Article References Aldridge's Diva Behavior in Portland and How it Changed with Spurs

An article on how Harden got rid of McHale and is pushing out Howard (and how Howard did the same thing to Van Gundy in Orlando) cites LMA as an example of a difficult powerful player during his Portland days. It also hints that LMA knows his role has changed on the Spurs.

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"When All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge left Portland for San Antonio as a free agent this past summer, there was "a collective sigh of relief" within the Trail Blazers organization, according to extensive reporting by The Oregonian. So sensitive and demanding was Aldridge, the newspaper reported, that a memo had been sent to the team's marketing staff at one point, stating that all commercial and publicity projects were to run first through Aldridge.Asked during All-Star weekend about how much power star players should have, Aldridge clammed up. When pressed about how much he wants to be consulted about team decisions, Aldridge quipped, "I'm not consulted at all. I'm with the Spurs."
And it's true; not all NBA teams bend over backwards to accommodate their stars' every whim. The Spurs are the gold standard for meritocracy."

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Didn't know LMA was that bad. Hope he keeps up the good behavior post TD, Manu and maybe Pop. That's a lot of leadership keeping him in line. Though to be honest at 30 LMA may have grown up. And the Trailblazers organization should take some responsibility for enabling him. Of course, also to be fair "The Oregonian" could be exagerating this as a hatchet job on the franchise player who just bolted town. A final "FU" to LMA as he hit the door. Who knows.


Full article:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/...y-but-how-much

Small market teams have only one shot at relevance, and that's drafting a franchise player. If you have to suck up to a 22-26yr old then you do it. The spurs would have done the same and more! If Tim threatened to leave.

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Originally Posted by K...

Small market teams have only one shot at relevance, and that's drafting a franchise player. If you have to suck up to a 22-26yr old then you do it. The spurs would have done the same and more! If Tim threatened to leave.

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And this is why Tim will be considered possibly the best team player of all time. Once he decided to stay, he was all in and all about winning. Robinson no doubt helped with this attitude. Hopefully this rubs off on Kwahi.

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Originally Posted by pgardn

And this is why Tim will be considered possibly the best team player of all time. Once he decided to stay, he was all in and all about winning. Robinson no doubt helped with this attitude. Hopefully this rubs off on Kwahi.

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I don't think it needs to rub off on Kwahi
He is who he is and it's good.

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Originally Posted by BillMc

An article on how Harden got rid of McHale and is pushing out Howard (and how Howard did the same thing to Van Gundy in Orlando) cites LMA as an example of a difficult powerful player during his Portland days. It also hints that LMA knows his role has changed on the Spurs.



Didn't know LMA was that bad. Hope he keeps up the good behavior post TD, Manu and maybe Pop. That's a lot of leadership keeping him in line. Though to be honest at 30 LMA may have grown up. And the Trailblazers organization should take some responsibility for enabling him. Of course, also to be fair "The Oregonian" could be exagerating this as a hatchet job on the franchise player who just bolted town. A final "FU" to LMA as he hit the door. Who knows.


Full article:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/writer/...y-but-how-much

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LMA is slowing getting over himself.

Right now, he's just an expensive role player for the Spurs. Offense will continually run around other Spurs players and he's really just either the recipient of broken plays or the post up decoy.

This is so old

The most ironic thing about the Spurs is that given their excellent behavior and history of team first guys, it seems to me that Tim and Manu could, if wanted, influence the decisions of the FO, thay just know it´s not their job, but i have no doubt that if either of them had an opinion about some subject or player, the FO would listen. Because they have earned the right to speak up, and because they have shown that what they do, they do for the team.

I mean the fact of the matter is if PATFO didn't think Aldridge could "get over himself" and fall in line with the team mindset, etc. they probably wouldn't have gone all out to sign him. It's really that simple. The dude is fine, probably needed an elite, first class organization to guide him in the right way. You know, as about 95% of the players in the league do. Tim Duncan's don't grow on trees. Those types are very rare. Manu's too

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Originally Posted by SpursBig3s

I mean the fact of the matter is if PATFO didn't think Aldridge could "get over himself" and fall in line with the team mindset, etc. they probably wouldn't have gone all out to sign him. It's really that simple. The dude is fine, probably needed an elite, first class organization to guide him in the right way. You know, as about 95% of the players in the league do. Tim Duncan's don't grow on trees. Those types are very rare. Manu's too

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When you got a fan base that scrutinizes your every game... you realize that and shut down your twitter and instagram accounts!

Manu could be the next Head Coach of the Spurs

this is just my gut feel

and TIm Duncan as the Next President after Pop retires

again my gut feel

Coachhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Manuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Manu is the best ever

and im the greatest wizard of all time, lol

although a case could be made of someone called TAYSHRENN

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Originally Posted by Maddog

I don't think it needs to rub off on Kwahi
He is who he is and it's good.

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It already has to a degree.

Yes, because the Aldridge cap space was best spent on long-term deals to Al Farouq Aminu, Ed Davis and the MLE to Chris Kaman (plus absorbing Gerald Henderson's salary).

Given the Blazers have one more year of cost-controlled CJ McCollom, they really had a chance to make a splash and turn their spare change into something concrete - and still do this summer.

Crazy too that Lillard may still end up with the 30% max if the Blazers make the playoffs. He's more deserving of an All NBA spot than Klay and could be argued Harden (if they edge Houston for the playoffs), leaving only Curry, Westbrook, Paul and Butler ahead of him with certainty, and arguably Lowry. That sixth spot is ripe for the taking. In fact, it could be more likely than Davis getting All NBA and locking up 30% instead of 25%.

this could happen to anyone. Once you get in an uncomfortable situation with your company/boss, that's it. It's a tainted relationship both ways.

sometimes, its just time to move on....

I just want him to make those point blank lay ups he works hard for but misses.

(Also to perform max contract level against legit contenders)

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Originally Posted by SpursBig3s

I mean the fact of the matter is if PATFO didn't think Aldridge could "get over himself" and fall in line with the team mindset, etc. they probably wouldn't have gone all out to sign him. It's really that simple. The dude is fine, probably needed an elite, first class organization to guide him in the right way. You know, as about 95% of the players in the league do. Tim Duncan's don't grow on trees. Those types are very rare. Manu's too

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And TD wouldn't have gone to the recruitment meeting and given up enough salary to create the max contract space to sign LMA.

The whole diva thing is way overblown. There were a variety of views expressed in the Portland press in the aftermath of LMA leaving. Some blamed him, some blamed Lillard, and some blamed management. The bottom line is that he has fallen in line with the Spurs Way and that's all that matters now.

The marketing department had to run campaigns through their star player? That's a terrible thing? Is this article, or the poor Portland Trailblazers, serious?

also the fact that the Blazers are still talking crap months after they went separate ways, tells me it was their side who was a bitch about it the whole time

good riddance Lamar. Welcome to the SPurs

The Portland TMZers, bunch of pretenders.

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Originally Posted by kaji157

The most ironic thing about the Spurs is that given their excellent behavior and history of team first guys, it seems to me that Tim and Manu could, if wanted, influence the decisions of the FO, thay just know it´s not their job, but i have no doubt that if either of them had an opinion about some subject or player, the FO would listen. Because they have earned the right to speak up, and because they have shown that what they do, they do for the team.

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Oh, I suspect when personnel or basketball decisions are made -- particularly at a high level -- those guys have a say. It would be very much contrary to Pop's management style to say that he welcomes all voices and viewpoints in discussions other than those of his best players. And given the commitment to LMA, I'm sure that when the Spurs start thinking about personnel decisions in the coming summer that they'll talk with him and ask him for his viewpoint on those things. I don't think any of those guys are given enough clout to dictate what will or should happen, and I think that's because Tim doesn't (apparently) insist on that power, leaving everyone else with no credibility to try to claim that sort of power. But giving those guys input short of directing a particular decision would be smart and very Spurs-like/Pop-like.

Yeah, you better believe TD, Parker, Manu and even Kawhi were consulted on LMA. I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that Pop met with the Big Three for any player acquisition, at least major ones. If the Spurs decide to chase free agents this off-season I think they'll consult Kawhi and LMA along with Parker. And while none of those guys are going to dictate anything, I'm sure they'd have veto power. Like the Spurs were likely never going to trade for KG.

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Originally Posted by ceperez

When you got a fan base that scrutinizes your every game... you realize that and shut down your twitter and instagram accounts!

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Haha, fair enough. At least he got it now before it was too late, like in the playoffs or something

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Originally Posted by Mel_13

And TD wouldn't have gone to the recruitment meeting and given up enough salary to create the max contract space to sign LMA.

The whole diva thing is way overblown. There were a variety of views expressed in the Portland press in the aftermath of LMA leaving. Some blamed him, some blamed Lillard, and some blamed management. The bottom line is that he has fallen in line with the Spurs Way and that's all that matters now.

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Exactly, I agree

Who in the Blazers organization compares with RC and Pop? What player compares to any of the big 3?

I don't blame LMA if he didn't respect them. Look at the moves they actually made to add talent and look at the coaching/management. Stotts and McMillan? Gerald Wallace and Nic Batum? In 8 years?

I think the organization has to be at fault too if this report is true, which it might be. I think a NBA All Star player will take all that a franchise is willing to give him. If that means decision making, influence, or anything like that.

I love that the author would have us all believe that Portland was secretly happy they lost their best player for nothing in return.

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Originally Posted by hater

this could happen to anyone. Once you get in an uncomfortable situation with your company/boss, that's it. It's a tainted relationship both ways.

sometimes, its just time to move on....

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+1