Watching the Paint Dry: Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge Finally Ready for Breakout

The NBA offseason is coming to a close and anticipation around Rip City has never been so intense. The team took a huge leap forward last year and now it's time to become contenders. Pieces have been brought in to compliment the current group. Andre Miller and Juwan Howard are fresh faces with tons of NBA experience.

Brandon Roy is getting plenty of recognition and just recently signed a max contract extension. Greg Oden seems fresh and poised to step up. Even role players like Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum shined in Euro basketball this summer.

But what about LaMarcus Aldridge?

Much of the talk this offseason has been about everyone but Aldridge. Except of course when it comes to his frustration with his contract negotiations.

The last couple of days I've heard this question posed: who will be the Blazers' breakout player this season? Many fans point to Fernandez and/or Batum because of their EuroBasket contributions. Others (including myself) believe that this could be the year that Oden steps forward and becomes our dominant center of the future.

But for my money, the guy who I think has just the right chip on his shoulder is LaMarcus Aldridge. Last season he averaged 18.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The beginning of the season he saw major inconsistencies and his numbers were below his career averages.

Aldridge was also called soft by certain naysayers, including yours truly. But I was wrong and so was everyone else. Aldridge isn't soft, he's just a different sort of power forward. I've never doubted LA's ability I just wondered about the erratic production. Aldridge was also on the brink of making the All-Star team had it not been for that slow start.

But this season, starting right now, something is different about Aldridge. He is hungry, you can tell. He's confident and ready to be the other Blazer superstar. Not only has he obviously put on some muscle but he grew up a lot over the season, in the playoffs and this summer.

His head is right, and I think he very much wants to prove to Portland, and to this organization, that he deserves a max contract. Not to mention plays in practice like this one. Prz doesn't react like that unless it's really impressive.

Whether we want to believe it or not, money and job security motivates people. Not only does Aldridge want to prove his worth but I think he wants to be a 20 and 10 guy and make the All-Star team every single year.

This is the year Aldridge truly steps into his comfort zone and dominates from start to finish. I believe he can average at least 20 and nine and join Brandon Roy on the 2010 All-Star team in his hometown of Dallas (extra motivation!).

Healthy, strong, motivated and quicker than ever, Aldridge will fill many roles in the Blazer offense. With a commitment to run more, thanks to the addition of Miller, Aldridge could be more devastating than ever to opposing defenses. You remember the way he ran the floor last year, like a gazelle, finishing with a power slam. Expect more of the same this season.

The Blazers have a very talented and intriguing roster. Roles are being defined and guys are going to know where they stand. The number two pick in the 2006 draft wants to prove he can dominate at his position and join the elite power forwards in the NBA.

For the majority of NBA players, it's the third year where they become the player they were meant to be. In his fourth season, LaMarcus Aldridge will reach his potential.