“What if?” is a question Portland Trail Blazers fans know all too well.
What if Bill Walton had stayed healthy after the 1977 championship? What if Rip City had landed Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft?
That 46-year range between Walton and Wembanyama represents how wide the “what if?” question spans and how it defines multiple franchise directions. It’s also why we’re here today, reflecting on an all-time Trail Blazers great—not to mention his signature fadeaway, which earned some newfound, viral recognition over the weekend.
LaMarcus Aldridge and What Could Have Been
Before LaMarcus Aldridge signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015, the Dallas-born Texas Longhorn was a fan favorite in Portland.
Despite lacking flash, Aldridge was a silent killer in every aspect of his game. From scoring to rebounding to his defensive prowess, he quietly dominated the floor, becoming a perpetual All-Star, making his first All-Star Game in 2012.
In July 2014, Aldridge spoke about a potential extension with the Trail Blazers. He expected it would happen the following summer when he could sign for an additional year, giving him and his family more financial security. And he declared a profound desire to eventually climb Rip City’s all-time ranks, invoking a Portland legend in the process.
“I want to be the best Blazer — ever,” Aldridge said, according to The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman. “If I stay the rest of my career, I should be able to catch Clyde.”
CHECK OUT THE OREGONIAN’S FULL 2014 LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE ARTICLE
Of course, Freeman and The Oregonian updated the story almost exactly a year later:
“July 4, 2015 update: LaMarcus Aldridge will sign with Spurs.”
None of this is meant to shade LaMarcus. He’s arguably a top-five Trail Blazer ever. And that mid-range game he owned for over a decade-and-a-half wasn’t just the inspiration for a viral Reddit post; it was also … just … pretty.
It was so pretty.
Context, however, is important. Because the biggest “what if” of this entire topic is: What If LaMarcus Aldridge never left the Portland Trail Blazers in free agency?
Of course, as easy as it is to ask “What if?” with history, we’ll flip the script here. Instead, we’ll ask which of LaMarcus’ two distinct Trail Blazers eras you, our faithful reader, would redo.
If it were up to me, I know which LaMarcus Era I’d risk remixing with a Butterfly Effect on the line.
But which one is it for you, Rip City?
*Hit the Oregon Sports News comments and the OSN Facebook page to share your thoughts.
Mid-2000s: LaMarcus, Brandon Roy, Greg Oden
The way people talked about this 2007 squad—and the way folks still armchair tackle the topic today—you’d think the mid-2000s Blazers were destined for a dynastic takeover.
If you’d had asked Oden himself, as ESPN The Magazine did, he’d have shouted it from his 7’0” view of Pioneer Square: “I hope I can get a bunch of championships — like 15.”
Unfortunately, you know what followed. The cartilage in Brandon Roy’s knees gave in, and Oden’s body betrayed what was both an elite talent on the court and a friendly guy off of it.
Of course, some may forget, but Oden wasn’t just a generational player; he was marketable. He was a big personality from Day 1, and he was on a superstar path both on and off the court, as evidenced by one of his first commercials.
Also — in case you missed it — Oden just sat in for a podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, and it was excellent.
If you’ve forgotten how personable and honest Oden can be, give this one a listen. It’s a true look at what most should see as a redemption story today, not the story of a bust.
(Good to see you doing well, Greg. You’re a Trail Blazer forever.)
The LMA x Dame Era
One of the “what ifs” you often forget about is: What if the Trail Blazers had done a better job of marketing Aldridge?
That doesn’t mean giving Aldridge unabashed No. 1 status on or off the court. But there was this underlying theme from the Roy Era to the Lillard Era about whether or not the Blazers handled one of its franchise players—someone who would be a star on most other franchises—with the proper sensitivity and transparency.
Aldridge, of course, didn’t leave Portland for limelight. He chose San Antonio after rejecting the Los Angeles Lakers but was never entirely accepted by the Blazers. At least, he never seemed to feel that way.
By the way, Wesley Matthews’ 2015 Achilles tear played a major role in this scenario. At the time, Portland had the most productive starting lineup in the NBA. Lillard, Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Aldridge, and Robin Lopez were a collective force. But Matthews’ leg injury was the catalyst for the group calling it a day and ending the experiment.
Unbelievably, simply put: This five-man unit had figured out a balance between good vibes and talent, and it was ready to compete with top contenders.
But as the saying goes: They weren’t together for a long time, just a good time.
Pour one out for the mid-2010s Trail Blazers.
Which LMA Will You Redo?
With respect to the Lillard-Aldridge era, I’m using my hypothetical, course-correcting powers on Aldridge’s time with Roy and Oden.
Quite frankly, the chance to revive and rejuvenate the Big 3 of Roy, Aldridge, and Oden is too much to overlook. I know I said we were (mostly) avoiding “what if?” to break down these scenarios, but we can’t help but wonder: What if Aldridge, Roy, and Oden had stayed healthy and together?
Would they have become the league’s biggest star trio en route to—as Oden put it—like 15 rings?
Fifteen championships might have been a bit ambitious, but as they say, you might as well shoot for the stars.
In Portland’s case, those stars never got a true chance to shine.
That’s what I’m changing if I get the chance.
