SAD FINISH FOR ALDRIDGE, BLAZERS
Fans are hurt most as big man leaves for Spurs
When LaMarcus Aldridge made his decision to head for the Alamo, joining the San Antonio Spurs organization that had sold him on the chance to be the post-Tim Duncan torchbearer, the people he left behind in Portland were more confused than surprised.
If being The Man was so important as they had all been led to believe, then why go to a place where Duncan’s shadow is arguably longer and more imposing than any that came before, and where another young star, Kawhi Leonard, has been deemed their centerpiece of the future? If being the undisputed leader of the locker room was the missing element to the Trail Blazers situation that wasn’t negative so much as nuanced, then why not sign with a Phoenix Suns franchise that was ready to anoint him as such?
It was hardly the first time that the complex 29-year-old left them perplexed.
For years, rumblings existed that Aldridge wasn’t happy with his place in the Portland spotlight. First it was Brandon Roy stealing his thunder, then Greg Oden before his ill-fated fall, and then this young and dynamic talent named Damian Lillard, whose star rose far too quickly for Aldridge’s liking. Along the way, the complaints that would rarely, if ever, come directly from Aldridge were consistent: One way or another, intentional or not, he felt underappreciated — if not disrespected. He wanted top billing. But the challenging part for the Blazers folks who tried so hard through the years to understand him is that Aldridge’s understated ways made it nearly impossible to satisfy this request. He routinely turned down interviews or didn’t maximize off-court opportunities as Lillard did. He is known as the private type, the kind of player and person who prefers to play his game and let someone else handle most of the leadership duties. Until, of course, someone does just that, reaps the benefits and kick-starts the cycle of jealousy that had everything to do with his departure.
The difficult dynamic between Aldridge and Lillard was as real as advertised, but it wasn’t a personality clash as much as a problem with their respective profiles. Marketing is a funny thing that way, and the harsh truth about Aldridge’s portfolio is that it’s not nearly what it should be, in large part, because of the way he has handled his affairs.
Meanwhile, it could be argued that Lillard — who came out of a small school (Weber State) and has flourished in a small market — has the best pound-for-pound profile in the NBA. This, make no mistake, was the contrast that caused so much conflict.
While the Blazers were holding out hope in recent days that Aldridge would take their five-year max deal worth about $110 million, they were finalizing a fiveyear extension with Lillard that — because he was on his rookie-scale contract and had been deemed their one “designated player” — could be worth about $129 million.
This was the same Lillard who last year secured an Adidas deal that eventually could be worth more than $100 million, and whose authentic brand has resonated not only with Blazers fans but also the global basketball community.
Lillard, upon returning from a promotional trip in Paris, was hoping to pull off some fourth- quarter heroics Thursday. He started planning a trip via charter plane to Los Angeles to meet with Aldridge and try to work it out. But the trip never happened because, well, it was too late.
Lillard had wanted to coordinate the timing of a meeting before leaving town, but Aldridge, understandably, was slow to respond. He had a second meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers to focus on that night, then a meeting with the Miami Heat and team President Pat Riley. There were extensive text messages shared between Aldridge and Lillard, and the message was made quite clear by Friday night: Whether it was the Spurs or the Suns, Lillard was convinced that Aldridge was gone.
None of which is to say Aldridge made a bad choice; in fact, going to the Spurs is a tremendous choice. This combination of top-tier talent both young (Leonard, Aldridge, Danny Green) and old (Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) is as tantalizing as any we’ve seen, and the Golden State Warriors surely know their title defense just got a whole lot harder.
But the way in which Aldridge left Portland was unfortunate for all involved, and mostly because the loyal fans who welcomed him as a 20-year-old in 2006 were told one thing and forced to endure another. This came from Aldridge less than a year ago when he had played his second season with Lillard and made the decision not to sign an extension.
“I’m happy to stay, happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone the last year or two,” Aldridge told The Oregonian on July 8, 2014. “This has no impact on my interest in staying in Portland. I just want to get a fiveyear 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, second in franchise history in points, first in rebounds and fourth in games played, later added, “I want to be the best Blazer — ever.”
Clyde Drexler’s status is safe, though. Aldridge blazed a different trail and left a complicated and confusing legacy behind.