Lillard on LaMarcus Aldridge's impending free agency

[OneLifeToLive]

Jabari said LA keeps bringing up that he felt like a third wheel behind Oden and Roy.

And he was.

KP shopped him for a mentor for Oden - or as LA put it "me for an older vet."

He's the plan C franchise guy who turned into a legit franchise player. He knows it and I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him bolt.

Neil hasn't done enough. Afflalo's numbers clearly showed that he was declining from his Orlando days, and he gave up a first-rounder for him.

Bringing in stopgaps like Blake/Kaman/Afflalo aren't convincing, at least I wouldn't be if I were LA.

What's interesting being the third wheel wasn't all that relevant 10 months ago when he he said he wanted to be the best blazer ever.

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was on board the until the final month or two of the season. He sacrificed himself for the good of the team by postponing his surgery on his thumb until the end of the season. He came back spirited and put up some of his best production of the year number wise. His teammates repaid him by going out and giving a half hearted effort. As if they really didn't care. He was still going hard but many of his teammates were not in it at the same commitment level he was in it.

There has been a dark cloud over this franchise since his arrival. What was supposed to be something special with he, Oden and Roy was abruptly ended due to the career ending injuries of Roy and Oden. The Dark Cloud reared itself again this year not only with the injuries but in the way his teammates responded to him after he decided to post pone his surgery all for them and the organization.

If he doesn't feel like his teammates are with him and are all in it and don't share the commitment he has in winning. Do you think he would want to come back?

 

[julius]

Didn't KP also say that Lamarcus could very well end up being the best of his draft class too?

 

[Rhal]

Didn't KP also say that Lamarcus could very well end up being the best of his draft class too?

KP said he wouldn't be surprised if LA turned out to be better then Roy
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/04/behind_the_locker_room_door_tr.html

I always remember raving about Roy’s skills and personality to then general manager Kevin Pritchard, who would always caution me.

“LaMarcus,’’ Pritchard would say, “just may end up being the better player.’’

 

[Coast541]

Neither Lillard or Aldridge are Superstars that can carry us to the 'Ship. Good pieces but not game changers. We need a star that shows up in big games/series. Love both of them but it's the truth.

Do you think Harden is one of those people?

Why didn't he show up last year against Portland.

Some superstars just have bad series...

 

[PCmor7]

I've been vocal that I don't think LA's return is a slam dunk and there are a number of reasons I could see him wanting to play somewhere else.

However, I don't find anything about not being on the team flight or stuff like that being overly worrisome, either. Just like the above, there could be any number of reasons, and, unless any of us has special access to LA and his private thoughts and feelings, we don't know.

I'm happy to get any information that can give us a clue as to what might happen, but I wouldn't go all in betting either way. I hope he stays, and I think the Blazers could be a legit competitor in the next couple of years if he does. I think if he leaves, we've got some major, major problems.

 

[PCmor7]

Bringing in stopgaps like Blake/Kaman/Afflalo aren't convincing, at least I wouldn't be if I were LA.

I think, with our cap situation and the available assets, this was about the best Olshey could do, and, honestly, they've improved everything they were brought in to improve. They aren't perfect players, and that's why we were able to get them. If Wes Matthews doesn't get hurt, the Blazers are about as good as anyone.

The real test of Olshey is what he's able to accomplish this offseason with so many contracts ending. There aren't a lot of untouchables on this team, but the chemistry (as further evidenced by the decline once Wes got hurt) was a bigger reason for the success than the players' individual talent. You need that, but you also need pure talent so that guys can be plugged in to play and you don't miss much of a beat when guys get injured.

The key is selling LA on Olshey on being able to make the right moves and getting him to come back. Then the next key is making the right moves after LA is back on board, because it's undeniable that some moves must be made.