Orlando Magic: LaMarcus Aldridge In Play?

Before we jump into this one, you need to go into this with an open mind. If you thought we were pushing the envelope last week by suggesting the Orlando Magic might have a shot at getting DeMarcus Cousins, this one is on another level altogether. But we’ll press on, both out of foolish hope and because this franchise has to turn itself around eventually, right?

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So here we go, could this team persuade LaMarcus Aldridge to leave the Portland Trail Blazers this summer?

At first glance you would (rightly) think there is no chance. If you look a little deeper however, there are a couple of niggling issues that may give fans a glimmer of hope that this is possible. The Western Conference has six or seven teams that all feel they can win a championship; it’s tough out there. Injuries also decimated this roster like no other heading into the playoffs as well.

Wesley Matthews was lost to a season ending achilles injury. His replacement in the lineup, Arron Afflalo, has also sat out because of shoulder issues. The list goes on, and it’s unfortunate that these things all happened together at the worst time. This team limped into the postseason, in truth.

But, much like when LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 after losing in the playoffs to the Boston Celtics, this is the last memory of Portland Aldridge will have before testing unrestricted free agency.

As recently as three months ago, if you’d asked me if Aldridge would think about leaving Portland, I’d have said no chance. Like Marc Gasol in Memphis with the Grizzlies, both were in their primes and seemed more than happy with the rosters around them and the chance to contend for a title.

All signs pointed towards him signing a max deal and seeing out the rest of his prime years there. Indeed, he has played the last few months with ligament damage in his thumb that will require surgery. That in itself is a great sign of commitment to his team.

But looking at the roster Portland has assembled, it’s reasonable to think he might be getting cold feet now. Injuries aside, even at full strength this team would struggle over seven games to beat the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and even the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.

It’s hard to see Portland getting much better either, the majority of their money has been spent on the current roster. While at times it is a great one, and boasts another superstar in Damian Lillard, it still doesn’t stack up against some teams.

So a change of scenery may appeal to him for this reason. He’s carried the franchise for literally years, yet if you ask many casual NBA fans, they will say Lillard is their favorite Trail Blazers player. He’s also the most recognizable member of the team as well, and that’s got to grate on a guy who has given his all to the franchise.

In many people’s eyes, Lillard is the face of the franchise, despite his postseason struggles this year–a far cry from what he was doing at this stage of the playoffs last season.

So where does Orlando fit in all of this, and why would Aldridge want to come and play there of all places? A valid question, but thankfully one that there is a couple of answers to. Before going there though we need to mention one thing. If Tim Duncan retires after this season, and the Spurs pursue Aldridge, forget about it.

He’d be foolish not to go there and nothing Orlando does can trump playing for Gregg Popovich with a first-class organization.

But if Aldridge is tired of sharing the limelight with Lillard, he certainly wouldn’t have that problem in Orlando. One of the 10 most consistent players in the league the last two years, he’d instantly be the face here.

While not every star has a huge ego and we don’t know these guys on an extremely personal level, you can bet they all like to see their name shine brightest on a team, even if they won’t admit to it. He’d be loved there from the moment he arrived.

The sun and lack of taxes don’t hurt their case either. Orlando has the money to offer this guy a max deal (although less than Portland can give him) so that wouldn’t be an issue either. Where one problem could arise is the fact Aldridge is very much in win-now mode. He’s in his prime, and at 29 years of age more than half of his career is likely over now.

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Joining this Magic team would mean a year or two of bowing out of the playoffs before even the conference finals.

But if you look at it though, if he joined this team, the Magic would surely make the playoffs next year. The East is weak, and Orlando could even potentially overtake teams like the Toronto Raptors with this one move alone. They’d be right in the mix, and with the young core they have, they’d only get better.

Aldridge would bring badly needed defense to the team, as well as his polished offensive moves. Nikola Vucevic could handle the bigger assignments that come the way of Aldridge, although he does need to improve himself as a rim protector.

Yes, teams like the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers have the money, location and history to tempt Aldridge. But are either or their rosters as promising as Orlando’s at this moment? Florida isn’t a bad place to live either, and the money would be nearly as good their as well.

As for the history, well, Aldridge could make some history down there, rather than have to live up to the various greats who have played for the Lakers and Knicks.

While the Magic have traditionally lost their best players to other teams, Aldridge could be the guy who bucked the trend and came the other way. That would certainly improve his legacy in this league as well. You could even argue, with the addition of another second level star to go with Oladipo as well, Aldridge would have a better chance to win here than in Portland.

Words I didn’t think I’d be typing.

Look, this all seems a bit mad, and of course it is. But Aldridge is as likely to leave Portland this summer than at any other point during the rest of his career. It was meant to be a forgone conclusion that he’d resign there, but now it’s not so simple. It’s a real shame for a great franchise that has had it’s fair share of heartbreak.

But if Aldridge does decide to try somewhere new, he could do worse than at least looking at Orlando, right? Who knows, Scott Brooks might even be their new head coach by then as well. We’re beyond clutching at straws here, that’s a fact. As long as there’s a chance though, it needs to be looked at.

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