Should Aldridge be traded?

[Rastapopoulos]

Pick one.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Of the choices, I picked C

 

[magnifier661]

I can't vote on polls on my phone. What are the choices?

 

[Reep]

I would have added: Keep him for this year, see how the team does with the new additions and consider trading him next summer if it's not working.

 

[Eastoff]

I would have added: Keep him for this year, see how the team does with the new additions and consider trading him next summer if it's not working.

That's why I went with D. Trade him at the deadline.

 

[blue9]

I picked trade him now, but with the caveat that the trade needs to make sense for us. We're not going to get a star in return, so it's pointless to hold out for one. I wouldn't mind trading him for high picks, but I don't think that's likely to happen. And I don't think that his play will increase his trade value. So that leaves the first option.
But he absolutely should be traded prior to next summer - Deadline at the latest, and draft night at the absolute latest. After that we're gonna get table scraps at best. Letting him walk for cap space is the second worst option - the worst option is re-signing him to a max deal.

 

[BlazerWookee]

I would vote: Keep him, period. Leverage, schmeverage.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Without knowing what LMA actually said to the team, I find it impossible to pick.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I can't vote on polls on my phone. What are the choices?

He must be gone before training camp for whatever is the best offer. End the circus!
Only trade him for a comparable star player in return
Trade him for high pick(s) so we can tank. We're just average WITH him.
Let him play the first half of the season to see if he can jack up his value
NO TRADE! He has no leverage and we might be good!

 

[magnifier661]

He must be gone before training camp for whatever is the best offer. End the circus!
Only trade him for a comparable star player in return
Trade him for high pick(s) so we can tank. We're just average WITH him.
Let him play the first half of the season to see if he can jack up his value
NO TRADE! He has no leverage and we might be good!

No trade then. I think all this is bullshit.

 

[e_blazer]

Without knowing what LMA actually said to the team, I find it impossible to pick.

Pretty much this. If a great deal comes along, sure, jump on it. Otherwise, it's impossible to know how to plan without knowing Aldridge's actual position. There's a huge difference between him saying that he wants out if the Blazers can't win vs. him flat-out saying that he wants out, period. LMA's recent tweets give the impression of the former, media jock-sniffers who delight in trade rumors are pushing the latter, but only the Blazers and LMA know what's actually been said and discussed. I'm pretty content in letting NO make the call.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Assuming he wants out (seems reasonable, if not likely) then I say hold on to him until the trade deadline -- unless an offer comes along that is too good to pass up.

That said, choice 'C' was pretty compelling too. He is not a transcendent player, so unless the player in question qualifies, you should always be open to trading that player.

 

[RoyToy]

You tend to trade players that aren't committed long-term.

Trade him before the season starts.

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't think option 2 is viable because I don't see a comparable star that could be had.

We aren't getting a high draft pick in the 2014 draft.

I'd say there should be an option for young players, draft picks, and cap space for next summer.

 

[OregonHuskerMan]

Keep him for the year. Hope Love, Griffin or Horford ask for a trade, or (in Loves case) says that he will not stay... then trade him for Love. Or let him walk and throw the bank at Love.

 

[Masbee]

I voted C: Tank

This is no different than what I posted before the draft. It is based on these assumptions.

Aldridge has told the team it needs to be competitive - and soon - or they should look to move him to a competitive situation - or at least his home state of Texas - which except for Dallas is the same thing as competitive.

I didn't think that the team was in any kind of position to engineer a massive infusion of talent in time to retain LaMarcus. There really was only one hope, and that was having an All-Star demand a trade and has Portland on his list. Since that never happens (Charles Barkely was the last right?), it didn't happen.

Despite having a decent off-season, and agreeing with the moves the team has made so far, the team is still very short of having enough talent to be a player in the deep West. In the East, this team could fake it. But, we are not in the East.

The Blazers have improved their roster enough that a 7th or 8th seed is in reach. So, next summer, the team loses its pick and has no cap space to sign any decent free agents or make lopsided trades. MLE would be it.

The team will now be in the muddled middle with no easy way out.

The team will lose LaMarcus. His value with one year left will be much reduced from this summer. We would get a lot less next summer than this. If we wait until he expires, we will get even less. Think of LaMarcus as bread. Fresh is full price. Day old is discount. After that, pretty worthless.

After losing LaMarcus, just so we could be 1st round fodder for one season, the prize is that the team doesn't have big cap space, and has to now begin the tanking process - shedding long salaries, losing to get high picks, developing young players, etc.

The 2014 draft is projected to be the best since 2003. If we tank now, we keep our pick owed to Charlotte, and if we lose a lot of games that will be a very good pick. If we trade LaMarcus now in a multi-team trade, we can find a 2014 pick (maybe top 1 or top 3 protected), but we can get one. If we wait until the trade deadline or next summer, we will not be able to extract a 2014 pick that is likely to be any good. Teams will know what is what. Before the season starts there are always some teams have the idea they might be good, when they won't be.

I want two lottery picks in the next draft. The team needs to take advantage of this opportunity. The price for going all out for the 8th seed and losing LaMarcus one or two years later, is two lottery picks in a great, and deep draft.

As well as trading LaMarcus, I would look to trade Batum and Wes if a good deal came up. Looking for more salary flexibility and picks/young talent.

After a losing season we add 2 lottery picks, and NO has a bunch of moveable assets and cap space to use in trades to remake the team. Tanking now will cut the rebuild time in half - 2 years instead of 4.

 

[magnifier661]

Keep him for the year. Hope Love, Griffin or Horford ask for a trade, or (in Loves case) says that he will not stay... then trade him for Love. Or let him walk and throw the bank at Love.

Aldridge wouldn't stay in minny. But minny does love them some batum!

 

[Masbee]

Keep him for the year. Hope Love, Griffin or Horford ask for a trade, or (in Loves case) says that he will not stay... then trade him for Love. Or let him walk and throw the bank at Love.

Problems:

1) why do you assume any of those guys want to stay in Portland long-term if LaMarcus doesn't?
2) the team - assuming they could trade for any of those guys straight up, would be right where they are with LaMacus - the muddled middle. Basketball purgatory.

 

[magnifier661]

I voted C: Tank

This is no different than what I posted before the draft. It is based on these assumptions.

Aldridge has told the team it needs to be competitive - and soon - or they should look to move him to a competitive situation - or at least his home state of Texas - which except for Dallas is the same thing as competitive.

I didn't think that the team was in any kind of position to engineer a massive infusion of talent in time to retain LaMarcus. There really was only one hope, and that was having an All-Star demand a trade and has Portland on his list. Since that never happens (Charles Barkely was the last right?), it didn't happen.

Despite having a decent off-season, and agreeing with the moves the team has made so far, the team is still very short of having enough talent to be a player in the deep West. In the East, this team could fake it. But, we are not in the East.

The Blazers have improved their roster enough that a 7th or 8th seed is in reach. So, next summer, the team loses its pick and has no cap space to sign any decent free agents or make lopsided trades. MLE would be it.

The team will now be in the muddled middle with no easy way out.

The team will lose LaMarcus. His value with one year left will be much reduced from this summer. We would get a lot less next summer than this. If we wait until he expires, we will get even less. Think of LaMarcus as bread. Fresh is full price. Day old is discount. After that, pretty worthless.

After losing LaMarcus, just so we could be 1st round fodder for one season, the prize is that the team doesn't have big cap space, and has to now begin the tanking process - shedding long salaries, losing to get high picks, developing young players, etc.

The 2014 draft is projected to be the best since 2003. If we tank now, we keep our pick owed to Charlotte, and if we lose a lot of games that will be a very good pick. If we trade LaMarcus now in a multi-team trade, we can find a 2014 pick (maybe top 1 or top 3 protected), but we can get one. If we wait until the trade deadline or next summer, we will not be able to extract a 2014 pick that is likely to be any good. Teams will know what is what. Before the season starts there are always some teams have the idea they might be good, when they won't be.

I want two lottery picks in the next draft. The team needs to take advantage of this opportunity. The price for going all out for the 8th seed and losing LaMarcus one or two years later, is two lottery picks in a great, and deep draft.

As well as trading LaMarcus, I would look to trade Batum and Wes if a good deal came up. Looking for more salary flexibility and picks/young talent.

After a losing season we add 2 lottery picks, and NO has a bunch of moveable assets and cap space to use in trades to remake the team. Tanking now will cut the rebuild time in half - 2 years instead of 4.

Problem. We have Lillard, batum and Matthews; with Lopez being a decent center. I wouldn't be surprised if t rob actually pans out like a buck Williams. Even with trading out Aldridge for draft picks; won't guarantee a tank. All it will do is set us up in another meritocracy situation; but we just lost our all star.

We better hope that the player coming back has all star potential...

 

[Natebishop3]

TRob, at least to me, seems like a guy who could be a starter averaging a double double. He's a Brian Grant with better athleticism.

The thing is, if you start TRob, we need a much more effective wing who can score. Someone who puts up 20 per game.

 

[Masbee]

Problem. We have Lillard, batum and Matthews; with Lopez being a decent center. I wouldn't be surprised if t rob actually pans out like a buck Williams. Even with trading out Aldridge for draft picks; won't guarantee a tank. All it will do is set us up in another meritocracy situation; but we just lost our all star.

We better hope that the player coming back has all star potential...

Yes it will.

WITH Aldridge we are battling for the 8th spot.

How in the hell do you figure if we ship out Aldridge for future value (projects/picks) the team will win about the same number of games.

Also, I am trying to trade Batum and Matthews as part of the tank.

Lillard doesn't play defense yet.

One or both of our quality wings is gone.

T-Rob would win Most Improved Player award if your fantasy happened. So, that's not happening.

We are not winning a lot of games with that roster. Lillard/Wes/??/T-Rob/Lopez.


Anywho, it doesn't matter. Because I don't think Paul Allen wants to do it. He wants to try to win. Problem is, most likely outcome of all of this, is that we will see LaMarcus depart in one or two years and not get very much or anything in return, and the team will have to START a rebuild at that time.

There are no good or easy solutions. I will just hate to see it play out on a path that looks pretty obvious right now.

 

[PapaG]

I picked trade him now, but with the caveat that the trade needs to make sense for us. We're not going to get a star in return, so it's pointless to hold out for one. I wouldn't mind trading him for high picks, but I don't think that's likely to happen. And I don't think that his play will increase his trade value. So that leaves the first option.
But he absolutely should be traded prior to next summer - Deadline at the latest, and draft night at the absolute latest. After that we're gonna get table scraps at best. Letting him walk for cap space is the second worst option - the worst option is re-signing him to a max deal.

That wasn't Option A, though.

 

[magnifier661]

Yes it will.

WITH Aldridge we are battling for the 8th spot.

How in the hell do you figure if we ship out Aldridge for future value (projects/picks) the team will win about the same number of games.

Also, I am trying to trade Batum and Matthews as part of the tank.

Lillard doesn't play defense yet.

One or both of our quality wings is gone.

T-Rob would win Most Improved Player award if your fantasy happened. So, that's not happening.

We are not winning a lot of games with that roster. Lillard/Wes/??/T-Rob/Lopez.


Anywho, it doesn't matter. Because I don't think Paul Allen wants to do it. He wants to try to win. Problem is, most likely outcome of all of this, is that we will see LaMarcus depart in one or two years and not get very much or anything in return, and the team will have to START a rebuild at that time.

There are no good or easy solutions. I will just hate to see it play out on a path that looks pretty obvious right now.

Didn't say we would win the same amount of games as if we had Aldridge. This year, we'd be a playoff team with Aldridge. Without, we'd probably be around a +5 win team from last season.

 

[Masbee]

Didn't say we would win the same amount of games as if we had Aldridge. This year, we'd be a playoff team with Aldridge. Without, we'd probably be around a +5 win team from last season.

We don't see it the same way.

LaMarcus is a cornerstone of the offense, and a solid team defender. Take him out and put in a young player or a mediocre veteran and that is a big hit to both sides of the court.

As well, our health was above average last season. If we suffer even an average number of injuries and they happen to key guys, that will impact the win number.

With LaMarcus, I don't consider this team a lock for the playoffs. A lot of things are going to have to go right. Without LaMarcus, I don't think the team has any shot at making the playoffs.

And you think without LaMarcus we will still be in the hunt. We don't agree this, which has a big impact on our opinion about what to do with the team now.

Bottom line, I don't think this team can be a contender for the Western Conference Finals unless we either obtain a player that is BETTER than Lillard and LaMarcus or we add two more players on their level. I don't see how that can be done moving forward. And, if the team doesn't get in front of this with long-range planning we won't even have the Lillard/LaMarcus duo.

 

[PapaG]

Blow up a young team because the PF may not re-sign in two years.

Such a small-market mentality. Why not just move the franchise to Seattle, since it's a bigger city and more diverse place to live?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Jack up his value? Do you really think he can up his value more than what it already is? LA is what he is. You know what you are going to get out of him. Hint: He's worth a lot more than many in here want to take back.

 

[STOMP]

Without knowing what LMA actually said to the team, I find it impossible to pick.

the impression I've gathered from his public comments is that losing last season was tough and that he wants to be part of a contending team. Him wanting to stay on is probably tied to the team taking a couple steps forward.

He's obviously a great talent. If he generally likes his situation in Portland and he's got the sort of character that can be built around, then you resign the healthy All Star entering his prime. Failing either of those things you explore various trade options while keeping in mind the state of the roster overall and what sort of Free Agents would be available with cleared capspace. Sign and trade possibilities would allow many other teams to compete over his services too. But bottom line I'm sure management has a good idea about LA's state of mind and character, and that will probably direct their decision making/actions

I'll note that it's generally a good thing to have a stud player coming up on their contract year. Barring injury, it's unlikely his trade value goes anywhere but up

STOMP

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Hint: He's worth a lot more than many in here want to take back.

?? "No no, I couldn't take that much for him! Offer me less!"

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Barring injury, it's unlikely his trade value goes anywhere but up

This is like when they used to say "barring completely unforeseen circumstances..." in Arrested Development.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Jack up his value? Do you really think he can up his value more than what it already is? LA is what he is. You know what you are going to get out of him. Hint: He's worth a lot more than many in here want to take back.

I think LaMarcus actually could increase his trade value if he got back to playing more in the low post. One of the reasons LA didn't post up more last season was because he was coming off of hip surgery. LA tweeted that he has been working on his post game this off season. So I'm hopeful that LaMonster will resurface. I don't want to see him traded, but the boatload off assets the Blazers would receive for LaMonster might not be so bad in the long run.