Aldridge was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers soon thereafter. Aldridge played in 63 contests during his rookie campaign, averaging 22.1 minutes per contest. The 6-foot-11 forward/center posted per-game averages of 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his first season. He shot 50.3 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the charity stripe. Aldridge became an everyday starter in March and upped his averages to 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during that month. However, he missed all of April after being diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Following the season, Aldridge was named to the All-Rookie First Team.

Aldridge returned to Portland as a full-time starter in his second season. He opened all 76 games in which he played, averaging 34.9 minutes per contest. Aldridge averaged 17.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from the free-throw line. The University of Texas product scored a career-high 36 points against Utah on Dec. 31, converting 12-of-17 shots from the field and 12-of-14 tries from the charity stripe. Aldridge tallied 19 double-doubles during the campaign, including a 22-point effort against the Lakers on April 8 in which he grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds. He finished third in voting for Most Improved Player.

Aldridge continued to flourish in his third year with Portland. He played in a career-high 81 games, all as a starter. The big man posted per-game career bests in points (18.1), assists (1.9), steals (1.0) and minutes (37.1). He also averaged 7.5 boards and 1.0 blocked shots per contest. Meanwhile, he tied his career high with a 48.4 field-goal percentage and shot 78.1 percent from the free-throw line, the best mark of his career. He grabbed a career-best 18 rebounds in a win over Oklahoma City on Apr. 3, adding a season-high 35 points. Aldridge got his first taste of the NBA postseason as Portland qualified for the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Though the Trail Blazers fell to Houston in the first round, Aldridge played well, posting averages of 19.5 points, 7.5 boards and 1.7 blocks in the six-game series.

In his fourth season in the league, Aldridge played in 78 games -- all as a starter -- and averaged a career-high 37.4 minutes per contest for the Trail Blazers. Though his scoring average dipped slightly to 17.9 points per game, he averaged career-bests in both rebounds (8.0 per game) and assists (2.1 per game). Meanwhile, Aldridge made 49.5 percent of his shots, his highest mark since his rookie campaign. The University of Texas product logged a career-high 24 double-doubles, including a 28-point, 13-rebound effort against San Antonio on Feb. 4. Aldridge and the Trail Blazers qualified for the playoffs for the second straight campaign, placing as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. In Portland's first-round playoff series against Phoenix, Aldridge averaged 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks, but the Blazers were eliminated in six games.

With All-Star teammate Brandon Roy sidelined for much of the 2010-11 campaign, Aldridge emerged as Portland's primary offensive weapon. He started 81 contests, averaging a career-high 39.6 minutes per game (third in the NBA). Aldridge also established career bests with per-game averages of 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds. Defensively, Aldridge averaged one steal and 1.2 blocks per contest. For the first time since his rookie campaign, he converted at least half of his field-goal attempts, finishing at exactly 50 percent. The big man also converted a career-best 79.1 percent of his free-throw tries. He scored a career-high 40 points against San Antonio on Feb. 1, then topped that with 42 points against Chicago six days later. Those contests were part of a dominant February that earned Aldridge his first Player of the Month award. Aldridge also garnered his first selection to the All-NBA Third Team in recognition of his season-long excellence. The big man excelled in the playoffs as well, averaging 20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks in a first-round defeat at the hands of the Mavericks.

While Portland was beset by injuries during the 2011-12 campaign, Aldridge continued to thrive as the team's go-to offensive option. He played in 55 games during the lockout-shortened season, averaging 36.3 minutes per contest. The 2006 second-overall draft pick nearly matched his numbers from the previous campaign, averaging 21.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and a career-high 2.4 assists per game. He also posted 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks per contest. Aldridge had his most efficient shooting season to date, posting career bests with a 51.2 field-goal percentage and 81.4 percent free-throw rate. He registered 13 double-doubles on the campaign, including a 33-point performance against Toronto on Jan. 20 in which he grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds. In recognition of his outstanding play, Aldridge was selected for the Western Conference All-Star Team, a career first.

In his seventh year with Portland, Aldridge made his second All-Star game. He led the league in two-point attempts (1,304), was sixth in the league in field goals (638), 10th in points (1,560), 18th in defensive rebounds (495) and 19th in both free throws attempted (348) and made (282). He averaged 21.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He led the Trailblazers in points and blocks (1.2) per game. In a standout performance against the Pistons, he scored 32 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, nabbed three steals, swatted three shots and dished two assists. Aldridge had a strong March. Between Mar. 12 and Mar. 21, he averaged 27.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 92.6 percent from the free-throw line.

The 2013-14 campaign was memorable for Aldridge. The veteran enjoyed the strongest statistical season of his career, averaging a double-double (23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds) for the first time. Both his scoring and rebounding averages were career highs. Aldridge also averaged 2.6 assists across his 69 games for Portland. Meanwhile, he shot a career-best 82.2 percent from the charity stripe and made 45.8 percent of his field-goal attempts. He recorded a career-high 40 double-doubles during the campaign, including a 31-point effort against Houston on Dec. 12 during which he corralled a personal-best 25 rebounds. That performance was the first in team history in which a player scored at least 30 points while grabbing at least 25 boards. Aldridge poured in a career-high 44 points against Denver on Jan. 23, adding 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks. The big man was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team for the third straight season and garnered his second selection to the All-NBA Third Team. Aldridge continued his strong play in the postseason. He totaled 89 points in the first two games of Portland's opening-round series against Houston, leading the Trail Blazers beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his career. Though Portland ultimately bowed out in the Conference Semifinals against San Antonio, Aldridge enjoyed his finest postseason as a pro, posting per-game averages of 26.2 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks over 11 contests.

Aldridge continued to stake his claim as one of the game's top big men in his ninth season with Portland. The 2006 second-overall draft pick played in 71 games, averaging 35.4 minutes per contest. He ranked seventh in the NBA with a scoring average of 23.4 points per game, establishing his career high. Aldridge also ranked ninth in the league with 10.2 rebounds per contest. For the first time in his career, the big man emerged as a threat from three-point range. He nailed 37 treys during the campaign, eclipsing his total from his first eight seasons combined. Aldridge shot a respectable 35.2 percent from beyond the arc and 46.6 percent on field goals overall. He also registered the best mark of his career from the free-throw line, making a fantastic 84.5 percent of his attempts. Aldridge scored a season-high 39 points against Denver on Dec. 2, adding 11 rebounds and two blocks. That performance was one of 39 double-doubles he collected during the campaign. For the fourth year in a row, Aldridge was selected to the Western Conference All-Star squad, scoring a career-best 18 points in the February contest. He was also selected to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time in his career. In the postseason, Aldridge averaged 21.8 points, 11.2 boards and 2.4 blocks in a losing effort during Portland's first-round clash against Memphis.

After nine seasons with Portland, Aldridge signed with the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 2015-16 campaign. He played in 74 games with his new club, averaging 30.6 minutes per contest. Aldridge continued to be an offensive force with the Spurs, posting per-game averages of 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds. He registered career bests by converting 51.3 percent of his field-goal attempts and 85.8 of his tries from the charity stripe. Aldridge also averaged 1.1 blocked shots per game, marking the fourth straight season in which he averaged at least one swat per contest. He notched 26 double-doubles during the regular season, including a 31-point, 15-rebound effort against Toronto on April 2. The veteran big man was selected to participate in the All-Star Game for the fifth straight season and made the All-NBA Third Team for the third time in his career. He also won his ninth career Player of the Week Award in February. In the postseason, Aldridge started all 10 games for the Spurs as they advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. He scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and swatted two shots in Game 2 of the second round against Oklahoma City. Though San Antonio ultimately lost the series, Aldridge had a strong playoff run, posting per-game averages of 21.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

In his second campaign with San Antonio, Aldridge played in 72 games and averaged 32.4 minutes per contest. He posted per-game averages of 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. The big man shot 47.7 percent from the field and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line. He also knocked down 23 three-pointers during the campaign, the second most of his career. Defensively, Aldridge averaged 1.2 blocked shots and 0.6 steals per contest. He scored a season-high 33 points against Chicago on Dec. 25, adding nine rebounds in the win. The University of Texas product totaled 18 double-doubles during the campaign. He grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds on four occasions. In one of those performances, he added 26 points and three assists in a victory over Golden State. In the postseason, Aldridge advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in his career. He posted per-game averages of 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 16 playoff contests.

Aldridge appeared in 75 games for the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017-2018 campaign, his third season with the team. He averaged 23.1 points per contest, just shy of his career high. Aldridge shot over 50.0 percent from the field in a season for the fifth time in his career. He also collected 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per contest. The big man recorded 27 double-doubles during the regular season. Aldridge poured in a career-high 45 points against Utah on Mar. 23. He had 17 outings with at least 30 points. The University of Texas product was named to his sixth All-Star squad. The Spurs once again made the playoffs, with Aldridge accumulating four-straight double-doubles in the first round versus the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. Aldridge was named Second-Team All-NBA for the second time in his career. He finished ninth in MVP voting.

Aldridge had another strong season with the Spurs in 2018-2019 as he nearly averaged a double-double. The Texas product averaged 21.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, posting his best rebounding figure since his final year with Portland in 2014-2015. The scoring mark led the team, with new teammate DeMar DeRozan just a notch below at 21.2 points per game. While both were probably worthy of All-Star recognition, it was Aldridge who in fact made the Western Conference team for the seventh time in his career. It was his second-straight All-Star Game appearance and third overall as a member of the Spurs. Aldridge was both an effective and efficient scorer, as he shot a career-best 51.9 percent from the field. It was the second-straight year and sixth time overall in his career that he shot better than 50 percent over the course of a season. Aldridge displayed similar effectiveness at the free-throw line, where he shot 84.7 percent. The mark increased his streak of shooting 80 percent or better at the line to eight straight seasons. The 34-year-old rounded out his full stat line in 2018-2019 by averaging 2.4 assists and a career-best 1.3 blocks per game.

The 2019-20 season was Aldridge's 14th season in the Association and his fifth with San Antonio. In 53 games out of a possible 63, Aldridge averaged 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, a career-high 1.6 blocks and a career-best 1.2 three-pointers per contest. His new-found three-point shooting prowess led to a career-high 53.2 effective field goal percentage. On Nov. 16, Aldridge delivered 30 points (from 12-of-20 shooting), 13 boards, two assists, one steal and one block during a loss to the Trail Blazers. On Dec. 23, Aldridge turned in a season-high 40 points, plus nine boards and five dimes, during a win at Memphis. He got hot for the last five contests before the All-Star break when he averaged 20.7 points to go with 8.3 rebounds and three assists in 34.7 minutes per contest. The biggest change in Aldridge's game was his sudden ability to shoot three-pointers. Aldridge shot a modest 28.3 percent from behind the arc over his first 13 seasons in the NBA. But in 2019-20, Aldridge shot 38.9 percent from three on 3.0 attempts per game. Aldridge drained 61 total three-pointers during the shortened season. Over his 13 prior seasons, Aldridge hit a total of 121 three-pointers from 427 attempts. Aldridge did not join the Spurs in the NBA Bubble due to shoulder surgery.

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Past Fantasy Outlooks

After two disappointing seasons to start his Spurs tenure, Aldridge finally got back on track and showed the type of production that earned him All-Star bids from 2012-16. Most notably was his scoring, as Aldridge upped his average to 23.1 points per game on 18.0 shot attempts, which was a significant boost from the 2016-17 campaign when he finished with just 17.3 points on 14.6 attempts. Much of that increase in usage can be attributed to Kawhi Leonard's surprising absence, as the superstar ended up sitting out all but nine games with a quad injury and subsequent complications. With Aldridge as the clear next-best option, the offensive burden was placed squarely on his shoulders and he didn't falter. In addition to his scoring, Aldridge also upped his rebound (8.5 RPG) and assist (2.0 APG) numbers, while staying consistent with 1.2 blocks per game, as well. Also worth noting is that Aldridge played in 75 games, so he wasn't impacted much by the Spurs' reputation for resting veteran players throughout the season. With Leonard's absence causing a massive rift between his camp and the organization, the Spurs locked in a deal with the Raptors, who sent DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl to San Antonio in change for the former Finals MVP. DeRozan's addition, in particular, could impact Aldridge's value, given his high usage rate and propensity for isolating possessions. DeRozan's 29.6 percent usage rate placed him 18th in the NBA last season, one spot ahead of Aldridge, who checked in at 29.1 percent -- the second-highest mark of his career. With the Spurs essentially adding DeRozan to last year's roster, Aldridge is likely to lose some touches and could find it tough to match his scoring volume. Still, his numbers across the board shouldn't be drastically affected by DeRozan's arrival, and Aldridge does have more-than-respectable field goal and free-throw percentages, which should keep him as a very intriguing Fantasy option who will likely have dual-eligibility at power forward and center. Realistically, Aldridge may be at risk of a slow start while the Spurs work to integrate DeRozan, though he's still worthy of a selection in the early rounds of most Fantasy drafts.

Aldridge's 2016-17 campaign, and second season with the Spurs, saw him take another step back with his production. He ended up averaging 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 blocks across 32.4 minutes per contest, which translated to a slight dip in both his scoring and rebounding numbers. He did appear to try and extend his range a bit, making 23-of-56 three-point attempts (41.1 percent), which was the second highest makes total of his career. However, his 47.7 percent clip from the field overall, was also down from the 51.3 percent he finished with during his first year in San Antonio. Unsurprisingly, there were plenty of trade rumors revolving around Aldridge this past offseason, as he was reportedly unhappy with his role and wanted to be featured more heavily in an offense that wasn't catered to superstar Kawhi Leonard. However, nothing ever came to fruition in trade talks and Aldridge will now be back with San Antonio for the third year of his original four-year, $84 million contract. Looking forward to the upcoming campaign, Alridge likely isn't going to see a bump in minutes considering coach Gregg Popovich's desire to keep his veterans well rested. However, Pau Gasol isn't getting any younger at age 37 and the Spurs let Dewayne Dedmon walk in free agency, so Aldrige could be relied upon even more at the center position, in addition to his regular responsibilities at power forward. The 2017-18 season presents a bounce-back opportunity for Aldridge, but Leonard's status as the team's go-to player and the Spurs spread-it-around attack will most likely keep his numbers relatively similar to his most recent campaign.

The biggest fish in the free-agent market last summer, Aldridge decided to leave the Trail Blazers after nine successful seasons to sign a max deal with the Spurs in pursuit of a championship. As anticipated, the Spurs’ spread-it-around attack resulted in Aldridge’s overall numbers taking a hit, with his averages of 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game marking his lowest figures in those categories since 2009-10 and 2011-12, respectively. Aldridge was also impacted by coach Gregg Popovich’s decision to rest his starters periodically, missing four contests for maintenance reasons and averaging just 30.6 minutes per game. On a more positive note, Aldridge did take on a greater role as the year wore on, increasing his scoring in each successive full month of the season, culminating in an average of 26.8 points per game during the Spurs’ six-game playoff series loss to the Thunder. Part of Aldridge’s second-half success could be attributed to Tim Duncan’s role being downsized, but Aldridge can’t bank on that happening in 2016-17. Though Duncan has since retired, the Spurs have brought in Pau Gasol, who is expected to slide in as the new starter at center and play more minutes and see more touches than his predecessor. Expect Aldridge to get off to a better start to the season now that he has a year under his belt in Popovich’s system, but it would be unwise to bet on him to completely replicate the scoring production he provided late in 2015-16 with Kawhi Leonard and now Gasol also in line for large offensive workloads.

Aldridge muscled through multiple injuries last season in Portland, playing 71 games despite problems with illness, a sprained foot, and a torn ligament in his thumb, which required offseason surgery. Injuries aside, the four-time NBA All-Star averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.7 steals in 35 minutes per game. Though his shooting percentage from the field dropped to a career-low 47 percent, Aldridge's three-point percentage raised to a career-high 35 percent on a career-high 105 attempts, and his free-throw percentage raised to a career-high 85 percent. In San Antonio, it's doubtful that Aldridge will be asked to shoot many three-pointers with players like Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Patty Mills, Manu Ginobili, and Jimmer Fredette filling that need in a Spurs offense that thrives on prescribed roles. With Kawhi Leonard being the only Spur that played more than 30 minutes per game last season, Aldridge's minutes will most likely drop significantly this season, as he'll be sharing minutes with fellow post players Tim Duncan, David West, Boris Diaw, and Matt Bonner. Aldridge has said that he doesn't expect his role to change much with the Spurs, but it'd be silly to think he won't play less minutes on a team that limits all of their players' minutes.

LaMarcus Aldridge has established himself as a perennial All-Star, earning his third consecutive bid in 2013-14 on the backs of a career-best 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds, while hitting 82 percent from the free-throw line, in 36 minutes per game. In addition to the elevated rate at the charity stripe, he fueled the scoring bump by launching almost three more field goal attempts per contest than his former apex - 20.6 versus 17.8 from the previous season. While he joined former Blazer Sidney Wicks as the sole members in franchise history to average at least 23 points and 11 boards in a single season, Aldridge's own marks settled into the eighth and seventh spots, respectively, on the league leaderboard last season. Unfortunately, Aldridge was unable to avoid the injury bug, missing five outings due to a strained left groin and eight more as a result of a back contusion suffered during a hard fall on his tailbone. Over the last three seasons, Aldridge has sat out at least eight games annually, and 32 total, during that span. His elbow jumper is one of the most unguardable shots in the league, all but guaranteeing 20-point performances on a nightly basis.

Aldridge put up elite numbers in a strong 2012-13 season despite various injuries late in the year. The superstar forward posted lofty all-around averages of 21.1 points (48 percent from the field, 81 percent from the line), 9.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks in 38 minutes per game. While his field goal percentage took a dip from his previous season (51 percent down to 48 percent), it was likely the result of shifting his offensive focus from the low post to the high post and mid-range area. This did not stop him from being a top fantasy contributor last season, however, as his incredible 81 percent free throw clip gives him a competitive advantage over other power forwards. With Robin Lopez replacing J.J. Hickson at the center spot for this coming season, Aldridge may see more opportunities to score than last season, which could increase his fantasy value even further. Being at the prime of his career, Aldridge is likely to continue being an elite fantasy option in all formats, as long as he can remain healthy.

Aldridge put up big numbers for a second consecutive season, averaging 21.7 points on 51.2 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds per game while leading the Trail Blazers in minutes played. He suffered a hip injury late in the season, but he’s been pretty durable throughout his run in Portland. All indications at this point say the hip is fine, and Aldridge has been cleared for five-on-five work. At 27-years-old, we’re looking at an emerging star at power forward entering his prime years. Aldridge is the cornerstone of the franchise as it enters a transitional phase. There was a lot of roster turnover in the offseason, and no bigger change than at head coach, where Terry Stotts will takeover. Stotts is considered a great offensive mind in the NBA, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can draw more production from Aldridge. Finding a center to lineup next to Aldridge will be a concern going forward. Aldridge had been anticipating playing with 7-2 Roy Hibbert, whom the Blazers signed to an offer sheet, but the Pacers matched the offer sheet to keep Hibbert. For now, teams can collapse on Aldridge, but he’s very polished on the low blocks and has a mid-range game as well. He’ll find his offense, and the team will likely lean on Aldridge with rookie Damian Lillard expected to be the starting point guard.

After three years of teasing fantasy owners with his superstar potential, Aldridge finally put together a monster season. The Blazers big man set career-highs in points (21.8), rebounds (8.8) and free-throw percentage (79.1) as the team’s primary scoring option. He also picked up his play on the defensive end of the court, averaging 1.0 steals and tying a career-high with 1.2 blocks per game. A rash of injuries to the Blazers’ frontcourt forced Aldridge to log a career-high 39 minutes per game, putting him among the league leaders in playing time. With injury-prone players like Greg Oden and Marcus Camby expected to be on the roster again this season, Aldridge will once again take on a heavy workload. And unlike most of his teammates, Aldridge has been extremely durable, missing just six games over the past three seasons. Brandon Roy’s long-term future is now up in the air due to chronic injury problems, making Aldridge the new centerpiece of the franchise. At 6-11, 246, the 26-year-old power forward has the size and tools to be one of the better options at his position for years to come. Target him early in drafts with confidence.

Aldridge has shown flashes of big-time potential in his first four NBA seasons, but really hasn't developed into the superstar big man some expected him to be. He's a good and efficient scorer (17.9 points per game last season on 49.5 percent shooting from the floor), but doesn't rebound (8.0 per game) or block shots (0.6 per game) as much as someone with his physical tools (7-0, 235) might. His free-throw shooting (a very solid 75.7 percent last season) makes up for some of those shortcomings, however. In years past, some portion of his fantasy value has come when he's filled in at the center spot, but with Marcus Camby re-signed and both Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla expected back this season, the Blazers are particularly deep (if injury-prone) in the middle.

While Aldridge hasn’t developed into a superstar yet, he’s become a very good player, averaging 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks last season. He’s just 24 years old, so there’s room for further growth, and it appears Greg Oden’s presence won’t be a huge hindrance after all, as Oden’s offensive game is extremely limited even when he’s not injured. Aldridge has nice touch from the charity stripe, hitting 78.1 percent of his free throws last year, but for someone who is 6-11, 240, his work on the boards leaves a lot to be desired. Portland’s roster and offensive philosophy remain mostly the same from last season, and the one main addition of point guard Andre Miller should only create more scoring opportunities for Aldridge. If Oden were actually able to stay healthy and develop a low post game, it might cut into Aldridge’s production, but that scenario doesn’t appear all that likely. Aldridge is a safe, if not overly exciting option.

The Trailblazers’ roster is truly an embarrassment of riches. Brandon Roy was Rookie of the Year and is already one of the most respected floor leaders in the league. Greg Oden makes his much-anticipated and microfracture-delayed debut this season. And no one’s talking about Aldridge, who happens to be one of the best young fours in the Association. Aldridge had an outstanding sophomore season, averaging 17.8 points, 7.6 boards and 1.2 blocks despite playing significant minutes out of position at center. Oden’s arrival allows Aldridge to shift to the four spot, where he should be even more dangerous, using his mid-range jumper to shoot over defenders or his quickness to go around ‘em. And with Oden around to backstop the defense, Aldridge may be able to gamble a bit more on defense and rack up better block/steal numbers. One more benefit: Aldridge is on the slight side for a seven-footer and has missed 25 games due to injury in his first two seasons; the shift to the high post means a bit less banging – and could cut down on bench time.

The second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Aldridge was finishing his rookie season strong (14.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg, 52.9% FG in his last 15 games) before being sidelined by a treatable heart condition. Aldridge has returned to the court, though, and was dominant in the Las Vegas Summer League. With 2007 top overall pick Greg Oden out for the season Aldridge is likely to assert himself even more at both ends of the court and will likely be the team's go-to guy in the post. He still has a thin frame for an NBA big man, which makes him an injury concern, but with his length and polished post moves he has the talent to make his name known to the fantasy public by season’s end.

Aldridge is perhaps the most skilled rookie big man this season, and at seven-feet tall he has the height to grow into a legitimate NBA center. Unfortunately, Aldridge has a lot of physical development needed on his thin physique before he is ready to contribute meaningfully on the court. Currently he would get pushed out of his desired position on the block, and defensively he can’t match up with the power of NBA big men. Also, Aldridge has just undergone shoulder surgery that will sideline him until after the season begins which will further stunt his development process. At this point he is probably not worth drafting in most league formats, unless it is a very deep and/or keeper league.

Aldridge is quick and athletic with some nice moves down in the paint, including a baby hook shot. He has improved on his outside shot. His toughness and efforts down in the paint are major weaknesses. Although he has committed to Texas, he has declared for the draft. Because he doesn't have an agent, he is able to return to Texas if not drafted. However, Aldridge is still projected as a late first round pick.