A year ago LaMarcus Aldridge was one of those guys we talked about as leaving a smaller market to chase titles and fame in a bigger market.
Then Portland got off to a hot start and Damian Lillard started to look like a guy to build around, the Blazers showed promise and made it to the second round of the playoffs. Suddenly the grass didn’t look greener everywhere else.
Now the Blazers management is working to keep Aldridge with a lot of green, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Thing is, under the new CBA it doesn’t really benefit Aldridge to sign an extension.
Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen and general manager Neil Olshey formally presented the representatives of three-time All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge a maximum contract extension in Los Angeles last week, league sources told Yahoo Sports….
With only a remote chance that Aldridge will agree to the three-year, $55.5 million extension afforded him this summer under the collective bargaining agreement, the Blazers are determined to keep Aldridge on a five-year, $108 million extension that he can sign upon reaching free agency next summer.
You read those numbers right — Aldridge can make $52.5 million more dollars guaranteed by playing out this season, becoming a free agent and re-signing. The Blazers have to make the offer to show they care, but they know the answer going in.
Aldridge waiting a year also keeps the pressure on Portland to spend and find ways to improve the team. He could still bolt as a free agent and go elsewhere — although for only four years and more than $20 million less guaranteed.
Consider this just an early primer on part of the 2015 NBA free agent class.
