Aldridge's Camp Discuss Trade Possibilities (1 Viewer)

[Draco]

I think there was legitimacy to some of the rumors. I think LMA was probably very frustrated after the season and I suspect he might have even told Olshey he wouldn't mind being traded. Was it a demand? Probably not. I think we've had such a good offseason that Aldridge is happy and the issue went away. With that said, I think it could arise again if the team were to do poorly and miss the playoffs.

Yeah but if so there was some major silly overreaction from fans and media. What all-star would be content with a team that lost 13 games to end a season.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

No Joke! Allen needs to lock him down, and make him happy!

lol. Can we atleast see his team perform and have some success before signing him to any long term deals.

I think a lot of you jumping to conclusions on him way to early.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Sorry if it's a repost.

Olshey on LaMarcus Rumors...


Where do LaMarcus Aldridge trade rumors come from?

"I think it comes from all you [media] -- everybody fighting to be first with inaccurate information. I can tell you, LaMarcus Aldridge, you guys have known him longer than I have. And if he had asked to be traded, he would have told people that he asked to be traded. He never asked to be traded.

"The fact that I had breakfast in a hotel lobby with [Arn Tellem], one of my oldest and best friends who I worked with for seven years, who also represents Robin Lopez and Dorell Wright, along with LaMarcus Aldridge, probably doesn't lead to the fact that we're trying to trade LaMarcus Aldridge.

"But, you know, like I said, it's part of the business. LaMarcus understands it. He ignores it. If [Aldridge requesting a trade] was the case, we'd be dealing with it. It's not. He's happy.

"I think last year was a tough year for everybody. Portland is not a market that accepts losing. We'd tried not to rebuild but we always tried to be somewhat judicious in terms of how much future flexibility we gave away. To be honest with you, that's the results of this offseason. Had we done more minor moves and put more assets in play, moved more draft picks, there wouldn't have been a [Thomas] Robinson or a Robin Lopez. If we had given long-term deals to guys we weren't totally sure on, there wouldn't have been a Mo Williams today.

"I think what LaMarcus sees now -- like what you just brought up -- there is a plan. And we're executing the plan and we're going to stay disciplined and stay diligent about getting there as quickly as possible without jeopardizing the long-term health of the franchise.

"One thing we have to remember: LaMarcus is only 27. He's been here a long time but he's a young player in our league, in terms of how long his career is going to be. It will all work out really well in the end as long as we all stay on the same path."


http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/8/8...l-olshey-says-f-lamarcus-aldridge-is-happy-in

Told. You. So.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Also if you are happy with what Neil has done. Give the owner some credit. He's plays a bigger part in what does and what doesn't go down with his franchises. We sit here and anoint these GM's but one thing that has remained constant with each and every gm we anoint is who the owner is.

 

[Natebishop3]

It would be an utter travesty if we miss the playoffs. There would be no possible way to think this team will not make the playoffs. If they don't, then stotts must be fired!

With that said, Aldridge will be happy if we make it to the next round. We could make the playoffs and if we don't make it to the second round; it may sway him to want out. But... Maybe we make noise and add another key piece the next season to take us over the top. Well at least getting us to contention.

No possible way to miss the playoffs? Mags were you locked in a dungeon during the injury outbreak of 2009? Our success hinges on health. That has been the case for the past... what.... six years? If we're healthy, we are a very good team. If we're suffering injuries, we are a very mediocre team. If something were to happen to any of our key players, we actually have the depth to withstand it right now, but if we were to have a rash of injuries, such as when Roy, Oden, and half the team went down.... well..... I'm just saying there's always a way to miss the playoffs.

 

[Nikolokolus]

They really need to lock up Neil for many years to come. The dude is squared away. I doubt we'll find another GM on his level for a long time.

He definitely talks very well and understands how to handle the media, as for his acumen building a contender ... that remains to be seen.

 

[Natebishop3]

Also if you are happy with what Neil has done. Give the owner some credit. He's plays a bigger part in what does and what doesn't go down with his franchises. We sit here and anoint these GM's but one thing that has remained constant with each and every gm we anoint is who the owner is.

Sorry but I don't agree. Paul has hired some pretty horrible people (IE PatterNash and Larry Miller). We haven't had an offseason like the one we just had in a long long time. Not since the 90's. We got lucky in the 2006 draft, but when did we last have a GM that completely redid half our roster in the course of one offseason?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Sorry but I don't agree. Paul has hired some pretty horrible people (IE PatterNash and Larry Miller). We haven't had an offseason like the one we just had in a long long time. Not since the 90's. We got lucky in the 2006 draft, but when did we last have a GM that completely redid half our roster in the course of one offseason?

Aside from Patter-Nash, BTW, wasn't this the period of time when he was thinking about selling when he put his arena up for bankruptcy? Other than this period, I would say he's been pretty consistant.

 

[Natebishop3]

Aside from Patter-Nash, BTW, wasn't this the period of time when he was thinking about selling when he put his arena up for bankruptcy? Other than this period, I would say he's been pretty consistant.

While I've always respected the fact that Paul is willing to spend the money to be successful, the dude doesn't deserve credit for the operational decisions. He tends to go with what his GM says, because otherwise he deserves some of the blame for drafting Telfair over Al Jefferson, Webster over Paul or Williams, Nolan Smith over Faried, etc. The basketball decisions that we do hear about aren't very flattering. Wasn't he the one who overpaid to keep Miles here?

 

[magnifier661]

No possible way to miss the playoffs? Mags were you locked in a dungeon during the injury outbreak of 2009? Our success hinges on health. That has been the case for the past... what.... six years? If we're healthy, we are a very good team. If we're suffering injuries, we are a very mediocre team. If something were to happen to any of our key players, we actually have the depth to withstand it right now, but if we were to have a rash of injuries, such as when Roy, Oden, and half the team went down.... well..... I'm just saying there's always a way to miss the playoffs.

Well shit man, that applies to every team. Miami losing wade it lebron to injury could deeply ruin their chances of success. That factor applies to all teams.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well shit man, that applies to every team. Miami losing wade it lebron to injury could deeply ruin their chances of success. That factor applies to all teams.

Hey, you said you couldn't see any possible way that we miss the playoffs and I'm just sayin' that there's always a way

 

[magnifier661]

Hey, you said you couldn't see any possible way that we miss the playoffs and I'm just sayin' that there's always a way

Would you say there is no possible way sas misses the playoffs?

 

[Natebishop3]

Would you say there is no possible way sas misses the playoffs?

I don't think I'd say there's no possible way for any team to miss the playoffs. If Tim Duncan were to go down, that team would become very mediocre.

 

[magnifier661]

I don't think I'd say there's no possible way for any team to miss the playoffs. If Tim Duncan were to go down, that team would become very mediocre.

So when we discuss seeding or making the playoffs; it's pretty safe to assume it means "barring no major injuries"?

 

[Natebishop3]

So when we discuss seeding or making the playoffs; it's pretty safe to assume it means "barring no major injuries"?

Basically, but we're also usually not dealing in absolutes. For instance, I could see the Blazers finishing in the 4th or 5th spot. That is contingent on a few things, such as Aldridge continuing to play at a high level and Lillard taking another step towards being a star point guard. It is also contingent on our bench working out the way that we think it will.

 

[magnifier661]

Basically, but we're also usually not dealing in absolutes. For instance, I could see the Blazers finishing in the 4th or 5th spot. That is contingent on a few things, such as Aldridge continuing to play at a high level and Lillard taking another step towards being a star point guard. It is also contingent on our bench working out the way that we think it will.

Absolutely agree. There will be many variables like defensive scheme, bench production, Lillards improvement, aldridges ability to play the block, etc.

 

[Natebishop3]

I will say that I'm not especially impressed with Stotts, and I could see us making a change in the next couple years. It's not that I don't think he's a decent coach, I just don't think he's a championship caliber coach and I'm hoping that Paul will be able to lure someone great when we're finally hitting our stride.

 

[Draco]

I wouldn't be shocked if SAS just barely made the playoffs as the 8th seed even if healthy and got swept in the first round. I wouldn't be shocked if they were the #1 seed and made it to the finals again. They just seem to be great one year but very ordinary at other times. They are a very unusual team.

 

[Natebishop3]

I wouldn't be shocked if SAS just barely made the playoffs as the 8th seed even if healthy and got swept in the first round. I wouldn't be shocked if they were the #1 seed and made it to the finals again. They just seem to be great one year but very ordinary at other times. They are a very unusual team.

I think it just depends so much about how healthy they are and who they are playing. They can't seem to handle young, athletic teams.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It would be an utter travesty if we miss the playoffs. There would be no possible way to think this team will not make the playoffs. If they don't, then stotts must be fired!

Barring significant injury (happy Nate?), I think this is where I come down too. Last year, we didn't really get a whole lot of info on how good/bad a coach Stotts is. Although, we seemed to "overachieve" prior to Batum's wrist injury, and I think Mo coming here after having played for Stotts for a year and a half in Milwaukee speaks positively about how players see him.

In any case, the way I see it: If the team performs well (~.600 ball), he's a keeper; if they underachieve (<.500 ball), he's a goner; anywhere in the middle, he's a place-holder.

 

[dviss1]

Yeah but if so there was some major silly overreaction from fans and media. What all-star would be content with a team that lost 13 games to end a season.

I'm sure he understood completely why we tanked the last 13. We wanted to make sure we got our 10th pick. I don't think he was upset about it at all.

 

[Natebishop3]

Barring significant injury (happy Nate?), I think this is where I come down too. Last year, we didn't really get a whole lot of info on how good/bad a coach Stotts is. Although, we seemed to "overachieve" prior to Batum's wrist injury, and I think Mo coming here after having played for Stotts for a year and a half in Milwaukee speaks positively about how players see him.

In any case, the way I see it: If the team performs well (~.600 ball), he's a keeper; if they underachieve (<.500 ball), he's a goner; anywhere in the middle, he's a place-holder.

At the same time, if we make the playoffs but get dominated in the first round, I could see the team giving him one more year or possibly even dumping him. How long is his contract, anyone know?

 

[Draco]

I'm sure he understood completely why we tanked the last 13. We wanted to make sure we got our 10th pick. I don't think he was upset about it at all.

I don't think he minded losing games he and Wes sat out. But there were a few of those games LaMarcus was in the lineup and the team was trying like hell to win but could've beat anyone.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think he minded losing games he and Wes sat out. But there were a few of those games LaMarcus was in the lineup and the team was trying like hell to win but could've beat anyone.

Well I'm sure it has to be frustrating to build a lead, or stay close in a game and then watch your bench come in and get blown out of the water.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

While I've always respected the fact that Paul is willing to spend the money to be successful, the dude doesn't deserve credit for the operational decisions. He tends to go with what his GM says, because otherwise he deserves some of the blame for drafting Telfair over Al Jefferson, Webster over Paul or Williams, Nolan Smith over Faried, etc. The basketball decisions that we do hear about aren't very flattering. Wasn't he the one who overpaid to keep Miles here?

Well I'm sure for every bad there is some good he has done. WE just don't hear about it. I don't believe all that has been done is as great as what many have built it up as. Which is why I'm suggesting on waiting on proclaiming Neil anything. I do think Allen plays a part in all these moves. Do we hear him a part of them. No, he probably doesn't want the credit. He seems to like carrying a lower profile. I do think he played a big part in the Damion Lillard draft choice and I think the choice was his. But to say he doesn't have any say on the player personal decisions, I think is slightly inaccurate.

 

[Draco]

At the same time, if we make the playoffs but get dominated in the first round, I could see the team giving him one more year or possibly even dumping him. How long is his contract, anyone know?

Yeah I got to say I'm against all the hiring and firing that takes place with head coaches. Besides Phil and Pop unless its a bad coach I don't think it makes much of a difference. I'd rather see a team just stick with one for a long haul I think its really cool when you see a coach in the same city for 10 years.

Now I suppose if the players tune out a coach you have to make a change. Nate had lost the respect of the locker room and when that happens its silly to leave a coach in place.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well I'm sure for every bad there is some good he has done. WE just don't hear about it. I don't believe all that has been done is as great as what many have built it up as. Which is why I'm suggesting on waiting on proclaiming Neil anything. I do think Allen plays a part in all these moves. Do we hear him a part of them. No, he probably doesn't want the credit. He seems to like carrying a lower profile. I do think he played a big part in the Damion Lillard draft choice and I think the choice was his. But to say he doesn't have any say on the player personal decisions, I think is slightly inaccurate.

I never said that Paul doesn't have a say in the decisions. I said that I think he tends to follow the lead of his front office, which is why so many bad decisions were made over the last few years. Now that we have a halfway decent GM, the decision making is getting better. Unless you think Paul is a genius some years and a moron in others, I think it's pretty clear that (unless he completely disagrees), he allows the experts to make the moves.

For example, the story back in 2004 was that Nash wanted Telfair, Warkentein wanted Jefferson. Paul backed Nash, and then compounded that error by sticking with Telfair instead of drafting Paul.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I never said that Paul doesn't have a say in the decisions. I said that I think he tends to follow the lead of his front office, which is why so many bad decisions were made over the last few years. Now that we have a halfway decent GM, the decision making is getting better. Unless you think Paul is a genius some years and a moron in others, I think it's pretty clear that (unless he completely disagrees), he allows the experts to make the moves.

For example, the story back in 2004 was that Nash wanted Telfair, Warkentein wanted Jefferson. Paul backed Nash, and then compounded that error by sticking with Telfair instead of drafting Paul.

Ok, and I don't think I nearly made myself clear in this regard. Yes, I think the player personal guys plays a bigger part in these moves. But I've noticed something since 06, that the moves inside his organizations have improved greatly. This is within the Seahawks and the Blazers. I don't think he is responsible for all these positive moves but I think he has learned to have a steady hand and be more of a positive force behind whats going on both organizations. Both organizations are probably being run better now than at anytime ever before.

 

[Natebishop3]

Ok, and I don't think I nearly made myself clear in this regard. Yes, I think the player personal guys plays a bigger part in these moves. But I've noticed something since 06, that the moves inside his organizations have improved greatly. This is within the Seahawks and the Blazers. I don't think he is responsible for all these positive moves but I think he has learned to have a steady hand and be more of a positive force behind whats going on both organizations. Both organizations are probably being run better now than at anytime ever before.

Still, I would love to know the story behind the KP drama and the Cho firing after only one year.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Still, I would love to know the story behind the KP drama and the Cho firing after only one year.

I don't disagree with any of your concerns of him. Your concerns are my concerns. I wanted to stick a fork him during the Cho debacle...but something has happened since then.

Whatever he is doing now is working. His football team are football contenders and they just may get it done. This Blazer team imo, is being built very similar to the way that Seahawk team was built. We say how good of an offseason Neil hashad but a lot of these guys he has brought in are journeymen. Players that just don't blow your skirt up. With that said, his Seahawks team were built the same way and look where they are headed.