Portland Loves Them Some LaMarcus Aldridge

After seeing what happened to Marion in Miami, I doubt that Amare would do any better in the same kind of offense.

I think most Blazer fans are weary of Amare’s attitude more than his playing, and assimilating a new player into nate’s system, and chemistry, etc. This is part of the reason as I understand it, of why Pritchard doesn’t do mid season trades as much, hard to work a guy into a system quickly apparently, unless maybe it’s what your looking for (which in this case the blazers are looking for a backup PF a la David Lee more than a starter who will likely leave after a season). Obvioulsy Amare is superior to Aldridge, and the Blazers already are sucky at defense by and large right now, but we’ve already delt with one micro-fractured big man, and one stoudemire, no more right now. I think Bosh and his immediate impact (on defense) is more what portland needs, my wet dream would to somehow keep aldridge and get bosh, have aldridge come off the bench, won’t/can’t happen though.
Wouldn’t your rather see your ‘hollywood schlock’ of Amare going to NY anyway?

I agree with the fact that Amare is a better player than LaMarcus right now – anyone who won’t accept that is simply ignorant or out of touch with basketball. I mean, the guys starting for the Western All-Stars, so there’s not really any debate.

However, when considering which player has a higher ceiling, I do understand why people in Portland would second guess shipping out LaMarcus, regardless of attitude. While Amare has improved tremendously over the years (mostly on the offensive end), LaMarcus is still maturing. This season he added a back to the basket game on the low block, and has become a more versatile and efficient scorer as a result. He’s also working on his defensive rebounding and has just as many "momentum-altering" blocks as Stoudemire.

So calling LaMarcus "somewhat disappointing" or "less-than-assertive" is just not respecting or understanding his game. He deserved consideration for Most Improved Player last season, and is right where I expected him to be as a high draft choice. Were he toiling on a lottery team (sans B.Roy) he could probably put up the stats expected of a #2 pick by the media. However, he is playing within his role on what appears to be a legitimate playoff team and performing well. Without considering Amare’s "me first" attitude, Aldridge is still the more intriguing player and a better fit.

You can get ____ _ (help me out here, professional writer guy) to play with Amare and Oden on the All Microfractured Knee frontcourt.

Amare may be a better player, but not SO much better that he is worth LMA, Raef LaFrenz’s expiring contract AND a Bayless or Outlaw.  It’s just too much for someone who does not fix Portland’s primary weakness, and that’s defense.  Not only that, but after years of watching pathetic ingrates like Zach Randolph and Ruben Patterson, any possible chance of bringing in someone who could dirty up the pool is not worth it.  LMA is going to be an all-star within the next two or three seasons, and has the potential to put up Amare-type numbers.