LaMarcus Aldridge still waiting for long-term deal

[PapaG]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/09/blazers_notebook_aldridge_stil.html

LaMarcus Aldridge still waiting for long-term deal

By Joe Freeman, The Oregonian
September 28, 2009, 10:17PM
LaMarcus Aldridge expressed displeasure and confusion Monday afternoon at the unresolved status of his contract negotiations with the Trail Blazers.

Speaking publicly for the first time since negotiations started in July, Aldridge said at the team's annual media day that he was stunned the Blazers had not signed him to a long-term contract, particularly considering the prominent role he has played in helping transform the franchise into a Western Conference power.

"I didn't think it would take this long," Aldridge said. "I thought that after what we did last year, having 54 wins and after the big change that's happened ... here, I just felt like it wouldn't be this hard to get it done. But it is. I can't say that I'm happy about it."

The power forward, who averaged career highs of 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds last season, stopped short of saying he felt slighted or under-appreciated, but did wonder if he had done enough in the eyes of the franchise.

"I wouldn't go too far," he said, regarding his displeasure. "I would say that I didn't think it would be this hard. Maybe I didn't do everything they wanted me to. I felt like I did, but maybe (there's) more to it from their end."

The Blazers have until Oct. 31 to sign Aldridge to a one- to five-year extension or he will become a restricted free agent after the season. Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard and Aldridge's agent, Arn Tellem, remain in daily contact as the sides continue to negotiate.

Aldridge refused to say if he was optimistic a deal would get done before the deadline, but he did offer one dose of optimism for Blazers fans.

"The contract (situation) is not going to affect my training or my games or anything like that," he said. "I can tell you all and all the fans that I'm about playing basketball, I'm about winning. So I'm going to play hard and I'm always going to do what I do. I'm going to be the same guy."

 

[BlazersBlood]

"The contract (situation) is not going to affect my training or my games or anything like that," he said. "I can tell you all and all the fans that I'm about playing basketball, I'm about winning. So I'm going to play hard and I'm always going to do what I do. I'm going to be the same guy."

Well if he pouts and doesn't give 100%, then he WON'T get paid. If he doesn't get the extension, at least he'll be playing with a lot of motivation. It's a win-win for the Blazers organization and the fans. Not much for LMA, but that's the biz.

 

[HailBlazers]

Breaking News! Good Job

We didn't know our second best player is yet to be signed. .

 

[MIXUM]

what did everyone expect? they played hardball with roy. i mean if they get these deals done wout any negotiations.. blazers will get a rep for giving in. dont forget we have to resign guys like rudy and oden.

my point... we hold all the cards... if a deal doesnt get done... then guess what... we match next summer. see paul millsap.

 

[PapaG]

Breaking News! Good Job

We didn't know our second best player is yet to be signed. .

He hadn't commented on it all summer. He did in the article I posted. I thought that was somewhat newsworthy. I guess it was as important as your useless post.

 

[HailBlazers]

Point taken. LMA is the man.

 

[hasoos]

Oh but everything is ok in Blazerland. Because KP is running the show! I mean, he couldn't fuck anything up....

 

[Nikolokolus]

Oh but everything is ok in Blazerland. Because KP is running the show! I mean, he couldn't fuck anything up....

In ... KP ... We ... Trust ... <unnngh> ... Brains! ...

 

[BenDavis503]

Publicity stunts?

 

[Eastoff]

those are some pretty fresh Zombies you got, Nik

 

[MARIS61]

Breaking News! Good Job

We didn't know our second best player is yet to be signed. .

Wrong.

Roy signed awhile ago.

 

[PapaG]

what did everyone expect? they played hardball with roy. i mean if they get these deals done wout any negotiations.. blazers will get a rep for giving in. dont forget we have to resign guys like rudy and oden.

my point... we hold all the cards... if a deal doesnt get done... then guess what... we match next summer. see paul millsap.

Well, if LMA continues to progress, and if the Blazers make it further in the playoffs this season with LMA playing a primary role, it's possible that the Blazers will have to overpay next summer compared to what they may have been able to ink him to this year. This would impact any negotiations on Oden, Batum, or Rudy. Hell, I'll even throw Bayless in there.

So, if the idea is hardball, keep in mind that the team may pay up to $20 million more or so over his next deal than they might pay now for an extension. Money that will be likely be double taxed once the 2007 class is extended. It's not like the Blazers are without risk. I still think we'll see a 4-5 year deal averaging roughly $11 million signed by 10/31.

 

[Natebishop3]

Wrong.

Roy signed awhile ago.

Maris, I'm sorry to be the one who has to tell you this, but Sergio isn't ON the team anymore. Roy is the best now. I know this must be hard for you.

 

[EWT]

In other breaking news nobody gives a shit about people writing about things we already know!

 

[PapaG]

In other breaking news nobody gives a shit about people writing about things we already know!

Thanks for taking the time to post about something that you don't give a s**t about. Meanwhile, some people may have wanted to read LMA's first public comments on his lack of a contract extension.

 

[PapaG]

Well, if LMA continues to progress, and if the Blazers make it further in the playoffs this season with LMA playing a primary role, it's possible that the Blazers will have to overpay next summer compared to what they may have been able to ink him to this year. This would impact any negotiations on Oden, Batum, or Rudy. Hell, I'll even throw Bayless in there.

So, if the idea is hardball, keep in mind that the team may pay up to $20 million more or so over his next deal than they might pay now for an extension. Money that will be likely be double taxed once the 2007 class is extended. It's not like the Blazers are without risk. I still think we'll see a 4-5 year deal averaging roughly $11 million signed by 10/31.

So...

isn't this at least somewhat plausible, and could impact the bottom-line down the road?

 

[LittleAlex]

So...

isn't this at least somewhat plausible, and could impact the bottom-line down the road?

Yeah, it should be a concern. Keep in mind that a ton of teams are aiming to have a bunch of money under the cap next summer. If neither LaBron, Wade or Bosh move teams, LA would be a hell of a consolation prize. The Knicks could throw a max deal his way and still have enough to sign another good player.

The Nets will have a ton of money as well, along with a Russian gangster who likes to spend.

Portland would be way better off getting a deal done by the 31st.

 

[Nikolokolus]

So...

isn't this at least somewhat plausible, and could impact the bottom-line down the road?

The weird thing is that if the Blazers settle on a hard figure (let's say 12 million per year) and the salary cap recedes from 58 million to 51 or 50 million next year, there's a pretty good chance his contract ends up being a max deal anyway, and any team that tried to offer him a max deal would end up being roughly the same amount of money he could have made in an extension. This is the primary reason I'm fairly confident some kind of deal will get made

I think the best hope is that both sides settle on a figure in the 11-11.5 million per year range (for chrissakes, the Raptors paid Andrea Bargnani 10 million per year!) and maybe lace it with some incentives like they did with Roy for the final year or two on the contract. 5 years 55-60 million sounds about right for a guy with his skillset and remaining untapped potential.