiana.

Hopefully we don't need to either. They actually could have in the past though. We won't be able to in the future (if it comes to that).

Obviously it isn't going to stop us from trying to win but you have to balance the salary to maintain flexibility so I could see losing Wes since we have CJ. I don't see Rolo leaving (we would never let him go without a replacement).

 

[Charcoal Filtered]

I would love for LA to get his contract extended this summer so that we are not left in limbo for a year. We could also extend the players we plan to build around like Wesley and Robin along with giving a long term contract to a player we sign with the MLE this summer. I do not think PA is going to have an issue playing the luxury tax as our window to be competitive is open now.

 

[magnifier661]

Spurs traded for Kawhi Leonard.OKC traded away Harden. Indiana traded for George Hill.

Are you saying they were significant? The Harden trade was a bust move that everyone agrees on. Kawhi isn't the "significant move" that I explained. George Hill was traded, but they received value in return.

What you are actually proving is even teams close to luxury are still making moves.

 

[magnifier661]

Hopefully we don't need to either. They actually could have in the past though. We won't be able to in the future (if it comes to that).

Obviously it isn't going to stop us from trying to win but you have to balance the salary to maintain flexibility so I could see losing Wes since we have CJ. I don't see Rolo leaving (we would never let him go without a replacement).

Well most contending teams will have 2 max players. Having Batum at 12 mil, Lopez at 9-10 mil and Matthews at 8-9 mil isn't going to put us in Luxury tax, IMO.

 

[BBert]

I completely flipped my opinion after he added Lopez, Robinson, Mo and Dorell. I figured we'd be around 4th or 5th in the west, but I didn't think we'd be this good.

What was LaMarcus' prediction: 7th seed or something like that? LOL

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Well most contending teams will have 2 max players. Having Batum at 12 mil, Lopez at 9-10 mil and Matthews at 8-9 mil isn't going to put us in Luxury tax, IMO.

As an example in say 4 years:

LMA at 18 per year.
Dame at 16 per year.
Batum at 12 per year.
Wes at 9 per year.
Lopez at 9 per year.
CJ at 3 per year. (in year 5 he would get 6 at least if we sign him)
Rest of the bench at 6-7 total per year.

That is 73-77 MIL total and you could go up or down a MIL each player.

The cap is 58 MIL and if all goes well it would be 61 MIL in 4 years.

 

[noknobs]

Yeah, because we were just making that shit up out of nowhere... there weren't any reports coming from actual journalists with inside information.

Also, if you claim that you expected Neil to be able to make the moves that he made, you are flat out lying. Nobody expected Neil to be able to add players like Lopez, Robinson, Mo Williams, and Dorell Wright for nothing but cap space and second round picks. Most of our predictions about Aldridge hinged on our team not being especially competitive this year, and that was before Neil went crazy GM mode. I completely flipped my opinion after he added Lopez, Robinson, Mo and Dorell. I figured we'd be around 4th or 5th in the west, but I didn't think we'd be this good.

Your opinion about Aldridge (which I've taken the liberty of posting below, but can be viewed in depth by following this link and reading pages 6-10 of the thread) was that despite his stats he wasn't someone you'd want to go to war with (like Dirk) and that he didn't fit Lillard's "window" because they're a whopping five years apart. Quit rewriting history. You were wrong about him as well as the window, it happens, I'd move on. Just be honest about it.

Aldridge doesn't fit the window. He'll be at the end of his peak when Dame and Batum are finally hitting their groove. I'm not talking about trading Aldridge for cap space, I'm talking about trading him for a high lotto pick and another promising young talent. He puts up good numbers, but do you think Aldridge is someone you want to go to war with? Has he ever shown up in the playoffs? My point is that you can trade Aldridge, start Hickson, and you don't lose THAT much, but you could gain a couple of very nice pieces that fit our window better.

Or you could sit on Aldridge, waste our cap space this summer on some crappy bench player or overpay someone like OJ Mayo, and then use our mid-range lotto on another Luke Babbitt. Is that a playoff team? Or, more important, is that a championship team?

Aldridge is not Dirk. Not even close to Dirk. Not even in the same universe as Dirk.

We're talking about a guy who is only 27 and yet, he's had continuing heart problems, he's had hip problems, and our training staff doesn't have the best record in the league. What apart about the window "theory" doesn't make sense?

Why would it be so bad if we traded Aldridge to someone like Charlotte for MKG and Ben Gordon. Then signed someone like Milsap this summer?

Aldridge doesn't fit because of his age because he is the foundation of this team....... do you think Milsap would be the foundation of the team?

So who is your foundation? Lillard and MKG?

Or Lillard and Batum with MKG as the third option.

Aldridge might be a HOFer

Only if he beats out Yi and Andray Blatche.

 

[Natebishop3]

Your opinion about Aldridge (which I've taken the liberty of posting below, but can be viewed in depth by following this link and reading pages 6-10 of the thread) was that despite his stats he wasn't someone you'd want to go to war with (like Dirk) and that he didn't fit Lillard's "window" because they're a whopping five years apart. Quit rewriting history. You were wrong about him as well as the window, it happens, I'd move on. Just be honest about it.

LOL so much time and energy and you accomplished nothing.

I have readily admitted this year in other threads that I never thought Aldridge could make this kind of jump at this stage of his career. I figured that we had seen what Aldridge was going to be, 21ish points and 8 or 9 boards per game and an All-Star. That's fine, but still a second fiddle. I never thought he could make the jump to an MVP candidate, I was wrong, and I have admitted that. What you thought you could achieve by linking a thread from a year ago is beyond me.

If anything, it supports my point that most of us wanted to trade him because we didn't think the team was good enough to make the playoffs and that he would want out by the trade deadline. This was BEFORE Neil added Rolo, Mo, Dorell, etc. After he made those moves, I changed my opinion about Aldridge and about the team. If Neil wasn't such a good GM, I'm not so sure this team would be in the playoff hunt, and Aldridge would not be in Dame/Nic's window.

I've readily admitted I was wrong about Aldridge as a player, but if this team was not where it currently is, I still think we'd be talking about him wanting out and he would have either been traded last summer or before the trade deadline. If we were 9th in the west, do you think LA would be talking about wanting to sign an extension?

 

[PapaG]

Your opinion about Aldridge (which I've taken the liberty of posting below, but can be viewed in depth by following this link and reading pages 6-10 of the thread) was that despite his stats he wasn't someone you'd want to go to war with (like Dirk) and that he didn't fit Lillard's "window" because they're a whopping five years apart. Quit rewriting history. You were wrong about him as well as the window, it happens, I'd move on. Just be honest about it.

That's pretty much how I remember it, too. Not just that LMA was a malcontent, but also that his game wasn't good enough to keep on board.

There were basically a handful of posters who were shitting their pants all summer long about LMA. It got so tiresome.

 

[PapaG]

LOL so much time and energy and you accomplished nothing.

I have readily admitted this year in other threads that I never thought Aldridge could make this kind of jump at this stage of his career. I figured that we had seen what Aldridge was going to be, 21ish points and 8 or 9 boards per game and an All-Star. That's fine, but still a second fiddle. I never thought he could make the jump to an MVP candidate, I was wrong, and I have admitted that. What you thought you could achieve by linking a thread from a year ago is beyond me.

If anything, it supports my point that most of us wanted to trade him because we didn't think the team was good enough to make the playoffs and that he would want out by the trade deadline. This was BEFORE Neil added Rolo, Mo, Dorell, etc. After he made those moves, I changed my opinion about Aldridge and about the team. If Neil wasn't such a good GM, I'm not so sure this team would be in the playoff hunt, and Aldridge would not be in Dame/Nic's window.

I've readily admitted I was wrong about Aldridge as a player, but if this team was not where it currently is, I still think we'd be talking about him wanting out and he would have either been traded last summer or before the trade deadline. If we were 9th in the west, do you think LA would be talking about wanting to sign an extension?

Hoo boy...

If the Blazers had followed your plan, the Blazers would be lucky to be 12th in the West, and we'd be worried about Lillard forcing his way out at some point. Just own your freaking out last summer. Only you believe your revisionist history. I'm sure dozens of other threads could be pulled up in which you were adamant about trading LMA before the season started.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hoo boy...

If the Blazers had followed your plan, the Blazers would be lucky to be 12th in the West, and we'd be worried about Lillard forcing his way out at some point. Just own your freaking out last summer. Only you believe your revisionist history. I'm sure dozens of other threads could be pulled up in which you were adamant about trading LMA before the season started.

Revisionist history?

What more do you guys want? I admitted that I was wrong about Aldridge turning a corner and becoming an MVP level player. I admitted that I never thought the team could be this good, this soon. But if you want me to believe that you thought we were going to be a top three team IN THE LEAGUE, I would call you a liar. I don't remember anyone thinking we would be THIS good. Most people had us at 7th or 8th in the west with like 45-48 wins. I was one of the few that said they would be closer to 50+ and 5th-ish.

I do not agree with the assertion that people still wanted to trade him (except for maybe MM) after Neil made his moves, so I'm not sure what you guys are trying to prove. After we added Rolo, Mo, and Dorell, I figured we were going for broke to make the playoffs and see how far Aldridge can take us. Go ahead and find the threads that prove otherwise.

 

[blazerboy30]

Natebishop's backpedaling, revisionist history and lack of manning-up to own his guarantee is embarrassing and immature.

 

[blazerboy30]

Revisionist history?

What more do you guys want? I admitted that I was wrong about Aldridge turning a corner and becoming an MVP level player. I admitted that I never thought the team could be this good, this soon. But if you want me to believe that you thought we were going to be a top three team IN THE LEAGUE, I would call you a liar. I don't remember anyone thinking we would be THIS good. Most people had us at 7th or 8th in the west with like 45-48 wins. I was one of the few that said they would be closer to 50+ and 5th-ish.

You're so caught up in trying to change your statements that you don't even remember what the original discussion was about. Or maybe you do, but won't admit it.

 

[Natebishop3]

Natebishop's backpedaling, revisionist history and lack of manning-up to own his guarantee is embarrassing and immature.

I manned up months ago. Not my fault if you weren't around to see it.

 

[Natebishop3]

You're so caught up in trying to change your statements that you don't even remember what the original discussion was about. Or maybe you do, but won't admit it.

The original discussion was about BF talking about how people keep changing their predictions about Aldridge demanding a trade, but where has anyone talked about trading Aldridge in months? My point was that we haven't talked about trading him since before the draft, and maybe just right after the draft.

 

[BlazerWookee]

ahem, according to him. Glad he changed his mind.

Bollocks. He said "please consider trading me if you're going to start from scratch." Olshey convinced him to wait and see that the plan wasn't going to be starting from scratch, and that Lamarcus would be surrounded by a competitive roster. He's now surrounded by a competitive roster, and to boot that roster is filled with people Lamarcus likes.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Word on the street was, he was guaranteed to not be a Blazer when this season started. But since that guarantee didn't pan out, then using the transitive property, he'll be gone by the trade-dead line - absolutely sure on that guarantee. But if he's not, there was another guarantee he will be gone after this season is over. And if not by then, he's guaranteed to opt out. Book it.

What street would that be? The Street of Stupid Dreams?

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm not really sure what more you guys want.

I admitted that Aldridge is better than I thought he would be, and that I was wrong about his ceiling.

I've said that I hope we re-sign him.

I've admitted that the team is way better than I ever thought they could be at this point in the development of Lillard, Batum, etc, but I also predicted they would be better than many of you did.

The only point of my posts was to try to justify why I thought what I did, and explain why I thought he'd be gone.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Whew, boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got outta hand fast.

(gets popped corn)

 

[Natebishop3]

Whew, boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got outta hand fast.

(gets popped corn)

Nah, I'm done. I've said my piece. Nothing else to say.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

The original discussion was about BF talking about how people keep changing their predictions about Aldridge demanding a trade, but where has anyone talked about trading Aldridge in months? My point was that we haven't talked about trading him since before the draft, and maybe just right after the draft.

Don't blame me!!! lol It wasn't a discussion. It was an utterly generic bit of hyperbolic humor that you took seriously, because typing "guarantee" over and over wasn't the first clue it was a joke, but rather a reason to become defensive. I had no idea it would morph into this legitimate show, rehashing of what I have always felt was a ridiculous over-reaction and debate about LA from people that didn't appreciate LA's game.

Please, continue.

(mmm popped corn)

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

What street would that be? The Street of Stupid Dreams?

Which every street you point to and remind your children to never play in. lol

 

[Natebishop3]

Don't blame me!!! lol It wasn't a discussion. It was an utterly generic bit of hyperbolic humor that you took seriously, because typing "guarantee" over and over wasn't the first clue it was a joke, but rather a reason to become defensive. I had no idea it would morph into this legitimate show, rehashing of what I have always felt was a ridiculous over-reaction and debate about LA from people that didn't appreciate LA's game.

Please, continue.

(mmm popped corn)

Nope. I'm done. I admitted I was wrong about Aldridge months ago. All I wanted to accomplish was hopefully explain why some of us thought he'd be gone and why we wanted to trade him. The people who disagree now are the same people who disagreed in June. That's nothing new, they just want to rub our faces in it. That's their right I guess.

 

[Blazer Fanatic]

Nah, I'm done. I've said my piece. Nothing else to say.

The fastest way to shut people up is to say something akin to, "Yes, in hind sight, that was a really dumb opinion to have." Of course, if you badgered people about how dumb their opinion was in opposition, it might linger a bit and you'll just have to take your licks (no pun intended) till they get it out of their system.

 

[Natebishop3]

The fastest way to shut people up is to say something akin to, "Yes, in hind sight, that was a really dumb opinion to have." Of course, if you badgered people about how dumb their opinion was in opposition, it might linger a bit and you'll just have to take your licks (no pun intended) till they get it out of their system.

I try to stay away from telling people that their opinions are dumb, because it can quickly come back to bite you in the ass down the road. Besides, the whole point of posting on this board is to share our opinions, and it would get awfully boring if everyone just agreed with each other all the time. I just wish people weren't so hostile towards each other when they disagree.

 

[noknobs]

I'm not really sure what more you guys want.

I admitted that Aldridge is better than I thought he would be, and that I was wrong about his ceiling.

I've said that I hope we re-sign him.

I've admitted that the team is way better than I ever thought they could be at this point in the development of Lillard, Batum, etc, but I also predicted they would be better than many of you did.

The only point of my posts was to try to justify why I thought what I did, and explain why I thought he'd be gone.

There's wrong, and then there's very wrong while acting like a complete jerk. You were the latter. Even so, I wouldn't feel compelled to rehash shit from a year ago if you didn't feel compelled to misrepresent yourself from a year ago.

I try to stay away from telling people that their opinions are dumb, because it can quickly come back to bite you in the ass down the road. Besides, the whole point of posting on this board is to share our opinions, and it would get awfully boring if everyone just agreed with each other all the time. I just wish people weren't so hostile towards each other when they disagree.

Misrepreseting yourself again I see.

 

[noknobs]

Nah, I'm done. I've said my piece. Nothing else to say.

I'll believe that when I see it.

 

[Natebishop3]

There's wrong, and then there's very wrong while acting like a complete jerk. You were the latter. Even so, I wouldn't feel compelled to rehash shit from a year ago if you didn't feel compelled to misrepresent yourself from a year ago.



Misrepreseting yourself again I see.

We weren't talking about a year ago. We were talking about last summer, which was roughly six months ago when most of the Aldridge rumors came out.

 

[BBert]

I think it's pretty well established (like it or not) that Aldridge was frustrated at the end of last season, and in his exit interviews and/or other conversations with management basically said: "If you are going to tank or if you fail to improve the team, I'd prefer you trade me", or something to that effect. If some people want to pretend this never happened, good for them. A couple of posters here also thought tanking or otherwise trading LaMarcus would be a viable, even prefered option to improve the team going forward. Since then, Olshey was able to improve the team beyond anyone's wildest dreams ('shroom fueled mags hallucinations notwithstanding), and LaMarcus is playing like LaMonster. Result: those posters, and LaMarcus, have changed their positions as circumstances have changed. And a good time was had by all.