Blazers insider Jason Quick of The Oregonian is reporting that LaMarcus Aldridge wants out of Portland because the city is too small and too boring for his taste.
With averages of 18 and 8 over his seven-year career, he has been individually successful on the floor, just isn't having enough fun off of it. Portland isn't to be confused with a Los Angeles, New York, Chicago or Miami. Not even Atlanta or Houston.
Funny enough, Aldridge is just a small-town cat himself. He hails from Seagoville, Texas — a 20-minute ride from Dallas to the suburbs. At least coming up he could make that quick run to Dallas and see what's crackin'. He has to take a flight from Portland to get anywhere fun, or at least to a celebrated locale.
This was a moment Quick documented with Blazers GM Neil Olshey after speaking with an irritated Aldridge the night before.
The next night was the season finale in Portland, and I asked Olshey about Aldridge. Turns out, the two already had quite the face-to-face meeting about two weeks prior. Much was said. But on the record, Olshey would only give generalities.
“It’s the end of a long season,’’ Olshey said. “He hasn’t made any trade demands. But if there is one thing I can say, it’s I empathize with what LaMarcus is going through. This is the fourth genesis that he has lived through: From the Jail Blazers, to a youth movement, to a bunch of aging veterans, to this. It’s not easy for him.’’
