LA really isn't that special

[magnifier661]

It's kinda like when your girlfriend dumps you so you run telling everyone she really wasn't that pretty and you were going to break up with her anyways.

Bottom line is LMA is one of the top players at his position. It will be difficult to replace him.

Then there are times when you break up with your girlfriend and find a woman, might not be as hot, but truly stable that you realize you love even more. You realize that you are better off and take a glance at that girl and see she's still jumping from man to man to find the perfect place.

Aldridge maybe the Hot 10 chick that was a fucking beast in bed, but sex only goes so far. You need more than that. Ask NY and Melo

 

[cmeese47]

It's kinda like when your girlfriend dumps you so you run telling everyone she really wasn't that pretty and you were going to break up with her anyways.

Bottom line is LMA is one of the top players at his position. It will be difficult to replace him.

Agreed he did not meet his full potential but still was better than most

 

[Minstrel]

Blue chip prospect? You know we Didn't even play Oden his rookie year right? Nate's theory would hold true because anyone would be valued more than what we got from Oden.

I mean...you realize I said "blue chip prospect" and not "blue chip player," right? When the Blazers drafted Oden, he was one of the best prospects in history. Pretty much the definition of a blue chip prospect. All prospects, even the best ones, don't pan out, especially when injuries occur. My point was that at the time Randolph left, the Blazers seemed to have a very promising future in Oden, Aldridge and Roy. This was prior to Oden's first knee injury.

 

[magnifier661]

I mean...you realize I said "blue chip prospect" and not "blue chip player," right? When the Blazers drafted Oden, he was one of the best prospects in history. Pretty much the definition of a blue chip prospect. All prospects, even the best ones, don't pan out, especially when injuries occur. My point was that at the time Randolph left, the Blazers seemed to have a very promising future in Oden, Aldridge and Roy. This was prior to Oden's first knee injury.

No, I totally get what you are saying and I hope you understand mine.

We were fine trading Zach for nothing, being well over cap so we couldn't sign free agents, losing our "blue chip prospect", having Aldridge a mere 16/7 player. We made the playoffs with HCA in the first round. That year, the 6th seed had 50 wins.

This season, we lost Aldridge for nothing, have great cap space, 4 very "potential players", and a competent GM. We could be just as fine.

 

[Minstrel]

No, I totally get what you are saying and I hope you understand mine.

We were fine trading Zach for nothing, being well over cap so we couldn't sign free agents, losing our "blue chip prospect", having Aldridge a mere 16/7 player. We made the playoffs with HCA in the first round. That year, the 6th seed had 50 wins.

This season, we lost Aldridge for nothing, have great cap space, 4 very "potential players", and a competent GM. We could be just as fine.

I agree with that, the Blazers could be just fine. I just don't think that Aldridge and Randolph being similarly productive means that losing Aldridge is no big deal. It was a significant loss in both cases, it just seemed less bad back then, IMO. But the Blazers can certainly recover from it; they didn't lose a superstar, they lost a very good player.

 

[magnifier661]

I agree with that, the Blazers could be just fine. I just don't think that Aldridge and Randolph being similarly productive means that losing Aldridge is no big deal. It was a significant loss in both cases, it just seemed less bad back then, IMO. But the Blazers can certainly recover from it; they didn't lose a superstar, they lost a very good player.

1,000% agree with you. Shit man, we should have kept them both and picked Durant, probably hoisting a trophy. Hindsight is a motherfucker man!

 

[maxiep]

Zach's last year in Portland compared to LA's last year in Portland. One of these players was only 25 at the time and we dumped him for virtually nothing. We survived giving up a talented power forward before, and we will do it again. Noah Vonleh just might be the next great power forward in the chain.

Ridiculous. He was a mismatch every night. He's arguably the best PF in the game. Look, I've forgotten he ever wore a Blazer uniform, but I'm not going to not acknowledge that he's an incredible player.

 

[maxiep]

I think he will be motivated for the first time in his career.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'm gonna say he is going to be a beast next year.

The jerk.

This. I think he's going to take his game to a completely different level next year.

And I don't care.

 

[Natebishop3]

This. I think he's going to take his game to a completely different level next year.

And I don't care.

And yet, as those numbers show, replaceable. Let's be honest, he isn't on the same level as a LeBron, a Durant, or a Duncan in his prime. He's an All-Star, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[lordninja11]

He's not special he's just very talented, the kind of guy your team is better with than without.

 

[magnifier661]

And yet, as those numbers show, replaceable. Let's be honest, he isn't on the same level as a LeBron, a Durant, or a Duncan in his prime. He's an All-Star, nothing more, nothing less.

Name anyone other than AD that is?

 

[Natebishop3]

Name anyone other than AD that is?

Curry is borderline. Obviously there's only ever a handful of guys that I would say are irreplaceable, but Aldridge isn't one of them. Maybe if he was a better defender, but as a volume scorer I think he's much easier to replace than many people estimate.

 

[magnifier661]

Curry is borderline. Obviously there's only ever a handful of guys that I would say are irreplaceable, but Aldridge isn't one of them. Maybe if he was a better defender, but as a volume scorer I think he's much easier to replace than many people estimate.

Dude, you will get no argument from me that he's no batman. I put him in the Bosh value type player. The perfect 2nd or 3rd option.

 

[Natebishop3]

Dude, you will get no argument from me that he's no batman. I put him in the Bosh value type player. The perfect 2nd or 3rd option.

Yup, but HE thinks he's a Batman. That's the problem.

 

[magnifier661]

Yup, but HE thinks he's a Batman. That's the problem.

That is the problem

 

[Natebishop3]

That is the problem

He's a beta. He's always gonna be a beta.