Rumors: LaMarcus Aldridge on the Out and Linked to Texas Teams

The Portland Trail Blazers should be increasingly worried about the departure of franchise player LaMarcus Aldridge. Rumors surfaced that unnamed Trail Blazer teammates has estimated Aldridge’s to be 50/50, which was music to the ears of executives and fans around the league. More and more rumors were spreading and New York was linked to Aldridge, expressing mutual interest.

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Although those dreams of Aldridge of wearing a New York Knicks’ jersey may be over… In a Q & A with ESPN senior writer Marc Stein, Stein put Aldridge’s hometown Dallas Mavericks and the defending Champions San Antonio Spurs at the top of Aldridge’s possible destinations. Here are the two most important takeaways from the article.

1. So who are the leading contenders to steal Aldridge away at this early juncture?

“You can’t say loudly enough that it is early in the process.

Very ‎early.

We’ve only just made it to May, leaving two months for climates to change.

But the consistent word on the personnel grapevine at the minute informs us that San Antonio and Dallas not only both believe they have a real shot at signing him but are also legitimately in Aldridge’s thoughts.

Does Aldridge, even accounting for his Dallas upbringing, really want to go home to North Texas or down to South Texas, where he’d essentially be casting himself as the heir apparent to either Dirk Nowitzki or Tim Duncan? Wouldn’t he be putting himself in some awfully challenging circumstances to try to live up to the legacies of either of those certifiable legends?

Answer: We’re hearing Aldridge connected to both of those teams so frequently that you can only conclude that neither idea scares him.

Yet sources insist — at, yes, this early juncture — that San Antonio sits near or at the top of Aldridge’s list … unless the Cleveland Cavaliers were to lose Kevin Love and then somehow manufacture a way to sign-and-trade for him.

The Knicks and Lakers, of course, also intend to enter the bidding. And there will surely be others.”

1. So why is Aldridge so eager to leave?

“The reasons aren’t completely clear yet.

However …

The rumbles are out there, and thus impossible to ignore, that Aldridge is said to feel somewhat underappreciated in Rip City because of the ever-growing focus inside and outside the organization on backcourt darling Damian Lillard.

Combine that with the inevitable wanderlust that sets in after nine seasons in the same city — and just one trip beyond the first round of the playoffs in that span — and a top-shelf big man long presumed to be a lock to stay with the home team is suddenly in play.

Aldridge won many admirers leaguewide this season for his willingness to delay surgery on his left hand and play through the pain of a torn ligament. But his relative struggles against Memphis only added weight to the notion that he’s not entirely comfortable with his current circumstances, which has some Blazers-watchers convinced that Dame’s ever-growing profile and stature is among the main triggers here.”

After the Memphis Grizzlies quickly dispatched Portland from the Playoffs in five games, the TNT crew had some interesting things to say about Aldridge’s possible departure. In particular what Shaquille O’ Neal had to say was really intriguing.

As Stein said, it is early…so as Knicks’ fans we will just have to hope developments change for the better in favor of New York.

Next: Would LaMarcus Aldridge Be a Good Fit With Carmelo Anthony?