Why LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving Trail Blazers for Spurs

Sam Amick | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption LaMarcus Aldridge to join Spurs in West shake-up USA TODAY Sports' Larry Berger discusses LaMarcus Aldridge's decision to head to San Antonio and the league-wide impact the move could have.

When LaMarcus Aldridge made his decision to head for the Alamo, joining the San Antonio Spurs organization that had sold him on the chance to be the post-Tim Duncan torch bearer, the people he left behind in Portland were more confused than surprised.

If being The Man was so important like they'd all been led to believe, then why go to a place where Duncan's shadow is arguably longer and more imposing than any that came before, and where another young star, Kawhi Leonard, has already been deemed their centerpiece of the future? If being the undisputed leader of the locker room was the missing element to the Trail Blazers situation that wasn't negative so much as nuanced, then why not sign with a Phoenix Suns franchise that was ready to anoint him as such?

This was hardly the first time that the complex 29-year-old left them perplexed.

For years, rumblings existed that Aldridge wasn't happy with his place in the Portland spotlight. First it was Brandon Roy stealing his thunder, then Greg Oden before his ill-fated fall, and then this young and dynamic talent named Damian Lillard whose star rose far too quickly for Aldridge's liking. Along the way, the complaints that would rarely, if ever, come directly from Aldridge himself were consistent: one way or another, intentional or not, he felt underappreciated -- if not disrespected.

He wanted top billing.

But the challenging part for the Blazers folks who tried so hard through the years to understand him is that Aldridge's understated ways made it nearly impossible to satisfy this request. He routinely turned down interviews, or didn't maximize off-court opportunities of which Lillard did. He is known as the private type, the kind of player and person who prefers to play his game and let someone else handle most of the leadership duties. Except, of course, until someone does just that, reaps the benefits and kickstarts the cycle of jealousy that had everything to do with his departure.





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The difficult dynamic between Aldridge and Lillard was as real as advertised, but it wasn't a personality clash so much as a problem with their respective profiles. Marketing is a funny thing that way, and the harsh truth about Aldridge's portfolio is that it's not nearly what it should be, in large part, because of the way in which he has handled his own affairs.

Meanwhile, it could be argued that Lillard – who came out of a small school (Weber State) and has flourished in a small market – has the best pound-for-pound profile in the NBA. This, make no mistake, was the contrast that caused so much conflict.

While the Blazers were holding out hope in recent days that Aldridge would take their five-year max deal worth approximately $110 million, they were finalizing a five-year extension with Lillard that – because his was on his rookie scale contract and had been deemed their one "designated player" – could be worth approximately $129 million. This was the same Lillard who last year secured an Adidas deal that could eventually be worth more than $100 million, and whose authentic brand has resonated not only with Blazers fans but also the global basketball community.

Lillard, upon return from a promotional trip in Paris, was hoping to pull off some fourth-quarter heroics on Thursday. He started planning a trip via charter plane to Los Angeles to meet with Aldridge and try to work it out. But the trip never happened because, well, it was already too late.

Lillard had wanted to coordinate the timing of a meeting before leaving town, but Aldridge, understandably, was slow to respond. He had a second meeting with the Lakers to focus on that night, then a meeting with the Miami Heat and team president Pat Riley. There were extensive text messages shared between Aldridge and Lillard in what constituted a modern-day conversation, and the message was made quite clear by the time Friday night rolled around: whether the Spurs or the Phoenix Suns, Lillard was convinced Aldridge was gone.

None of which is to say Aldridge made a bad choice; in fact, going to the Spurs is a tremendous choice. This combination of top-tier talent both young (Leonard, Aldridge, Danny Green) and old (Duncan, Tony Parker and perhaps Manu Ginobili) is as tantalizing as any we've seen, and the Golden State Warriors surely know their title defense just got a whole lot harder.

But the way in which Aldridge left Portland was unfortunate for all involved, and mostly because the loyal fans who welcomed him as a 20-year-old in 2006 were told one thing and forced to endure another. This came from Aldridge less than a year ago when he had played his second season with Lillard and made the decision not to sign an extension.

"I'm happy to stay, happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone the last year or two," Aldridge told The Oregonian on July 8, 2014. "This has no impact on my interest in staying in Portland. I just want to get a five-year deal. I feel like that's the best decision on my part.

"I don't want it to be perceived that I'm not happy or I'm not staying on because I'm not signing a three-year deal … It's just financially smarter to wait ... and I'm looking forward to signing the five-year deal when the chance comes."

Aldridge, second in franchise history in points, first in rebounds, and fourth in games played, later added, "I want to be the best Blazer – ever."

Clyde Drexler's status is safe, though. Aldridge blazed a different trail and left a complicated and confusing legacy behind.

Follow Sam Amick on Twitter @SamAmick.

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