If you think about the power forward spot on the Blazers there is only one name that really comes to mind. LaMarcus Aldridge. LA. L-Train. After three seasons with Portland Aldridge has proven to be one of the best, if not the best young power forwards in the league. And sometime within the next month or so he will likely be rewarded for his play with a near maximum contract.
The draft day move that brought the former Texas Longhorn to Portland has paid off. LaMarcus has been a good fit here in not only on the floor, but in the locker room and in the community. Touted by many as a future all-star, he has the starting 4 spot on the Portland roster locked up.
There isn’t any question about who the starter is, but after Aldridge its power forward by committee, with veteran Travis Outlaw and rookies Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph all likely to see some PT. Outlaw, who is in the last year of his contract, has been oft mentioned in trade rumors and will likely be playing in a different uniform next year. Travis was drafted originally as a power forward. He was skinny as a toothpick and we were told he would eventually grow into the postion. Although he has put on some muscle and has been a fixture in the playing rotation over the last few seasons he is undersized for a 4, and if something were to happen to Aldridge I’d hate to see us have to rely on him as our starter. Perhaps that is what Kevin Pritchard was thinking when he signed Paul Milsap to an offer sheet?
I do like both rookies, but I wouldn’t want to have to count on either of them if we go deep into the playoffs….and that is the plan isn’t it? I look for the team to make some sort of move by the trading deadline to pick up a veteran. David Lees name keeps popping up in connection to Portland. The Knicks are playing hardball in negotiating a deal with Lee and there aren’t a lot of teams out there who have the money available that Lee wants. The Knicks have the caproom to sign him but want to save it for next year to make a run at LeBron James. Portland doesn’t have any money left, but we do have a combination of expiring contracts in Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw that some have suggested the Knicks might take in a sign and trade deal for Lee. Lee however, is going to want to start, or play starter minutes. And that won’t happen as long as LaMarcus Aldridge is here. My guess is that the only way we will see David Lee play in Portland is if he is wearing a Knickerbocker uniform.
Last season LA averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1 blocked shot per game in just over 37 minutes of playing time. That leaves about 11 minutes per game for Travis and the rookies to split. Outlaw, who averaged over 27 minutes a game last year won’t be happy with ten or eleven minutes, and its unlikely he’ll see anytime at the 3 with Nic Batum, and Martell Webster taking the lions share of the minutes at that position. Just another thing that points towards a ticket out of town for Travis.
LaMarcus Aldridge has been better every year. And I think this season will be no exception. What I’d like to see from him this year is three things. Better perimeter, and pick&roll defense. I’d like to see him put the ball on the floor and take it to the basket sometimes and not always shoot the jumper. And last, but not least….a more consistant overall effort. After the allstar break last season there were games where he was just a beast inside defensively. He is so quick that when he gets a bit of attitude going he can really be a force. I’d like to see more of that this season. And I think we will.
Its no mystery that LaMarcus has improved, or how he has improved. I went to his website Lamarcusaldridge.com and read the comments he posted last week. Like other NBA players he spends a lot of time working on his game during the offseason. And its clear from his posts that he has. He also says he is ready for vacation to be over and for the season to start now. He is hungry. And he wants to bring it. Let the games begin.
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