Rip City Project
Fansided

Blazers: Aldridge’s Greener Fields Turn Up Barren

By Steven Dewald

May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) shoots the ball over Oklahoma City Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka (9) in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

LaMarcus Aldridge gets eliminated a day after the Trail Blazers

High profile free agents don’t leave their respective teams often and when they do it is for a shot at a title. LaMarcus Aldridge did just that to the Trail Blazers last summer. Along with returning to his home state, Aldridge felt that the Spurs gave him a better opportunity to bring home a ring. It left many Rip City fans heart broken, as he had played his entire professional career as a Blazer to that point.

More from Blazers News

At the time, many people didn’t blame him for departing to San Antonio. The Spurs are the model franchise for the NBA, as they’ve been major contenders for most of the last two decades. His tenure with Portland had been a rocky one to start, and the final two seasons might have been too little too late. Much like everyone else, Aldridge had serious doubts about the Trail Blazers’ chances moving into the 2015-16 season.

A lineup consisting of Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nic Batum, Aldridge, and Robin Lopez had seemingly peaked. It was unlikely they’d ever achieve the same level of play after Matthews went down with an achilles injury late in the 2014-15 campaign. This led to Aldridge choosing the brighter prospects of the Spurs. What he underestimated was the ability of Neil Olshey to put together a solid roster in a short amount of time.

Dec 9, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) guard Damian Lillard (0) and center Robin Lopez (42) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Portland won 98-86. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) guard Damian Lillard (0) and center Robin Lopez (42) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Portland won 98-86. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

The Trail Blazers surprised everyone this season with their success. Their rapid advancement likely came as a shock to their former star big man as well. The Spurs look like they’ve aged 10 years since the start of their series with the Thunder, which doesn’t bode well for Aldridge’s future title prospects. Portland now sits with a younger roster and a serious playoff run under their belt.

Granted the roster would have looked much different if LaMarcus would have stayed in Portland, but it is still interesting to imagine him suiting up in this current rotation. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence, a lesson Aldridge over looked before heading to Texas.

Next: More From Rip City Project

Both the Blazers and Aldridge might still be in the hunt for a title if he’d stuck around in Portland. Going through “what if” scenarios solves very little in the NBA though. The Trail Blazers have an extremely bright future, which Aldridge deserves some of the credit for that. This team would have never been assembled if he would have extended his stay in Rip City.