LaMarcus Aldridge Rumors: PF Called Damian Lillard Last Year About Blazers Trade

San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge reportedly reached out to former teammate Damian Lillard about a potential return to the Portland Trail Blazers last season before Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich remedied the situation.

On Thursday, Bleacher Report's Ken Berger reported Aldridge asked Lillard to talk with Blazers general manager Neil Olshey about calling San Antonio to discuss a possible reunion via trade.

"You can never say done because everybody thought that the Aldridge thing was over and that there was no chance to salvage that," a source said. "Pop went in and smoothed it over. You can't underestimate the power of the Pop in these situations."

Popovich told reporters in January that Aldridge requested a trade last offseason, though he didn't discuss whether there was a specific request to land back in Portland:

"I was very candid with him. I told him I would be happy to trade him. You get me a talent like Kevin Durant and I will drive you to the airport. I will pack your bags and I will drive you there,' and he laughed. And I said, 'Short of that I am your best buddy, and you are here for another year and you ain't going nowhere because for you talent-wise, we are not going to get what we want, so let's figure this thing out. And we did."

Aldridge ended up enjoying the best statistical season of his three years with the Spurs. He averaged 23.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocks while shooting 51 percent from the field across 75 appearances. He ranked eighth in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating, per ESPN.com.

LaMarcus Aldridge Highlights vs the Rockets

Those numbers were accumulated with superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard missing all but nine games because of a lingering quad injury, though.

The questions now are whether Leonard is willing to stay in San Antonio and if the forwards can coexist peacefully if both are on the roster. A Western Conference executive told Berger he doesn't think the preseason MVP candidate wants to remain with the Spurs.

"I don't think [the relationship can be salvaged]," the exec said. "At the end of the day, Kawhi wants out."

If Leonard does get traded, the focus will likely shift toward re-signing Aldridge, who's under contract for one more season with a $22.3 million cap hit, per Spotrac.

It sounds like the six-time All-Star selection could consider a return to the Pacific Northwest if he hits the open market next summer, though.