One Aldridge Trade Thread to Rule Them All

[PtldPlatypus]

Bill Simmons belatedly jumps on the bandwagon:

The problem with this notion, IMO, is that Boozer would obviously not be here long-term, so we'd basically be looking at 2 first-round picks and Butler for Aldridge, which seems pretty weak.

 

[BBert]

The problem with this notion, IMO, is that Boozer would obviously not be here long-term, so we'd basically be looking at 2 first-round picks and Butler for Aldridge, which seems pretty weak.

And cap space?

 

[Denny Crane]

Where's this unprotected 2014 1st round draft pick coming from?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The problem with this notion, IMO, is that Boozer would obviously not be here long-term, so we'd basically be looking at 2 first-round picks and Butler for Aldridge, which seems pretty weak.

Shit, I'm HOPING Boozer doesn't want to be here. And hey, there's always flipping him to Houston for Asik and Lin. But isn't that a bit like my trade suggestion?

Also: you're forgetting Mirotic, who is
(a) a PF
(b) the best player on a Real Madrid team that has Rudy and Sergio, only he's about Lillard's age
(c) in fact the best young Spanish player (although he used to be Slovenian) since Rubio.

If Denny's still reading he'll tell you that there's no way in hell Chicago gives up that much.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Where's this unprotected 2014 1st round draft pick coming from?

I assume it's Chicago's which should mean it's not exactly a lottery pick.

Unless things go HORRIBLY WRONG (like Rose going Oden on you)....

 

[Draco]

I'm not really interested in Mirotic as the centerpieces of an Aldridge trade. He isn't as dominant as Rudy was in Europe, he will want a bigger contract above the rookie scale. We'd be paying market price for a player that is an unknown. Would he even want to come to west coast Portland? Yes the Charlotte pick could be valuable, I'd rather have that than Mirotic, but I think the Bobcats will improve enough in the east to not be one of the 8 worst teams the next three years. They are picking up guys like Jefferson when Utah, Philly, Boston and others are intentionally tanking. So that will be an end of the lottery pick or middle of the first round. Another nice asset but not worth half of an all-star. Jimmy Butler isn't close to as valuable as young players such as Klay Thompson or Harrison FUCKING Barnes. I think Bulls fans are looking at these assets and excited how they are the 2 or 3 of their best pieces of the future similar to Blazer fans when we had Outlaw, Martell, and Telfair.

Denny said it best, Chicago fans are excited that the Charlotee pick could be the next Len Bias. No way any team is going to accept that price in a trade.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

And cap space?

Boozer's contract expires the same time as Aldridge's, so there's no cap space advantage in trading for Boozer.

Shit, I'm HOPING Boozer doesn't want to be here. And hey, there's always flipping him to Houston for Asik and Lin. But isn't that a bit like my trade suggestion?

Also: you're forgetting Mirotic, who is
(a) a PF
(b) the best player on a Real Madrid team that has Rudy and Sergio, only he's about Lillard's age
(c) in fact the best young Spanish player (although he used to be Slovenian) since Rubio.

If Denny's still reading he'll tell you that there's no way in hell Chicago gives up that much.

I wasn't forgetting Mirotic--I was assuming he wouldn't be included. Butler, Mirotic, and two picks would be pretty good. If that were the case, I would hope that Boozer could be flipped elsewhere for an expiring (Humphries? Okafor?) so that we could try to do something next offseason.

 

[Draco]

Also: you're forgetting Mirotic, who is
(a) a PF
(b) the best player on a Real Madrid team that has Rudy and Sergio, only he's about Lillard's age
(c) in fact the best young Spanish player (although he used to be Slovenian) since Rubio.

Is he a PF in the NBA? I don't think he can defend NBA big men or rebound at that position. He has average athleticism which will make defending the 3 an issue. Sounds like a tweener in the NBA, basically a rich mans version of victor clavier. I'd like to add him to the team but when you factor in him wanting a larger than rookie contract and possibly wanting to stay oversees I question how valuable of an asset he would be on the Blazers.

 

[magnifier661]

And cap space?

But we'd have cap space without Aldridge too.

 

[Sedatedfork]

By the way -- Detroit just swapped Brandon Knight for Brandon Jennings. They seem eager to get into the playoffs. I think they would be interested in LMA, but not sure that I want anything other than Drummond from them.

 

[blue9]

By the way -- Detroit just swapped Brandon Knight for Brandon Jennings. They seem eager to get into the playoffs. I think they would be interested in LMA, but not sure that I want anything other than Drummond from them.

I'd add anyone other than Nic to the LMA deal in order to bring back Drummond. If that doesn't work for DET then I'd settle for LMA-solo for Monroe+.

 

[e_blazer]

Where's this unprotected 2014 1st round draft pick coming from?

According to RealGM, Chicago is owed a 2014 first round draft pick from Charlotte. It's protected for selections 1-10 in 2014, 1-8 in 2015 and unprotected in 2016. So, most likely, it would be a pick in 2016.

 

[BBert]

I'm not really interested in Mirotic as the centerpieces of an Aldridge trade. He isn't as dominant as Rudy was in Europe, he will want a bigger contract above the rookie scale. We'd be paying market price for a player that is an unknown. Would he even want to come to west coast Portland? ....

Now that you mention it, if he's on the same team with Rudy and Sergio, they have likely already polluted his mind regarding playing in Portland, and we'd never see him. The Nate McMuffin legacy lives on.

 

[e_blazer]

I know that there's nothing much going on in Blazers-land, but I really don't get why there seems to be this feverish fascination with finding a deal for LMA this off-season. It seems to me that the best scenario for Olshey is to sit back, watch the team and see what happens during the first part of the year, and then make a decision about a trade prior to the deadline. If things really gel, maybe LMA gets on the "stick with the Blazers" bandwagon and is willing to sign an extension. If things are going south, at least Olshey has a pretty good idea by then of what teams will have lottery picks they may be willing to move and what teams are willing to move young solid prospects in exchange for LMA's veteran skills as they make a playoff push. I still say that there isn't much likelihood that another team that is more contention-ready than the Blazers will have cap space in 2015 to make him a max offer. The Blazers still will be able to offer a bigger contract than anyone else. Where's the frickin' fire causing this rush to trade him?

 

[Denny Crane]

According to RealGM, Chicago is owed a 2014 first round draft pick from Charlotte. It's protected for selections 1-10 in 2014, 1-8 in 2015 and unprotected in 2016. So, most likely, it would be a pick in 2016.

We've owned the protected pick for 2 seasons or more already. Since we traded Tyrus Thomas for it.

 

[Denny Crane]

I know that there's nothing much going on in Blazers-land, but I really don't get why there seems to be this feverish fascination with finding a deal for LMA this off-season. It seems to me that the best scenario for Olshey is to sit back, watch the team and see what happens during the first part of the year, and then make a decision about a trade prior to the deadline. If things really gel, maybe LMA gets on the "stick with the Blazers" bandwagon and is willing to sign an extension. If things are going south, at least Olshey has a pretty good idea by then of what teams will have lottery picks they may be willing to move and what teams are willing to move young solid prospects in exchange for LMA's veteran skills as they make a playoff push. I still say that there isn't much likelihood that another team that is more contention-ready than the Blazers will have cap space in 2015 to make him a max offer. The Blazers still will be able to offer a bigger contract than anyone else. Where's the frickin' fire causing this rush to trade him?

If he is adamant about not signing in 2 years, then this is the year to trade him. Next year he'll have the DHoward effect - he can name his team and refuse to sign an extension where he doesn't want to go. Less bidders means less quality offers.

But I actually agree with your sentiment. Why not bust your ass to re-sign him? He's going to be hard to replace.

 

[BBert]

I don't doubt LaMarcus quietly told management at the end of last season that he wanted to be traded.

I hope though that the Blazers are successful enough this season that he changes his mind. He would be hard, maybe impossible, to replace, as all these threads and trade scenarios illustrate.

 

[e_blazer]

If he is adamant about not signing in 2 years, then this is the year to trade him. Next year he'll have the DHoward effect - he can name his team and refuse to sign an extension where he doesn't want to go. Less bidders means less quality offers.

But I actually agree with your sentiment. Why not bust your ass to re-sign him? He's going to be hard to replace.

Yes, I get the DHoward concept, but the circumstances are a bit different. Howard is rightly, or wrongly, viewed as a franchise-type player. LMA is viewed as a lower-tier All-Star. A lot of teams would love to have him as their 2nd or 3rd-best player on a contender. The problem is, as I showed in a post last week, there just aren't any teams in a contending, or near-contending situation who are going to have the cap space to sign him without a sign-and-trade. I said in my previous post, Olshey should wait until the deadline this season and then make the call. I think he still has plenty of leverage to get a good deal then if a trade is needed, and a lot more information with which to make that good deal.

 

[Draco]

Yeah I agree we hold on to Aldridge to start the year, if the team is playing great no need to trade him. If not, well trade offers might be even better during the year as some teams realize they are only one all-star away from a title they might be willing to mortgage the future.

I mean the Blazers lost their last 13 straight games, that would lead any all-star to want a trade over the summer.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm not really interested in Mirotic as the centerpieces of an Aldridge trade.

Fair enough.

He isn't as dominant as Rudy was in Europe,

That's just false.

He will want a bigger contract above the rookie scale.

You mean (gasp!) JOEL FREELAND MONEY!?! (Clutches pearls.)

We'd be paying market price for a player that is an unknown.

What's market price? Chances are we'd be paying about Wesley Matthews money, tops.

Would he even want to come to west coast Portland?

If Ricky Rubio can come to Minnesota, then I think so.

Yes the Charlotte pick could be valuable, I'd rather have that than Mirotic, but I think the Bobcats will improve enough in the east to not be one of the 8 worst teams the next three years. They are picking up guys like Jefferson when Utah, Philly, Boston and others are intentionally tanking. So that will be an end of the lottery pick or middle of the first round. Another nice asset but not worth half of an all-star. Jimmy Butler isn't close to as valuable as young players such as Klay Thompson or Harrison FUCKING Barnes.

Really? Let's compare PERs, shall we?
Butler: 15.26
Thompson: 12.71
Barnes: 11.08 (Luke Walton was 11.32. The "fucking" is short for "fucking overrated".)

Oh, but PER doesn't tell the whole story! It doesn't measure defense. Except that Butler is easily the best defender of the three as well.

I think Bulls fans are looking at these assets and excited how they are the 2 or 3 of their best pieces of the future similar to Blazer fans when we had Outlaw, Martell, and Telfair.

Maybe you got excited about those three, but I never did.

Denny said it best, Chicago fans are excited that the Charlotee pick could be the next Len Bias. No way any team is going to accept that price in a trade.

Except the fans don't run the team, do they?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Food for thought:
Monroe vs. Aldridge head to head.
Boozer vs. Aldridge head to head
David Lee vs. Aldridge (kind of a shocker, that one. Do we ever beat the Warriors?)
Batum vs. Parsons head to head. (again)

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Food for thought:
Monroe vs. Aldridge head to head.
Boozer vs. Aldridge head to head
David Lee vs. Aldridge (kind of a shocker, that one. Do we ever beat the Warriors?)
Batum vs. Parsons head to head. (again)

Oooh, this is a fun game. Can I play?

Lillard v. Jennings
Lillard v. Vasquez
Lillard v. Mo Williams

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Oooh, this is a fun game. Can I play?

Lillard v. Jennings
Lillard v. Vasquez
Lillard v. Mo Williams

Kind of alarming, isn't it? I didn't even post Harrison Barnes vs. Batum. Basically Golden State pwns us.

But back to Aldridge trades...

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Here's Mirotic. Looks a bit spindly, but so did Pau when he first came into the league. Mirotic fits the new breed of PFs who can shoot from anywhere.

[video=youtube;HsjMgfL3Umg]

 

[Mediocre Man]

Ironic that he wears #12

 

[magnifier661]

Ironic that he wears #12

Only ironic if Chicago trades him to us for Aldridge.

 

[BBert]

Looks like the next Dirk. I wonder how he plays if someone is actually guarding him.

Blazers fans would hate him though. He's a good three point shooter. That's just not right.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What was the rumor that kicked off the whole Aldridge-wants-to-go-to-Chicago thing? Was it that we asked for Butler and Noah and they said no way? Or did they offer us something that we turned down?

 

[magnifier661]

What was the rumor that kicked off the whole Aldridge-wants-to-go-to-Chicago thing? Was it that we asked for Butler and Noah and they said no way? Or did they offer us something that we turned down?

http://www.blogabull.com/2013/6/26/...l-deng-joakim-noah-bulls-blazers-trade-rumors

McGraw suggests offering up the Bobcats pick along with Deng for Aldridge, a deal that would be a no-brainer for GarPax. The salaries match up nicely, as Deng is set to make $14.215 million next year and Aldridge is slated for $14.628 million.

However, Deng plus the Bobcats pick doesn't seem like enough either, and I really don't see why Portland would trade for Deng when they already have Nicolas Batum in place. And I really wouldn't want to include Noah in a deal for Aldridge, although I would probably think about it. Aldridge is an excellent offensive player and would be a nice pick-and-roll partner for Rose. The Bulls obviously do have other assets as well in Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Jimmy Butler that could be used in a potential deal, and there's also the possibility of some three-way action.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Only ironic if Chicago trades him to us for Aldridge.

As I said, ironic