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Handling LaMarcus Aldridge free agency rumors

By David MacKay

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It has been several seasons since the Portland Trail Blazers had to worry about re-signing any key free agents. What a peaceful stretch of time that was. Unfortunately, with 4x all-star LaMarcus Aldridge hitting the market in July, Rip City is now embroiled in the obnoxious ado that inevitably precedes major free agency decisions. Everything Aldridge does will be scrutinized and assigned meaning like he is a high school English book. One sneeze means he’s leaving, two sneezes means he’s staying, and three sneezes represent cold war politics. It would be comical if not taken so seriously.

Most recently, Aldridge was spotted at Logan International Airport in Boston. What he was doing there, few know for sure, but that hasn’t stopped speculation. Aldridge’s attachment to a sign-and-trade rumor last month seems to thinly substantiate the theory that he was there on business. That is all it takes for molehill moments to become mountainous news this time of year. Remember when Kevin Love ran into Rajon Rondo at a Red Sox game last June? The internet nearly broke over nothing.

Is this nothing? Only Aldridge possesses that knowledge, but the answer is almost certainly yes. It is June. People travel. Millionaires travel a lot. Boston is nice this time of year and Aldridge knows people there. You cannot reasonably expect him to stay out of any and all major cities for the next month; especially since getting out of Portland in any capacity to clear his head must hold appeal. This won’t be the last sighting of the summer.

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Besides, Boston has a pretty weak free agency pitch for Aldridge at this point. Since the Trail Blazers can pay Aldridge more than anyone else due to Bird Rights, the biggest reason for him to leave is championship potential. The Celtics aren’t exactly a perennial contender, nor would they become one by acquiring Aldridge since they would have to disassemble their core via trade to do so.

Many fans have been more eager to buy into the ostensible meaning of truly minor incidents since last week’s report that Aldridge’s West Linn house is for sale. After an impressive social media circus, it was later revealed that the house is not in fact Aldridge’s, but that of former Trail Blazer Damon Stoudamire, from whom Aldridge was renting. The lease was simply up. By the time these details were filled in, Aldridge had been painted with one foot out of Portland’s door.

The point is this: Regardless of whether or not Aldridge eventually stays or goes, don’t sweat the small stuff between now and then. Unless Aldridge makes a statement in the near future (which he won’t) almost everything is speculative and most rumors are overblown. People in the media are working very hard to bring you free agency coverage, but you must use your better judgment to determine which reports may have real, discernible value.

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