Article speculating on Aldridge to the Rockets

[Rastapopoulos]

It's nice to see LaMarcus getting appreciated, at least:

While he isn’t a household name (for some reason), Aldridge is arguably one of the league’s 10 best players. Unlike Josh Smith or Rudy Gay, two players we’ve discussed time and again as being prospective All-Star candidates the Rockets might go after, the 27-year-old is talented enough to be the centerpiece on a championship team.

Last year he posted the seventh highest per game scoring average in the league with a PER higher than Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki. Playing as the undisputed number one option next year under new head coach Terry Stotts, an “offensive genius” according to Nowitzki, Aldridge could see an inflation in numbers that were already elite.

Let’s take a look at how he fits specifically with the Houston’s pieces that most likely wouldn’t be headed to Portland in a hypothetical deal. Almost all of Aldridge’s offense comes from the post, or in a high pick and roll. He’s an excellent spot up jump shooter whose length allows him a Kevin Garnett/Nowitzki-like unreachability. Despite the fact that he rarely rolls to the basket after setting a screen, Aldridge’s versatility is devastating: he can use his big body to let his teammate get into the lane and either create for others or throw it back to him at the top of the key for a wide open jumper (last year he shot 43% on just over six attempts per game from 16-23 feet—both career bests) or slip the screen and find himself open even closer to the basket for an equally wide open jumper. Aldridge’s overall pick and roll efficiency equated to 1.02 points per possession last season, which is quite reliable.

[snip]

Not to mince words, Aldridge might be the most fluid post player in the world. Throw him the ball with his back to the basket and get ready for an offensive arsenal that’s unheard of in the modern day game: running hooks, spins, baseline turnarounds, and deadly shoulder fakes make defending him a total crapshoot. If he isn’t comfortable with his position, Aldridge will calmly kick it back out to the entry man before reasserting himself on the block. When he is comfortable, there’s very little a defender can do. Aldridge towers over a majority of his fellow power forwards, and he never hesitates if a good shot is available.

After watching nearly all his post-up plays on Synergy, this is probably what I like most. When he catches the ball with a man on his hip, Aldridge wastes zero seconds getting into his move. Really, it’s a beautiful thing to watch if you love uptempo basketball. In 2010-11 the Trail Blazers were dead last in the league in pace, averaging 87.9 possessions per 48 minutes. Due in large part to Nate McMillan’s departure midway through this past season, the Trail Blazers finished the year 15th out of 30 teams with a pace of 91.2. For the first time in his career, Aldridge’s usage percentage was one of the 20 highest in the league last year, which might indicate that he wasn’t the reason for Portland’s one-time slow attack. He’s a big guy doing most of his work in the post, but he’s very effective, very fast, and very entertaining.

So why would we trade him?

 

[Pinwheel1]

The argument to trade LMA is based on how far we are from being a factor in the playoffs. But Houston is in the same boat. So why would they trade young players to get him and why would we want more young players to replace him? I don't know why we would do that.

The only way I trade LMA is for a top 2-3 pick where the prize is a chance for a potential superstar.

 

[Rhal]

It's nice to see LaMarcus getting appreciated, at least:



So why would we trade him?

Because were gonna suck next year and LA is to old to wanna wait a year or two for the team to build around him.
I completely disagree with the above statement but coworker/friends bring it up ALL the freaken time.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ironcrotch]

More like a blog writers wet dream rather than anything of substance. He doesn't even offer scenarios where it could happen. The Blazers drafted Damian to play with LaMarcus, I doubt they're trading him to the Rockets for some guys at the trade deadline.

 

[ironcrotch]

Because were gonna suck next year and LA is to old to wanna wait a year or two for the team to build around him.
I completely disagree with the above statement but coworker/friends bring it up ALL the freaken time.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

Teams that think this way are in perpetual suckville.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Isn't it Fez who has been talking about this year being the year to trade Aldridge?

 

[jlprk]

If he isn’t comfortable with his position, Aldridge will calmly kick it back out to the entry man before reasserting himself on the block.

Wild man Hickson's the oposite of the dignified Aldridge, who always plays way within his limits. Hickson's much more entertaining.

 

[Eastoff]

The only reason Houston does this, is because they have way too many players and have been prepping for a big many for one trade.

 

[PapaG]

So, Portland is going to trade an All-Star/All-NBA player entering his prime for a bunch of mid-round Tweeners who are on rookie contracts?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Lamb and Montejunas would be a nice start for Aldridge.

 

[Sedatedfork]

So, Portland is going to trade an All-Star/All-NBA player entering his prime for a bunch of mid-round Tweeners who are on rookie contracts?

Yeah, I have no idea why Portland would do this... Houston have some nice pieces, but why exactly would the team be any better? Why would the Blazers trade Aldridge for these rookies when they just matched Batum?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Stories like this just remind me how bored writers covering the leauge must get with more than a month of dead space left before training camp.

 

[MARIS61]

Houston has nobody good enough left to trade for someone like Nic or Wes, let alone LaMarcus.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Houston has nobody good enough left to trade for someone like Nic or Wes, let alone LaMarcus.

If they were dumb enough to deal Lamb, Montejunas, White and a 1st then Portland should jump on that

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Lamb and Montejunas would be a nice start for Aldridge.

...provided Dwight Howard was the finish.

 

[crandc]

Agree with ironcrotch. There are always people with no inside knowledge talking about how their team will get their particular wet dream player. I'm not losing sleep.

 

[magnifier661]

This will happen when OKC wins a ring. Basically never!!!

 

[mook]

I enjoyed reading the write up about Aldridge's skill sets (although the trade idea isn't going anywhere).

Much like Rasheed, I have a feeling LMA will be more revered in his latter years than he was appreciated during his peak years. There's only so much limelight available in the NBA, and the Heat, Lakers and Thunder are absorbing so much of it.

And rightly so--those teams all have guys better than LMA, they're in bigger markets, and they're just loaded with superstar talent at levels that are just really rare. Most years there might be at best one team as good as the Lakers/Heat/Thunder. That there are three makes this a pretty special era. It's the truth, whether you like those franchises or not. (And I'm no great fan of any of them.) For secondary stars like Aldridge, it means getting overlooked a lot.

 

[PapaG]

If they were dumb enough to deal Lamb, Montejunas, White and a 1st then Portland should jump on that

A bunch of rookies, none of whom will be a franchise player, for an All-NBA big entering his prime, and on a great contract at this point.

The first-round pick would be worthless, IMO.

 

[Mediocre Man]

A bunch of rookies, none of whom will be a franchise player, for an All-NBA big entering his prime, and on a great contract at this point.

The first-round pick would be worthless, IMO.

I think it is extremely short sighted of you to say none of those rookies will be a franchise player. And that first would be a lottery pick next season.

 

[ironcrotch]

I think trading the franchises only current all-star for a bunch of young guys is probably the opposite of what Olshey wants to do at this point. He's thinking of trading his young guys for another all-star.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think trading the franchises only current all-star for a bunch of young guys is probably the opposite of what Olshey wants to do at this point. He's thinking of trading his young guys for another all-star.

I think you are right. I was just saying that if we were looking to trade LA, or if he wanted a trade

 

[PapaG]

I think it is extremely short sighted of you to say none of those rookies will be a franchise player. And that first would be a lottery pick next season.

None of them were drafted as franchise players, and none of them are talked about as franchise players. Three mid-to-late picks for an All-Star. Terrible idea, IMO.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

A bunch of rookies, none of whom will be a franchise player, for an All-NBA big entering his prime, and on a great contract at this point.

The first-round pick would be worthless, IMO.

The blog post indicates that Houston currently owns Toronto's pick. That will likely be pretty good.

None of them were drafted as franchise players, and none of them are talked about as franchise players. Three mid-to-late picks for an All-Star. Terrible idea, IMO.

Plus a lottery pick, plus a nearly guaranteed top 5 pick of our own if we deal Aldridge. Not a terrible deal, IMO.

 

[Mediocre Man]

None of them were drafted as franchise players, and none of them are talked about as franchise players. Three mid-to-late picks for an All-Star. Terrible idea, IMO.

Neither was Aldridge before he had played a game

 

[PtldPlatypus]

More like a blog writers wet dream rather than anything of substance. He doesn't even offer scenarios where it could happen.

Actually, the post also said this:

With Kevin Martin’s expiring deal serving as the necessary salary filler, Houston could throw in a two man combination of Motiejunas, Lamb, White, Jones, Johnson, or Morris along with Toronto’s first round pick.

So, basically right in line with what MM's saying (other than the number of rookies).

 

[Mediocre Man]

Actually, the post also said this:



So, basically right in line with what MM's saying (other than the number of rookies).

Well that proves it. Since I know nothing, and it says pretty much what I was saying

 

[PapaG]

Neither was Aldridge before he had played a game

LMA was the 2nd-pick in the draft. That is "franchise player" territory.

The odds at drafting a franchise player at #2 are much better than combining three picks, one of which is late in the lottery, and the others out of the lottery.

I assume you're just arguing to argue at this point. Olshey should be booed out of town if he makes that trade.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm amused that he says LMA gets all of his points in the post or on pick and rolls. I don't think I've seen LMA roll to the hoop in a long time. He scores a lot from 15-18' jumpers. True, he's getting better (and as the article says, more fluid) in the post, but I don't think anyone's confusing him with McHale at this point.

 

[PapaG]

I'm amused that he says LMA gets all of his points in the post or on pick and rolls. I don't think I've seen LMA roll to the hoop in a long time. He scores a lot from 15-18' jumpers. True, he's getting better (and as the article says, more fluid) in the post, but I don't think anyone's confusing him with McHale at this point.

The pick and 'pop' is considered a part of the pick and roll. Interesting to me was that both LMA and Nic were in the Top 30 in the NBA in TS% (30th and 16th, respectively).