Why LaMarcus Aldridge Should Re-Sign with Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers are deep in a 3-1 hole against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2015 playoffs, and their season may be over in the following days. A comeback is possible, as it’s never wise to count this team out until it’s official, but Rip City’s chances of doing so are slim.
Any first-round exit is disappointing, but it could be particularly damaging for the Blazers, as All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He has repeatedly stated his commitment, but he could feasibly leave Portland.
Per a report from Jason Quick of The Oregonian: "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."
He already has a number of suitors potentially prepared to offer him a deal, per a tweet from ESPN’s Marc Stein.
A number of reasons exist to tab the Blazers as Aldridge’s ideal choice, specifically related to personnel and long-term goals. Other teams have attractive proposals to extend, but Portland ticks all the boxes Aldridge would look for when it comes to playing in the NBA.
Ideal Situation
At this stage of his career, Aldridge has his eyes on the prize.
Every NBA player has dreamed of hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy for his team, but there’s a journey to get to the point where it’s a realistic option.
After years of developing and refining his game, Aldridge is in his prime and ready to be that guy. Whether that’s with Portland or another organization, he’s a top-10 player and arguably the top power forward in all of basketball.
But to add a championship to his resume, Aldridge must be surrounded by the right pieces. He presently has as much with the Blazers.
He has a plethora of complementary role players, namely Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez. The former of the three saw his season end prematurely after being sidelined with an Achilles tear. His absence was clear down the stretch, as Portland missed its X-factor on both ends.
Batum and Lopez were still competent contributors to close out the year and into the playoffs, but Matthews is a clear cut above both in terms of being the third-leading scorer and an elite shooter.
In addition to this trio, Aldridge has his running mate in All-Star point guard Damian Lillard.
Though he’s just in his third season, Lillard has already made a name for himself as a fearless scorer. Whether he’s taking it to the rim or nailing a three from way downtown, he complements Aldridge’s inside game extremely well. The fact that the guard has his own phrase coined to describe his play in crunch time speaks volumes about his ability. #LillardTime, anyone?
Despite a number of hampering injuries, specifically the broken hand of Lopez and the torn thumb ligament of Aldridge, a lineup of these five players produced an offensive rating of 107.8 and a defensive rating of 97.1, per NBA.com.
Both are excellent values in each respective measure, which gives Portland an advantage when it comes to its pitch to Aldridge.
An elite unit is already in place around him with proven results, which counts for something if he is to look elsewhere. This team was able to advance last season, but injuries simply derailed any and all hope for this year.
In addition, Portland has an intelligent head coach in tow. In his few seasons with the Blazers, Terry Stotts has taken the team from a rebuilding phase to a perennial contender. Portland has one of the league's most versatile offenses courtesy of his basketball mind, which also aided the Dallas Mavericks to net a championship in 2011.
Of all his rumored suitors, only the San Antonio Spurs could offer Aldridge a clear-cut role with strong role players around him and a formidable coach. Yet even then, there’s no telling if that would translate to results or match the terrific chemistry he has with the Blazers (though it's possible).
The fact that two of the rumored teams, Dallas and San Antonio, exist within his home state of Texas is absolutely noteworthy. It'd surely play on Aldridge's mind to head back to his roots and finish out his career where he grew up, which isn't something Portland can offer.
But from a basketball standpoint, Portland is Aldridge’s best bet. He has the primary role on the court and is surrounded by talented players willing to do all the dirty work, with a strong coaching staff to boot.
Legacy and Contract Negotiations
Re-signing with the Blazers will also give Aldridge the chance to fulfill some desires that exist off the court.
Some players, but not all, are conscious of the legacy they will leave behind after they retire. There are some who strive to reach the best of their abilities and some who want to be remembered as one of the greatest to ever step on a court, while others are content just playing the game they love and making a living.
Aldridge has made it clear he exists in the former two groups, going as far as admitting he wishes to “be the best Blazer—ever,” per a report from Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. He continued on: "I should be able to leave a mark on a big-time franchise that is going to be seen forever. And I will be able to say I played here my whole career."
There’s a certain dignity in playing with one team forever, and Aldridge clearly wishes to complete his NBA journey that way. If his goal to do so is as innate as revealed, it will play a major role in his decision.
The Trail Blazers have a deep history, though few truly legendary players scrawled in the books. Certain names jump out, such as Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton, but there’s a handful at best. If Aldridge truly committed to the franchise for the entirety of his career, his name would be right up there regardless of his success in a Portland uniform.
In July of last year, when Aldridge’s upcoming eligibility to sign elsewhere was in question after he refused to sign an extension, he made a compelling statement to Freeman that would seemingly reassure Rip City:
"I'm happy to stay, happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone the last year or two. This has no impact on my interest in staying in Portland. I just want to get a five-year deal. I feel like that's the best decision on my part.
I don't want it to be perceived that I'm not happy or I'm not staying on because I'm not signing a three-year deal. It's just financially smarter to wait … and I'm looking forward to signing the five-year deal when the chance comes.
"
Aldridge’s desire to wait is understandable given that a contract of five guaranteed years is far better than one of just three. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll sign for as long in the upcoming free-agency period, purely based on the expected salary-cap rise with the NBA’s new television deal.
Per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, the cap is expected to rise “to between $88 million and $92 million per team” during the 2016-17 season, which is a far cry above this season’s $63 million and around $66 million for next year’s campaign.
Concurrently, the Blazers can offer Aldridge a few select privileges no other team can, per a tweet from Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
Though it’s possible Aldridge's mind has changed since he made those remarks, it's fairly unlikely given his continued commitment to the franchise over the course of his career. Even this season, for instance, Aldridge opted to play through a torn thumb ligament to keep his team afloat.
The injury required surgery that would have sidelined the forward for six to eight weeks, per a tweet from Trail Blazers PR.
Such a sacrifice was, and is, indicative of his devotion to Portland and its success. One could read between the lines and make the argument that this season's shortcomings might rub Aldridge the wrong way given his own personal strides to do his part.
But all things considered, it would be out of character and even unfair given the injuries down the stretch.
Is It Enough?
At the end of the day, Aldridge will make the decision that is best for himself. The Blazers can only hope that what they offer is enough, of which they can be optimistic.
The team has Lillard, an established and complementary All-Star to pair him with, as well as an ensemble of both experienced and up-and-coming talent. Whether it's the physical play of Lopez or the scoring of C.J. McCollum, Aldridge can find solace in a cohesive and deep core of teammates to do battle with every night.
Off the court, the big man can move forward with his career goal of walking the NBA pathway with just one team. He can also profit more financially and for longer by staying, even if he signs a shorter deal until the salary cap expands to re-up with a longer contract.
On top of all that, Aldridge would have the opportunity to compete for a championship year in and year out. He'd be revered for winning a title purely based on the achievement, but he'd go down as a historic legend if he did so as a member of the Trail Blazers.
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