The Portland Trail Blazers have offered LaMarcus Aldridge a max contract extension and if he opts to decline that offer to try and hit free agency next year, teams like the Houston Rockets, NY Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, LA Clippers, Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, LA Lakers or Golden State Warriors could be interested in a trade for the big man.
Aldridge had the best season of his career in 2013-14 and he is getting to Kevin Love territory, meaning he is heading into the final year of his contract and is planning on hitting the market in free agency. According to ESPN.com, the Blazers have now offered Aldridge a max deal for 5-year, $108 million and this comes as he is getting into the final year of a $65 million contract that will pay him over $15 million. The news was first reported by Yahoo and the deal has been extended to Aldridge and his team.
Over the past couple seasons, trade rumors have popped up around Aldridge because of the impending free agency and also because the Blazers were not that great. But the team drafted Damian Lillard and made the playoffs last season and Aldridge was one of the main reasons why. Aldridge was reportedly in trade talks last summer and requested a deal to the Bulls, Rockets, Clippers or Knicks among other teams, but GM Neil Olshey said those reports were overblown. The Blazers ended up having a great season and they won a playoff series over the Rockets despite being the road team and now he could be part of a young core that is turning the franchise around.
Aldridge had a five year extension that is coming up and he is heading into the summer after making the All-Star team and averaging 23.2 points and 11.1 boards while helping lead the Blazers to 54 wins on the season. The Blazers lost in the playoffs to the Spurs and now Aldridge's future is up in the air for the time being. ESPN.com writes that Aldridge reportedly wanted to take offers last year and requested that from his team after the previous season, but afterwards he said he was happy in Portland and part of that was obviously making the playoffs and playing well.
Aldridge had back to back 40 point games during the postseason and the Blazers just went through the NBA draft and did not have a selection due to past trades. The Blazers have one of the best young guards in the league and now they are hoping to get Aldridge in long term. Aldridge can make a nice amount of money with a max contract, but he also could leverage all that into a huge deal on the free agent market. The Blazers have made their move and offered him the deal and now it remains to be seen if he will take it.
