Portland Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge Has A Lot Riding On The Upcoming Season

When the Portland Trail Blazers made their run in the NBA postseason last year, there can be no argument about how large a part LaMarcus Aldridge played in it. The three-time All Star power forward had an incredible season in 2013-14 that saw almost all his numbers go up, ending the year averaging 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

It was part of the reason the Trail Blazers tried to get Aldridge’s contract situation settled and done with before the new season began, and all the expectations that go with it. Aldridge is going into the final year of a five-year, $65 million contract and according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, the Blazers offered him a three-year, $55 million extension this offseason.

Which Aldridge declined.

Instead, Aldridge has opted to wait until next offseason when he will be eligible to get the max five-year, $108 million contract extension. The decision to wait was strictly business and not a case of a player trying to get more money from another team by trying the open market. Aldridge has said as much, telling Joe Freeman

"“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.”"

For Aldridge, it’s probably a good move financially, but is it the smart move?

It means that in addition to all the expectations the team has to make a deeper run in the playoffs and compete with the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder to be the best in the Western Conference, Aldridge will have personal expectations to meet also.

His line will have to improve and he will have to step up and be the leader of this team, a position that was filled for the most part by Damian Lillard last year. He will have to be “the guy,” the one the team turns to when they need that last second three-pointer, or to sink those two foul shots at the end of regulation.

But most importantly, Aldridge will have to stay healthy. If he goes down with a torn ACL or breaks his foot, his chances of getting that max contract disappear. Portland would in all likelihood sign Aldridge to a one-year deal until he was back on the court, but it might be enough to affect whether that five-year max deal would become a reality. An NBA season is a long time to try and stay healthy while also performing to the standards the fans and the team need you to.

And there is always the slim chance that the Trail Blazers might decide to not re-sign Aldridge. Let’s face it, signing a single player to a contract worth $108 million will have ramifications on who the team can sign in terms of free agents. And there is Lillard to consider, who will also be eligible for a max contract of his own in a few years. Even if that did happen, Aldridge will still get paid what he wants, but it just wouldn’t be by the Trail Blazers.

There is no question that LaMarcus Aldridge wants to remain with the Trail Blazers and that Portland want Aldridge to stay with the organization. It seems like a match made in basketball heaven. If everything goes according to plan, next season Aldridge will get his max contract and the Blazers will be coming off a very deep playoff run.

But as any basketball fan knows, things rarely go according to plan in the NBA.