Sources: Aldridge has told Blazers he will not return

[blue9]

Ball movement Yes, attacking the Rim, not so much.

Not off the dribble, but he's got great hands to catch the ball while cutting to the rim. We just ran ZERO plays of that variety.

 

[Natebishop3]

How pissed would Cleveland fans be though? They traded Wiggins to get Love and Love might walk? That's 10x worse than losing LA.

 

[riverman]

So the Spurs are renouncing everyone or sign and trade?

They'll keep Felton..and Aldridge will get to play with that guy

 

[dviss1]

Shoulda kept Nic - he'd work beautifully in that sort of system!

Batum does NOT attack the rim...

 

[42N8Bounce]

If other teams cannot talk to Free Agents until after July 1, why would LaMarcus inform the Blazers he's not coming back without having another offer in hand? This is odd timing.

 

[Duckhook]

As much as I would hate to see LMA go, he has every right to do what he wants. He's earned that IMO. We can cast disparaging remarks all day about him, but he gave us 9 years of hustle and consistancy all the while he was swirling around BRoy, Oden, Lillard, etc. The dude played with a frickin' broken thumb for most of this season - he's given us his all and if he chooses to leave that's on him. Sure it would be nice to get something back in a S&T, but we'll be left with a large salary surplus to sign another all-star.

Bottom line, I love me some LMA. But I'll still cheer for him should he bolt entirely. OTOH, if he were to don the purple and piss I will be dissapointed.

 

[blue9]

hustle and consistancy

...NOT!

 

[magnifier661]

If other teams cannot talk to Free Agents until after July 1, why would LaMarcus inform the Blazers he's not coming back without having another offer in hand? This is odd timing.

Ding ding ding!!!!!!

It's against league rules for Aldridge to even say that

 

[riverman]

I won't miss his media interviews much

 

[BBert]

Shoulda kept Nic - he'd work beautifully in that sort of system!

Ball movement Yes, attacking the Rim, not so much.

Batum attacks the rim just fine -- he just needs a little more room to operate -- which he'd get in a more open ball movement / player movement system -- instead of setting up on the wing and entering the ball to our PF 30 times a night.

 

[blue9]

Ding ding ding!!!!!!

It's against league rules for Aldridge to even say that

LMA most certainly CAN say that.

 

[riverman]

Well it's a new chapter in my long history of being a Blazer fan..going to be an interesting summer. Go Blazers!

 

[BlazerBeav]

As much as I would hate to see LMA go, he has every right to do what he wants. He's earned that IMO. We can cast disparaging remarks all day about him, but he gave us 9 years of hustle and consistancy all the while he was swirling around BRoy, Oden, Lillard, etc. The dude played with a frickin' broken thumb for most of this season - he's given us his all and if he chooses to leave that's on him. Sure it would be nice to get something back in a S&T, but we'll be left with a large salary surplus to sign another all-star.

Bottom line, I love me some LMA. But I'll still cheer for him should he bolt entirely. OTOH, if he were to don the purple and piss I will be dissapointed.

Yeah, I totally understand the rational of cheering for a guy who just screwed over your franchise. Makes perfect sense.

If true, fuck him and may his career be injury riddled from here on out. If not true, I'll have my #12 jersey ready for opening day.

 

[riverman]

Hello Meyers Leonard! We like you now!

 

[42N8Bounce]

So assuming this is true, how much money would they have to work with if they give up the rights to him, Wes, and Rolo? They could still go after a guy like Butler and DeAndre.

$41,618,453. We have room to go after two max salary players. Here's a breakdown from one of my earlier posts:

Here's an updated look at the Blazers CAP -

Signed:
Gerald Henderson, $6,000,000 (Yes, he is now the Blazers top paid player!)
Chris Kaman, $5,016,000 (Team Option, $1M Guaranteed)
Damian Lillard, $4,236,287
Meyers Leonard, $3,075,880
Noah Vonleh, $2,637,720
CJ McCollum, $2,525,160
Steve Blake, $2,170,464 (Opted In)
Draft Choice (#23) CAP Hold, $1,112,900 (Can't trade out due to rule not allowing trading 1st rounders 2 years in a row.)

The Blazers have $22,856,082 in committed salary. Adding in the minimum 12-man roster CAP holds ($525,093 each), puts the total at $25,481,547. That gives the Blazers $41,618,453 of CAP space.

To get that cap space, they would have to renounce the rights to:
LaMarcus Aldridge, $20,130,000 (CAP Hold)
Aaron Afflalo, $11,625,000 (CAP Hold)
Wesley Matthews, $10,868,460 (CAP Hold)
Robin Lopez, $9,187,092 (CAP Hold)
Mid Level Exception CAP Hold, $5,464,000
Dorell Wright $4,075,500 (CAP Hold)
Joel Freeland, $3,766,890 (Qualifying Offer)
Allen Crab $947,276 (CAP Hold. Team Option)
Alonzo Gee, $947,276 (CAP Hold)
Tim Frazier, $845,069 (CAP Hold. Team Option)
Chris Kaman, $5,016,000 (Team Option, $1M Guaranteed)

The Max contracts are:
0-6 yr NBA vet, $16,775,000 (Like Greg Monroe)
7-9 yr NBA vet, $20,130,000 (Like LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, Kevin Love, or Roy Hibbert)
10+ yr NBA vet, $23,485,000 (Like Tim Duncan)

I'm not a CAP Guru, so if you see any information that looks inaccurate, let me know. Most of my information came from Basketballinsiders.com and CBAFaq.com.

It's going to be a fun free agent period!

 

[illmatic99]

 

[Wizard Mentor]

We need Greg Monroe. If we get him, I'm fine. Otherwise, I'm a Nervous Nelly.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

If other teams cannot talk to Free Agents until after July 1, why would LaMarcus inform the Blazers he's not coming back without having another offer in hand? This is odd timing.

LMA can not talk to teams, teams can't talk to LMA but...

everyone can talk to agents.

 

[magnifier661]

LMA most certainly CAN say that.

He most certainly cannot. League rules state clearly that free agents cannot contact teams until July 1st

 

[magnifier661]

LMA can not talk to teams, teams can't talk to LMA but...

everyone can talk to agents.

Yep, but the rumor is Aldridge told the Blazers.

 

[magnifier661]

LMA can not talk to teams, teams can't talk to LMA but...

everyone can talk to agents.

Yep, but the rumor is Aldridge told the Blazers.

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

FUCK. Quick says no one has heard anything? He's as good as gone......

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Yep, but the rumor is Aldridge told the Blazers.

LMA actually isn't a free agent (at least from us) yet. Or to put it another way, he could talk to us as he is still under our control. Not saying he did talk to us though....

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Batum does NOT attack the rim...

Except that one time every game where he breezes to the rim like Clyde meets Jordan and we SCREAM because he only tries it once.

 

[riverman]

So then Nico wouldn't rent him a house after all...he's gotta live somewhere..blame Batum for this in 1..2..3..

 

[blue9]

He most certainly cannot. League rules state clearly that free agents cannot contact teams until July 1st

But he can say that he's not coming back as a Blazer. He doesn't have to have any contact with any team to say that.

 

[riverman]

or the medical staff has determined his thumb won't hold up for another season

 

[dviss1]

Batum attacks the rim just fine -- he just needs a little more room to operate -- which he'd get in a more open ball movement / player movement system -- instead of setting up on the wing and entering the ball to our PF 30 times a night.

Bullshit. Nic was a soft Bitch who consistently avoided contact. At 6'9 he should weigh at least 220-230. The lack of muscle is why he rarely attacked the rim at all..

 

[crowTrobot]

$41,618,453. We have room to go after two max salary players. Here's a breakdown from one of my earlier posts:

Love and Lebron

 

[B-Roy]

Two starters? Well, two are free agents and one is gone. So I have no idea what this means.