Trail Blazers' list of concerns after Game 1 should include the future of LaMarcus Aldridge

[Rhal]

I do think the massive infusion of cash from the new TV deal and the huge increase in the cap starting next year have changed the equation.

That won't really effect LA at all unless he wants to do a 1 year deal, which may not be the greatest idea since he is injured and turning 30 but he certainly could say he wants a 1 year deal and the Blazers management would be hard pressed to say "nope its 5 years or nothing". I don't see leaving 110m on the table as a great idea.

 

[kjironman1]

This is Quick garbage. He does this every year. As soon as it gets a little dicey he jumps all over the first Drama he can dig up.
Yes...I too wish to know exactly what player said 50/50. Of course that is confidential. It's also a mixed up statement because he isn't just saying one player. It starts out with "Players". "Some Blazers PLAYERS have already said they are worried free agency will take Aldridge away from Portland this summer. Earlier this month, before a home game, a Blazers player estimated the chances of him returning to Portland at 50-50."

Here is my next question. Why was Quick asking any player earlier this month a question like that? Earlier this month was right before the playoffs. This is why i wish Quick would just stay the hell away from the Blazers.....

 

[stampedehero]

Unfortunatley everyone is replaceable. 90 Mil and Allen sees only one issue, a heartless team that was totally embarressed along with the after thought that the Grizz beat his financial investment 5 straight. If the Grizz Team could do that for 90 mil total then his mind is made up.

 

[jlprk]

After his ancestral inspiration Zach demolished him last night, Aldridge probably wants to return to his roots, learning at the foot of Father Zach. The only question is, can we get Conley for him.

 

[H.C.]

 

[illmatic99]

Wow. What idiotic player is talking to Quick about this now? You want this distraction during a playoff series?

I'm more mad at that player than Quick. Way to rep your team

 

[H.C.]

I seriously doubt there is any player that spoke to this rumor starter.

I mean in the post game press confernece Aldridge said. "I need to play better".
That's coming from a guy who was the only threat offensively really... He didn't look at his 32 points, 14 rebounds 7 of those offensive... He looked at his 34 shots.
"I need to play better". Not "We need to play better as a team." "I need to play better".
Zero credibility by Quick.

 

[Blazer4ever]

I would like to apologize to Aldridge. I didn't even read the article earlier and was badmouthing him in another thread just about the possibility of him leaving.
After getting more relaxed and actualy reading this thread, my problem is certainly not with him but maybe with the quality of topics started here and of sports journalism. This article has nothing, absolutely nothing, I could write it if I were a douchebag and it would have more value, this is like quoting one of my posts and making a topic out of it, simply bullshit, I'm sorry.

 

[PTBfanEST87]

Ay man this is bad and it already begins.. I knew as soon as we drew Memphis the pounding we would get the LA rumors will begin. This was my biggest fear.

Plus Lillard playing like shit doesn't help at all. It's not really assuring for LA that he has another star to help him..

 

[kjironman1]

Wow. What idiotic player is talking to Quick about this now? You want this distraction during a playoff series?

I'm more mad at that player than Quick. Way to rep your team

That's just it. Quick covers that by starting off with "Players". The idea is that he talked about the issue with many of them in the couple weeks that led up to the playoffs, which is just straight Bullshit! Then he goes on to take a quote but wont give a name. How do we know this statement wasn't just an off the cuff joke that was slightly tweaked and taken out of context? We don't because Quick is making it impossible to chase down. This is the kind of garbage that got Quick in trouble before and eventually he will get in trouble again.

 

[HailBlazers]

Jason Quick article. Maybe there is some truth, but even more likely he made the damned thing up.

"Unnamed sources/players". lol. We've seen this charlatan before.

SHOCKER. Bet he's had this article prepped for a month.

 

[PTBfanEST87]

SHOCKER. Bet he's had this article prepped for a month.

I felt the same way as you guys for most of the year. Why would he leave? Then as soon as the season turned ugly around Janaury and Lillard playing like Brandon Jennings (not a good thing) I relaized LA is going to be gone ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute? His "promise" from last year don't mean shit..

 

[H.C.]

I felt the same way as you guys for most of the year. Why would he leave? Then as soon as the season turned ugly around Janaury and Lillard playing like Brandon Jennings (not a good thing) I relaized LA is going to be gone ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute? His "promise" from last year don't mean shit..

You just basically quoted what Quick said in a reply to someone.

Jason Quick | The Oregonian/OregonLive20 minutes ago
@The Feltdown I felt the same way as you for most of the year. Then I started hearing more and more things that make me wonder ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute?

FlagShare


I don't know if you're trolling or not....

 

[PTBfanEST87]

You just basically quoted what Quick said in a reply to someone.

Jason Quick | The Oregonian/OregonLive20 minutes ago
@The Feltdown I felt the same way as you for most of the year. Then I started hearing more and more things that make me wonder ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute?

FlagShare


I don't know if you're trolling or not....

Well he has a point

 

[H.C.]

Well he has a point

He only has a point if you take it at face value.. Not logically...
Especially when it comes to TEAM USA.

 

[julius]

You just basically quoted what Quick said in a reply to someone.

Jason Quick | The Oregonian/OregonLive20 minutes ago
@The Feltdown I felt the same way as you for most of the year. Then I started hearing more and more things that make me wonder ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute?

FlagShare


I don't know if you're trolling or not....

this is the same poster who posts as S550.

 

[EGame]

If Aldridge does go the only player I would resign would be Wes. Rolo and Afflalo could go to so we can develop CJ and Meyers more. Sadly, Aldridge may force our hand and we may try to resign those guys to appease him and it still may not be enough. He may still leave and that would be the nightmare situation.

 

[magnifier661]

You would make this deal if LA leaving was a certain and you didn't want to lose him for nothing though right?

I would.

If it was certain, I would go for draft picks and an up and coming star

 

[kjironman1]

You just basically quoted what Quick said in a reply to someone.

Jason Quick | The Oregonian/OregonLive20 minutes ago
@The Feltdown I felt the same way as you for most of the year. Then I started hearing more and more things that make me wonder ... He's a difficult guy to figure out. How many times has he said he wants to play for Team USA ... only to back out at the last minute?

FlagShare


I don't know if you're trolling or not....

He did quote it almost to a "T". Makes you wonder??????

 

[Rastapopoulos]

On the one hand: it would set us back a bunch.
On the other: are we really going to contend anyway?
Also: where's he going to go? New York? Have fun with that. Portland is BUILT round him - if he wants to become Chris Bosh, then I wish him well.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

On the one hand: it would set us back a bunch.
On the other: are we really going to contend anyway?
Also: where's he going to go? New York? Have fun with that. Portland is BUILT round him - if he wants to become Chris Bosh, then I wish him well.

LA Lakers is my nightmare scenario. He lives down here.

 

[dviss1]

Dear God, no.

If Aldridge leaves I would WELCOME this S&T. And so would you.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

If Aldridge does go the only player I would resign would be Wes. Rolo and Afflalo could go to so we can develop CJ and Meyers more. Sadly, Aldridge may force our hand and we may try to resign those guys to appease him and it still may not be enough. He may still leave and that would be the nightmare situation.

Not a total nightmare. I'd plug Meyers into LA's spot and let him go to town. Give him 20 touches a night and try to have fun with it. His post game isn't much worse than rookie LA's, and his outside game is better.

 

[Spud147]

Jason Quick is so predictable... in fact, isn't this basically a recycled article from 3 or 4 years ago? Remember that article he wrote that got picked up by the AP and LaMarcus got so fed up with all the questions he said, "This is why I hate Portland" (meaning the pot stirring media up here not the fans or the city).

He's got a legacy here, he is going to go down as one of the greatest players in Blazer history, it's important to him. A championship is almost as much about luck with match ups and injuries (or lack of) as it is with players/talent (look at OKC, they're in the lottery). LA isn't stupid, he can see how bad the injuries hit us and Neil and Mr. Allen have shown him they want him here and they are getting players out here to help him. I just can't stand Jason Quick, this is a distraction that should've waiting until after the play offs.

On a side note, I know we are not the Spurs BUT... they lost worse than we did yesterday - so are they a guaranteed out in the 1 round now like people think the Blazers are? It was ONE GAME people!!!

 

[Boise Blazer]

Whether its true or not why in the world would any decent or rational person release it during the playoffs and add a distraction like that? Nevermind, I just answered my own question.

 

[blue9]

The Blazers should be more concerned about how LMA is featured, rather than his future. He was just as much to blame for us digging ourselves a 19-point first half deficit as anyone.

That's not to say he didn't play well at times (namely, when he played around the basket), but his penchant for taking jumpers has got to stop now that the Playoffs have started. Live in the post, kick out when he doesn't have a good shot, and if left open at the 3-point line then take it - that should be how LMA is featured in the offense. Shooting 34 times is not a recipe for success.

That's not to say LMA is to blame for the loss. (I know yous all think I just want to blame LMA for everything - I don't.) There was actually quite a bit to be encouraged about LMA's play last night - he rolled to the hoop on a few occasions, he fought for rebounds and put-backs, and at times played good defense. But he also played some terrible team defense and took terrible shots rather than trying to move the ball. The only time I remember him kicking out of the post actually lead to a wide open Meyers 3-pointer. Last season (season) a good portion of our offense was predicated on LMA passing out of the post, but that's been missing almost entirely this season.

The blame for our inept play falls squarely at the feet of Stotts. I can't blame LMA (too much) for taking bad shots and long jumpers because Stotts is the one letting him take those shots. Likewise, Dame has been relegated to "has-been" status and Stotts hasn't done anything to change how we operate in order to put Lillard in better positions. Dame hasn't helped matters by forcing things, but he can only do so much with a broken offense. I think it's all safe to say that we all expected Stotts to make some changes before Game 1, but we played the same jack-em-up ball from the tip. What was it, our first 5 shots were long jumpers? And aside from the very first shot (CJ's missed 3) it didn't look like any of the shots came off of designed plays. Then LMA finally ran a pick/roll and we got a high-percentage shot, only to go right back to taking long jumpers.

All in all, the style of play and the result weren't all that surprising.

 

[BBert]

Whether its true or not why in the world would any decent or rational person release it during the playoffs and add a distraction like that? Nevermind, I just answered my own question.

Shit stirring Shit writes shit.

 

[BlazerWookee]

"50/50," lol...

 

[BlazerWookee]

Kevin Love for Aldridge?

I wouldn't trade Dorrell Wright for Kevin Love.

 

[BBert]

I wouldn't trade Dorrell Wright for Kevin Love.

I would. Then I'd flip him for a draft pick.