Why the Blazers Must Trade LaMarcus Aldridge
By David MacKay
Dec 16, 2012; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) rolls on the court after injuring his ankle late in the fourth quarter of the game against the New Orleans Hornets at the Rose Garden. The Blazers won the game 95-94. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
1) Age
LaMarcus Aldridge turned 28 today and is ready to enter his 8th season as a professional basketball player. While I do not consider this to be over the hill, it does affect his trade value. The longer Portland waits, the less they can expect to receive in return.
Teams will pay a higher price for a couple years of primetime LaMarcus than they will for one that is slowly rolling past his peak. I do not want to see the Blazers hold on to him longer than is beneficial. They are not a contender, nor will they be any time during Aldridge’s current contract.
So why not let him go while Portland is still rebuilding (again)? It doesn’t make sense to continue forming a team of young players around a question mark. If the Blazers are banking on a 30 year old LMA to re-sign two years down the line, they may find themselves in a pickle.
Even if he did, there is no guarantee that he would be the same player he is today. I don’t think he will decline as quickly as some have implied, but there are finances to think about. Portland may end up handcuffed to a rusting anchor for dollars on the penny.