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LeMarcus Aldridge News & Rumors

Aldridge will miss rest of season with hip surgery
April 13
Portland Tribune
 
"Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is out for the rest of the season and will have arthroscopic surgery on his right hip to repair a labral tear. "In his most recent MRI, and following further evaluation, it's been determined that LaMarcus has a slight labral tear and will require arthroscopic surgery," acting general manager Chad Buchanan said in a statement released Thursday morning by the team."
LaMarcus Aldridge will have surgery to repair labral tear in hip, miss rest of season
April 12
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers announced that All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge will have arthroscopic surgery to repair a labral tear in his right hip. Aldridge is expected to address the media short at the Blazers' practice facility. "In his most recent MRI, and following further evaluation, it's been determined that LaMarcus has a slight labral tear and will require arthroscopic surgery," acting general manager Chad Buchanan said in a statement. "LaMarcus' priority is that he's 100-percent healthy going into training camp this fall and we all feel this is the best course. He's had an All-Star year and his long-term health is the most important thing to consider.""
Should ailing LaMarcus Aldridge sit out the rest of the Blazers' season?
April 11
Oregonian
 columnist Joe Freeman
"After the Trail Blazers suffered a defeat to the Houston Rockets on Monday night, a reporter asked LaMarcus Aldridge if he had contemplated resting the final eight games of a season that is going nowhere to preserve his aching body. "My body is pretty beat up," Aldridge said. "I'm definitely not getting any better. But I haven't said anything about it." A few hours later, Aldridge finally spoke up. The Blazers' All-Star power forward, who has been playing with a sore right hip for weeks, traveled to Vail, Colo., on Tuesday afternoon to visit Dr. Marc Phillipon and have his ailing hip evaluated."
LaMarcus Aldridge's buzzer-beater gives Blazers comeback road win
April 7
Oregonian
 
"By halftime of Portland's game against Dallas at American Airlines Center, the Trail Blazers appeared headed back to where they've been all season – about to lose badly on the road, unable to follow up a win with another. But on this night, the Blazers came roaring out of the locker room, suddenly tightening up a loose defense, knocking down shots and taking control of the game. The Mavericks – the defending NBA champions – made the Blazers earn a victory in overtime, and they did just that as LaMarcus Aldridge made a 17-foot fadeaway jumper just before the final buzzer to give the Blazers a 99-97 win Friday. Aldridge's teammates mobbed him at halfcourt to celebrate the dramatic victory,"
LaMarcus Aldridge's backup, J.J. Hickson, is becoming a nice sidekick
April 6
Oregonian
 
"When the Trail Blazers snatched J.J. Hickson off of the waiver wire two weeks ago, they thought they were taking a flier on an athletic big man who might finally serve as the long desired backup to All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. But an unexpected thing has developed during Hickson's brief time with the Blazers: He and Aldridge are evolving into a force when they play side by side. "He's so active," Aldridge said. "I've always wanted to play with somebody that was like a Lou Amundson or a Reggie Evans; somebody that's active, that's always keeping guys on their toes. And I think he's been big late in games, when teams have been keying on me. He's been getting easy buckets and he's been coming"
Ailing Aldridge, Batum come up big for Blazers
April 5
Portland Tribune
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge dressed gingerly after the Trail Blazers' 101-88 victory over New Jersey Wednesday night at the Rose Garden. Portland's all-star power forward has been playing with a sore left elbow and an aching right hip — "seems like that's getting worse," he admitted — for weeks. And late in the victory over the Nets, Aldridge aggravated an injury to the pinky finger on his left hand while going up for a rebound. "I was mad, too," Aldridge said. "It got bent all the way backward. It's already messed up.""
LaMarcus Aldridge battles Kevin Love to standstill, gets plenty of help to secure win
April 2
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge said his battle with Minnesota's Kevin Love on Sunday was simple competition. "I thought it was just two guys competing, two guys trying to lead their teams," Aldridge said after he led the Blazers to a 119-106 victory over the Timberwolves at the Rose Garden. "It was just a competitive night." Was there more to it? The two Western Conference All-Star power forwards got into a shoving match in the first half, and they battled each other hard for position in a rugged, physical joust in the low block."
Aldridge, Blazers prevail in battle royal
April 2
Portland Tribune
 
"The Trail Blazers' offense was at its fluid best Sunday night in a 119-106 victory over Minnesota at the Rose Garden, but the battle between LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Love was worth the price of admission. The all-star power forwards dueled to a statistical standstill, but it was Aldridge and the Blazers who took away a win with, in the words of Portland's Wesley Matthews, "playoff implications." The Blazers (25-28) leapfrogged the Timberwolves (25-29) to move into 11th place in the Western Conference standings, three games behind Houston (28-25), which stands in the eighth and final playoff position."
LaMarcus Aldridge leads Portland Trail Blazers to 99-93 win against shorthanded Hornets
March 30
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge, who was listed as probable before tipoff, led Portland with 25 points and 12 rebounds, as the Trail Blazers beat a short-handed New Orleans Hornets team 99-93 on Thursday at the Rose Garden Portland took a 28-27 lead at the end of the first quarter when Luke Babbitt scored a three-pointer from a spot between the arc and midcourt. At halftime, he had 11 points and was 3-for-3 on three-pointers. The lead didn't last long. New Orleans went on a 13-2 run in the second quarter and led 42-35 at the 4:50 mark."
Aldridge: We just need key pieces
March 29
Portland Tribune
 
"It has been a season of wide-ranging emotions for LaMarcus Aldridge. The Trail Blazers' power forward, named to the NBA All-Star Game for the first time, was also added as a finalist among 20 players competing for 12 spots on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team that will compete this summer in London. As his cred as a player has soared, Aldridge's team aspirations have plummeted. A Portland team that was expected to go beyond the first round of the playoffs now is on the outside looking in at being part of the postseason."
Raymond Felton and LaMarcus Aldridge answer the doubters on this night
March 26
Oregonian
 
"Raymond Felton can't shoot? LaMarcus Aldridge can't close? Two of the Trail Blazers' key starters might have been pinned with those reputations, but for one night they shook them off in impressive fashion in leading Portland to a 90-87 victory over Golden State at the Rose Garden. On a night when some of Portland's other offensive stalwarts struggled to make shots, Felton came through with his best shooting game as a Blazer as he scored a season-high 24 points, including nine in a clutch fourth quarter. "Ray stepped up and made big shots for us," guard Wesley Matthews said. "He never lost his confidence. We never lost confidence in him.""
Blazers look to take advantage of new CBA and add All-Star-caliber guard to complement LaMarcus Aldridge
March 18
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers' next major personnel goal: acquiring an All-Star caliber player to complement LaMarcus Aldridge. And Thursday's trades put them in a position to do just that. The moves allowed Portland to collect two major assets -- draft picks (potentially two first-rounders for this year) and salary cap space (possibly over $20 million at the end of the season) -- to use in pursuit of a marquee player. "I feel like that's what we need on this team to take the next step," interim general manager Chad Buchanan said. "We need another high-caliber, top-30 player in the league, preferably in the backcourt, with LaMarcus, who we already have in the frontcourt." The moves allow the"
Blazers midseason awards: LaMarcus Aldridge is clear MVP
February 28
Oregonian
 
"MVP: LaMarcus Aldridge It's hard to imagine where the Blazers would be without Aldridge, who earned his first All-Star game nod and is having a second consecutive All-NBA caliber season. The only player on the roster who has been consistent night-in and night-out, Aldridge is averaging 22.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. He ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring and is one of three players -- joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant -- who are averaging at least 22.3 points and shooting 50 percent from the field. Biggest disappointment: Raymond Felton After 34 games in Portland, Felton has been another failed experiment rather than the Blazers' long-term answer at point guard. Felton is averaging a"
LaMarcus Aldridge's first All-Star Game features short minutes but long-lasting memories
February 27
Oregonian
 
"The highlight of LaMarcus Aldridge's NBA All-Star Game debut might have come at the start of the second quarter. Aldridge, who did not play in the first, entered the game to start the second. As he went in, he caught the eye of his mother, Georgia Young, who had come back from cancer and for whom seeing her youngest son make his first All-Star Game meant so much. "My mom looked at me and she smiled when I checked in," Aldridge said. "She seemed happy that I was checking in. That was a real good moment for me.""
Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge form a new wave of All-Star power forwards in West
February 26
Oregonian
 
"Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki was speaking to a throng of reporters Saturday before a practice for the NBA All-Star game. To his left, in his own media scrum, was Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge. To Nowitzki's right, Minnesota's Kevin Love held court. To Love's right was the Clippers' Blake Griffin. Nowitzki, selected to his 11th All-Star Game, could see the trend clearly – a new wave of power forwards is emerging in the Western Conference, where the position has been dominated for years by perennial All-Stars led by San Antonio's Tim Duncan. Duncan had made 13 All-Star appearances, including 12 in a row before the streak was broken this year. "Timmy Duncan's not here for the first time in 20"
Wesley Matthews will rejoin Blazers' starting lineup in place of injured LaMarcus Aldridge
February 16
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan will turn to a small lineup tonight as his team tries to compensate for the loss of it's best player. After a one-game stint with the second-unit, Wesley Matthews will rejoin the starting lineup against the Warriors, filling in for the injured LaMarcus Aldridge. McMillan decided to go with Matthews instead of Craig Smith for two primary reasons. One, he said he likes the matchups it offers against the guard-oriented Warriors team. Also, the Blazers used the starting five — which also will include Raymond Felton, Nicolas Batum, Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby — during training camp as Aldridge sat because of a medical procedure on his heart."
Washington 124, Portland 109: LaMarcus Aldridge injured as Blazers fall to Wizards
February 15
Oregonian
 
"As the Trail Blazers' stunning home loss to the Washington Wizards wound down Tuesday, one fan's voice could be heard among a smattering of boos at the Rose Garden. "C'mon Blazers, you're better than that," the fan said. Are they? That was the question after a 124-109 loss to the Wizards (7-22), a team that had won just twice on the road before Tuesday. Washington entered the game with the third-worst shooting percentage in the league and averaging 90.3 points."
LaMarcus Aldridge injures left ankle in first quarter against Wizards
February 15
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge suffered a left ankle injury Tuesday when he landed on the foot of Trevor Booker less than two minutes into the game at the Rose Garden. Aldridge was coming down after he had made a perimeter jumper when his foot landed, and then rolled, on the foot of Booker. Aldridge screamed in pain and put his hand over his face, until action was stopped. He was able to walk to the locker room and has yet to return to the court."
LaMarcus Aldridge becomes 15th Trail Blazers player selected to NBA All-Star Game
February 10
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge is an All-Star. The NBA announce today that Aldridge -- the Trail Blazers' sixth-year power forward -- has been voted onto the Western Conference team for the NBA All-Star Game by a ballot of the conference coaches. Aldridge, 26, is the 15th player in the 42-year history of the Blazers to be picked to play in an All-Star Game. He is the first Portland player picked since his former teammate, Brandon Roy, was selected to the 2010 game as a reserve. The All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 26, in Orlando. Aldridge will join a West team that includes former Lake Oswego High School star Kevin Love of Minnesota, who was voted a reserve for the the second consecutive"
Aldridge: "I kind of didn't believe it'
February 10
Portland Tribune
 
"It seemed like everybody was saying LaMarcus Aldridge deserved to make the NBA All-Star game this year. But when the league announced Thursday that he had made the Western Conference squad, for a moment he wasn't sure what to think. "I kind of didn't believe it in the beginning," Aldridge said Thursday night. "I just had a little flashback of last year, how I thought I was going to make it and didn't." This time, though, he did. He will be one of seven reserves joining the five starters for the Feb. 26 game at Orlando. "It's kind of surreal," Aldridge says of being an All-Star for the first time in his five-plus NBA seasons. Aldridge got the news while with the Blazers in New Orleans,"
Blazers' forward Aldridge wants to reward his mom
February 8
Oregonian
 
"Cry? Not Georgia Young. Uh, un. No sir. There will be no showing weakness here. Not after what she has been through. Not after the doctor's office that September 2010 day, when the words "breast cancer" hit her cold. In the months that followed, there would be a surgery. And chemotherapy. "I had to get some tough skin with what I went through," she said. So her youngest son, Trail Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge, never saw his mother cry. Never heard it, either, on the many phone calls from Portland to Dallas."
Goaltending call on LaMarcus Aldridge was bad, but hardly the sole reason for loss
February 7
Oregonian
 columnist Mike Tokito
"Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan was surprisingly blunt about the call. Surely you saw the play – LaMarcus Aldridge blocked Kevin Durant's shot at the basket with 6 seconds left in the Blazers' game against Oklahoma City on Monday. The officials, however, called goaltending on Aldridge. Replays showed that the ball was clearly on the way up, and it had not hit the backboard before Aldridge blocked it. The goaltending call tied the game at 103-103, and the Thunder went on to win 111-107 in overtime."
LaMarcus Aldridge falls short at closing time
February 7
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge on Monday learned he got one more vote to strengthen his chances at making the All-Star Game -- Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks being the latest to reveal he voted for the Trail Blazers forward to make the Western Conference roster. But right now, Aldridge and the Blazers would probably trade his certain All-Star berth for another title: Closer. Never has the retirement of Brandon Roy this season been felt so much as in late-game situations for the Blazers, who find themselves routinely in position to win games, but painfully absent when it comes time to do what made Roy a legend around here: closing."
Car accident doesn't prevent LaMarcus Aldridge from playing like an All-Star
February 5
Oregonian
 
"It was 5:15 p.m. Saturday and life couldn't have been much better for LaMarcus Aldridge. It was one of those days where everything was going right. He had a great nap. Rick Ross was bumping on his stereo in his "baby" -- a 2009 black Ferrari -- and he was on his way to the Rose Garden, where he and the Trail Blazers play so well. "I was feeling good, feeling great," Aldridge said. "It felt like it was going to be one of those nights where I didn't miss. I felt really rested, had good music going, just in a really good mood. It was like, it couldn't be any better." Then disaster struck. He was on Broadway, a couple of blocks away from the Rose Garden, when a 2003 Toyota in front of him"
For LaMarcus Aldridge, blowout win means a rare chance for a short stint in a game
February 2
Oregonian
 
"What's the value of a 44-point victory? For the Trail Blazers, who absolutely walloped Charlotte 112-68 on Wednesday at the Rose Garden, one of the biggest benefits was surely rest, especially for leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge played 26 minutes, 16 seconds and got his time's worth, scoring 22 points on 8-for-16 field goal shooting and 6-for-6 free-throw shooting. "I don't think I've played 26 minutes since my first year in the league," Aldridge said. "It's definitely going to be big.""
Lee outplays Aldridge as Warriors top Blazers
January 26
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"David Lee said he doesn't belong in the All-Star Game and definitely shouldn't be considered one of the elite power forwards in the league. "Not right now. Not with our team not winning," Lee said before Wednesday's game. "If we were above .500, maybe I might deserve that kind of talk. I think winning should be one of the biggest factors in measuring individual players.""
Blazers-Kings: LaMarcus Aldridge, Craig Smith bring new elements to power forward position
January 24
Oregonian
 
"Sometimes you just need the obvious. For the Blazers, coming off a disappointing 2-4 road trip that ended with a defeat to a bad Detroit team, a little dose of Sacramento -- young, short-handed and prone to bad shot selection -- was just what they needed. Portland won 101-89. The game wasn't exactly a masterpiece, and while you would have hoped the Blazers could have stretched the lead to where coach Nate McMillan could sit his starters for the entire fourth quarter, the win itself was more important. The star of the win was obviously Jamal Crawford (26 points, five assists). But the game also had two positive developments at a key position for Portland: power forward."
Aldridge's historic night lifts Blazers
January 21
Portland Tribune
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge took matters into his own hands Friday night at Air Canada Centre. Good thing for the Trail Blazers. Aldridge collected 33 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in Portland's 94-84 victory over Toronto, joining a select group of 30/20 players in franchise history. It was the second win in five outings on this six-game road trip for the Blazers (9-6), who move on to Detroit Saturday. Aldridge became the sixth Blazer to reach 30/20 and the first since Zach Randolph in 2003. "He's the best power forward in the game," said Portland center Marcus Camby, who returned to action after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. "He probably doesn't get the attention he"
LaMarcus Aldridge holds steady at sixth among West forwards in All-Star balloting
January 20
Oregonian
 
"The second round of fan balloting for the NBA All-Star Game was released today, and the Trail Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge remains in sixth place among Western Conference forwards. Aldridge got another 70,561 since last week's tally, bringing his total to 188,829. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and the Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin continue to lead the voting for the two starting forward spots on the West team. Kevin Love, the former Lake Oswego High School star who made his first All-Star Game last season, remains in fifth place among West forwards. Love has 232,656 votes."
LaMarcus Aldridge is sixth among West forwards in balloting for NBA All-Star Game
January 13
Oregonian
 
"The first batch of balloting returns is out for the NBA All-Star Game, and Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is in sixth place among Western Conference forwards. Aldridge has 118,268 votes in fan balloting, which will decide the game's 10 starters. Although it would be surprising if Aldridge was voted as one of the West's two starting forwards, his sixth-place spot shows that he is starting to gain some added attention. Last season, when some believed Aldridge deserved to make the All-Star Game for the first time, he did not finish in the top 10 in fan voting."
Aldridge appears headed for U.S. team tryouts
January 11
Portland Tribune
 
"Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge is likely to be added to the national team roster that will be submitted to FIBA next month. "I haven't talked to anybody yet, but I think it's going to happen," Aldridge said Tuesday night before the Trail Blazers' game against the Los Angeles Clippers. "I think I'm going to be invited to the tryouts." The Clippers' Blake Griffin and Aldridge are expected to be added to the group that will try out to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games in London next year."
Wallace, Aldridge deliver potent 1-2 punch
January 6
Portland Tribune
 
"Nothing goes over at the Rose Garden better than a victory over the Lakers. The house was rocking Thursday night as the Trail Blazers gave the locals what they were looking for, and then some. Forwards Gerald Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge two-timed the L.A. contingent to the tune of 59 points and got plenty of help in a 107-96 victory over the Lakers. "Beat L.A.!" chants pumped up the volume from pregame to near game's end, and the lads delivered. And look at the Western Conference standings. Atop the list is Portland with a 5-1 record. "It's just six games," said Wallace, who punished the Lakers with a season-high 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting. "It doesn't really mean anything. "We know"
Wallace, Aldridge deliver potent 1-2 punch
January 6
Portland Tribune
 
"Nothing goes over at the Rose Garden better than a victory over the Lakers. The house was rocking Thursday night as the Trail Blazers gave the locals what they were looking for, and then some. Forwards Gerald Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge two-timed the L.A. contingent to the tune of 59 points and got plenty of help in a 107-96 victory over the Lakers. "Beat L.A.!" chants pumped up the volume from pregame to near game's end, and the lads delivered. And look at the Western Conference standings. Atop the list is Portland with a 5-1 record. "It's just six games," said Wallace, who punished the Lakers with a season-high 31 points on 13-of-19 shooting. "It doesn't really mean anything."
LaMarcus Aldridge and Raymond Felton show growing chemistry in win
January 4
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers got a big win Tuesday, beating the Thunder 103-93 in Oklahoma City. And while there was a lot of talk about the Blazers moving to the top of the Western Conference, of their rugged defensive play and of making a strong road statement, there was one other development that might be easy to take for granted. LaMarcus Aldridge looked like his old self -- maybe even a more well-rounded version."
Trail Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge is ready to be "The Man"
December 23
Oregonian
 
"Told you. Told you LaMarcus Aldridge couldn't do it. Right there in front of us all on Wednesday, the game was there to be won, and Aldridge failed. Choked. Crunch time and he turns it over. Game-winning shot, and he misses. He's not a franchise player. He's not a go-to-guy. Told you. He's nothing but a flash in the pan ... Welcome to the mind of Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Those words were never spoken, or written, but in his mind, he heard them. Or read them. He's sure of it. The critics, he is convinced, are once again criticizing."
LaMarcus Aldridge poised to return to practice Saturday and says he'll be ready for Trail Blazers' regular season opener
December 17
Oregonian
 
"In the middle of what was supposed to be a frantic and fast-paced training camp, Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge found himself relegated to his own personal horror. He was at home. In bed. Watching television. For nearly a week. "I was bored out of my mind," Aldridge said. But at least he's healthy. After missing the first week of training camp recovering a medical procedure on his heart, Aldridge has been cleared to return to practice Saturday. He will not initially be allowed to participate in contact and scrimmaging portions of workouts as he eases himself back from treatment for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, but at least he's no longer cooped up in his house. "Just watching"
Aldridge says he is 'Good to go'
December 17
Portland Tribune
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge pronounced himself fit Friday, with the goal to return to action in next Wednesday's preseason finale at Utah. And don't begin to suggest that Portland's veteran power forward won't be back at 100 percent for Portland's regular-season opener against Philadelphia Dec. 26 at the Rose Garden. "I'll definitely be ready," Aldridge said. It was been a week since Aldridge underwent a medical procedure on his heart, the result of a condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. It was the third time Aldridge has undergone the surgical procedure — including once late in his rookie season in April 2007, then again that summer. He said he was feeling fine and was surprised when"
LaMarcus Aldridge has procedure to treat heart issue, will be out 1-2 weeks
December 10
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge missed the Trail Blazers first practice of the 2011-12 season after he had a recurrence of a heart issue that first surfaced in 2007. Aldridge had a procedure Friday to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (also known as WPW), an abnormality of the heart's electrical system that can cause an abnormal heartbeat and dizziness. Aldridge will be out one to two weeks, acting general manager Chad Buchanan said. "Obviously it's a little disappointing for LaMarcus, but we're very optimistic that he'll be back on the court here within a short amount of time," Buchanan said. On a day when Brandon Roy retired and Greg Oden had another setback in his recovery from knee surgery, the"
LaMarcus Aldridge arrives in Portland ready to lead the Trail Blazers
December 6
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge was in the middle of answering a question in an interview -- literally in the middle of a sentence -- when a familiar face barreled through a group of reporters and bee-lined toward the Trail Blazers' power forward. It was coach Nate McMillan, giddy to see and be allowed to speak to his star player, and he immediately blanketed Aldridge with a gigantic bear hug before breaking out into a fake sobbing cry. "It's been so long since I've seen these guys," McMillan later said. "I just wanted to hug him. It's like seeing your son." It's been a long, silent offseason. But slowly but surely, players are arriving into Portland for the start of the 2011-12 NBA season and Aldridge"
Offensive highlights, shadow of lockout intersect at LaMarcus Aldridge's Rip City exhibition
November 7
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge's message to the sold-out crowd of 4,852 at the Chiles Center was short and simple. "Thank you for your support," the Trail Blazers forward said. "Hopefully I'll be playing soon." Aldridge organized a taste of NBA basketball for Portland-area fans Sunday, gathering 16 fellow players for the Rip City Basketball Classic. He scored 42 points to help his team - called the "home" team - defeat Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant and the "away" team 164-157."
Trail Blazers: A conversation with LaMarcus Aldridge
November 2
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge is not happy about the departure of Trail Blazers assistant coach Bill Bayno. He strongly endorses the acquisition of point guard Raymond Felton and would like to see the Blazers pursue free agent guard Jamal Crawford. He's tight-lipped about comments having to do with the NBA lockout, even though he's the Blazers' player representative to the NBA Player's Union, and he's ambivalent to the speed at which the team plays next season. Aldridge talked about these subjects and more in an interview with The Oregonian. Here are some highlights:"
LaMarcus Aldridge to host exhibition basketball game in Portland
October 25
Oregonian
 
"LaMarcus Aldridge offered a small dose of good news for downtrodden Portland-area basketball fans Monday afternoon. The Trail Blazers forward announced on Twitter that he will host an exhibition basketball game Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at an undisclosed Portland location. "Rip City is having a basketball game!" Aldridge said, via twitter. Neither Aldridge nor his agent returned phone calls from The Oregonian Monday, but the Blazers' star forward said on Twitter that he would reveal the venue and ticket information later this week. Presumably, rosters also will be announced in the coming days."
Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge taking a 'closer look' at playing overseas?
October 11
Oregonian
 
"Fresh off the news the NBA will cancel the first two weeks of the season, Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is once again mulling the possibility of heading overseas, writes Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears: Aldridge said he is attracted to possibly playing in Spain, Turkey or Australia. He isn't optimistic the lockout will end soon. "It could get bad," Aldridge said. "We thought it was going to be a good negotiation this time. We didn't actually think this was going to happen. But we prepared for the worst. It's a little more dramatic for me now that two weeks of the season are canceled."
Source: LaMarcus Aldridge Not Going Overseas
September 15
SLAM Online
 
"Portland Trail Blazers' forward LaMarcus Aldridge will not go overseas and will remain in the states if the NBA lockout resumes, sources told SLAMOnline. Aldridge spoke with the Oregonian last month and said playing overseas was a possibility. That stance has now changed, as CBA negotiations took a turn for the worst yesterday and both sides walked away without a deal in place—a shock, as most thought things were moving in a positive direction in prior meetings."
Aldridge Signs Off on Landry
August 28
SLAM Online
 
"The New Orleans Hornets' free agent, Carl Landry, recently told SLAMonline that he thought he'd be a good fit with the Portland Trail Blazers and was interested in signing with the organization once the lockout ended. LaMarcus Aldridge concurs with Landry and feels such an addition would drastically improve the Blazers' current roster. "That's big of him to speak out and I'm glad he spoke out and said he wants to play with us," Aldridge told SLAMonline. "He's a good player and I definitely feel like he can help us immediately." As the new face of the franchise, Aldridge finds himself in unfamiliar territory. He's now a player others look up to and want to play with. Seldom has an athlete"
La Marcus Aldridge is fine missing the 2011-12 season
August 25
CBSSports.com
 
"Ask a player, owner, commissioner or anyone affiliated with the NBA about the status of the 2011-12 season and you're going to get differing levels of optimism and pessimism. David Stern is optimistic. Dwyane Wade is optimistic. But LaMarcus Aldridge? He's on the other end. Not just pessimistic, but extremely pessimistic. He told The Oregonian he doesn't see the 2011-12 starting on time and even worse, is completely willing to sit out the season to get a fair deal. Aldridge, who is the Blazers' player representative in the NBA Player's Union, said he does not expect the season to start on time but does believe there will be a season eventually. That said, he is prepared to sit out all"
Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge answers questions - at least most of them - at basketball camp
August 24
Oregonian
 
"After teaching 35 kids his favorite offensive move, running them through an array of fundamental drills and basketball activities and organizing an end-of-the-day scrimmage, LaMarcus Aldridge allowed the participants of his first Portland basketball camp to ask any question they wanted. Who's the toughest player to guard in the NBA? Dirk Nowitzki. What's your favorite food? Mexican. Who's the biggest trash talker in the NBA? Kevin Garnett. Who's the dirtiest player? Reggie Evans. Do you like unicorns? Sure. Is there going to be a lockout? Uh ... No matter what kind of audience Aldridge runs into these days, the L-word inevitably surfaces, and Tuesday was no exception. And after the Trail"
Trail Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge on playing overseas during lockout: 'It's a possibility'
August 24
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is in town to host a three-day youth basketball camp and I caught up with him Monday night on the phone to talk about the event. Aldridge, who just finished a weeklong trip to China as part of Nike's Festival of Sports, refused to discuss the ongoing NBA lockout and was tight-lipped about a host of other subjects. But he did offer one interesting note about the possibilities of playing overseas should the NBA's work stoppage stretch deep into the season as many expect. "I've thought about it; it's a possibility," Aldridge said of playing internationally. "My agency is looking into it.""
LaMarcus Aldridge will be back in Portland area for clinics - but can't cross the street at one
August 16
Oregonian
 columnist Mike Tokito
"Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge is coming back to Portland next week for a series of skills camps for young players. But he'll need to be careful about crossing the street. Aldridge will give one-day clinics Aug. 23, 24 and 25 for middle school and high school boys and girls. The first will be for players in grades 6-8 and will be held at Club Sport in Tualatin. That facility is right across Southwest Childs Road from the Blazers practice facility. Because of the NBA lockout, Aldridge is not allowed to walk across the street and enter what is basically his home away from home."