How LaMarcus worked on his game this summer

[Rastapopoulos]

Cool article.

 

[magnifier661]

The main praise I have for Aldridge is he does improve each season. You can tell he uses the summers to work on his game. Not many players do that and just rely on their talent.

Having two clutch players down the stretch is important for the success of this team. Aldridge and his post block moves are just money this season. I am soooo proud if him!

 

[Nikolokolus]

My only (main?) problem with Aldridge through the years has been his erratic focus late in games - too many missed free throws, some questionable shots or just seeming to play passive - hopefully he's really grown into this new mindset. That would be a pretty startling transformation at this stage of his career.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

for those who did not click the link:
"Playground game" does not mean pickup game, it means La Marcus's own version of "Around the World."

 

[Strenuus]

for those who did not click the link:
"Playground game" does not mean pickup game, it means La Marcus's own version of "Around the World."

That game kicked ass. So many hours of that.

 

[magnifier661]

My only (main?) problem with Aldridge through the years has been his erratic focus late in games - too many missed free throws, some questionable shots or just seeming to play passive - hopefully he's really grown into this new mindset. That would be a pretty startling transformation at this stage of his career.

I think that's the difference between all star and elite.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think that's the difference between all star and elite.

That's certainly a large part of it.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Yeah, let's trade him for draft picks and young talent.

(rolls eyes)

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yeah, let's trade him for draft picks and young talent.

(rolls eyes)

Roll your eyes all you want. If the team if foundering around the trade deadline and it looks like they are losing ground rather than gaining in their quest to be a decent playoff team then Olshey would be foolish to completely take this option off of the table. As always I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[e_blazer]

Roll your eyes all you want. If the team if foundering around the trade deadline and it looks like they are losing ground rather than gaining in their quest to be a decent playoff team then Olshey would be foolish to completely take this option off of the table. As always I guess we'll see what happens.

It's hard to see that particular set of circumstances equating to trading LMA for picks. Aldridge would be most attractive to a team that's in the hunt this year and looking for that final piece to push them into true contention (Houston and the Thunder come to mind). Those teams aren't going to have a good enough draft pick to make it worth while trading LMA for a pick and filler. Teams that will have good picks are likely to be rebuilding and would rather keep a pick that should yield a talented young player instead of Aldridge, who's at the midpoint of his career. Dunno, maybe a 3-way deal could be worked out. Hopefully, the Blazers are doing well enough that it's not an issue.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's hard to see that particular set of circumstances equating to trading LMA for picks. Aldridge would be most attractive to a team that's in the hunt this year and looking for that final piece to push them into true contention (Houston and the Thunder come to mind). Those teams aren't going to have a good enough draft pick to make it worth while trading LMA for a pick and filler. Teams that will have good picks are likely to be rebuilding and would rather keep a pick that should yield a talented young player instead of Aldridge, who's at the midpoint of his career. Dunno, maybe a 3-way deal could be worked out. Hopefully, the Blazers are doing well enough that it's not an issue.

A three team deal was my baseline assumption.

 

[magnifier661]

It's hard to see that particular set of circumstances equating to trading LMA for picks. Aldridge would be most attractive to a team that's in the hunt this year and looking for that final piece to push them into true contention (Houston and the Thunder come to mind). Those teams aren't going to have a good enough draft pick to make it worth while trading LMA for a pick and filler. Teams that will have good picks are likely to be rebuilding and would rather keep a pick that should yield a talented young player instead of Aldridge, who's at the midpoint of his career. Dunno, maybe a 3-way deal could be worked out. Hopefully, the Blazers are doing well enough that it's not an issue.

Exactly! "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to e_blazer again." <-- So I can't rep you.

Anyway, the Aldridge piece would be to a contender. And most contenders don't have a pick worth dealing Aldridge for. Then you take into account that a third team won't want scrubs, so they would want an important piece back for their pick.

You mentioned Houston or Thunder. For the Thunder, that deal should have happened for Harden and Ibaka a couple years ago. They don't have anything we want now, other than Durant or Westbrook (which they would not do anyway). For Houston, it wouldn't be for picks. Most likely it would have to involve a third team like Detroit, sending us Monroe and Asik. Aldridge would go to Houston. Detroit gets Parson, Houston's pick and Motiejunas.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Roll your eyes all you want. If the team if foundering around the trade deadline and it looks like they are losing ground rather than gaining in their quest to be a decent playoff team then Olshey would be foolish to completely take this option off of the table. As always I guess we'll see what happens.

I'm rolling my eyes at those who say we should have done that already. Even I would consider it if what we have wasn't working AND Lamarcus wanted out.

 

[KingSpeed]

Roll your eyes all you want. If the team if foundering around the trade deadline and it looks like they are losing ground rather than gaining in their quest to be a decent playoff team then Olshey would be foolish to completely take this option off of the table. As always I guess we'll see what happens.

You mean the games leading up to the trading deadline MEAN SOMETHING?? I thought it didn't mean anything til March. This is news to me. Make up your mind. Does tonight's game matter or not?