First Take: Aldridge Wants Out of SA; Blames Spurs for his Regression

[noles1983]

If he asked for a trade, they will accommodate him if it is to their benefit. But he is frustrated about how things turned out. I don't know that they can't convince him to comeback and give 100%. The Spurs will allow players to be human and express frustration, even to the media, and especially with the heat that he got. But people here want to dump him at all costs, which is a dumb decision. People also act like he's not a good player, he is. If he doesn't want to be here, fine, but that doesn't mean the Spurs don't think he is a legit player.

Addition by subtraction. LMA, if he doesn't want to be here he should be sent packing for the best they can get, even if its a ing bag of doritos. This soft piece of is a liability.

[sasaint]

If he asked for a trade, they will accommodate him if it is to their benefit. But he is frustrated about how things turned out. I don't know that they can't convince him to comeback and give 100%. The Spurs will allow players to be human and express frustration, even to the media, and especially with the heat that he got. But people here want to dump him at all costs, which is a dumb decision. People also act like he's not a good player, he is. If he doesn't want to be here, fine, but that doesn't mean the Spurs don't think he is a legit player.

It really has very little to do with whether he is a good player. (You obviously like his soft game better than I do.) I cannot remember any Spur who went public with his criticism of PATFO and remained on the team. SJax said he was a better player than Manu (possibly accurate at the time) and deserved more playing time, and he was sent packing immediately. LMA is blaming the organization for his regression - and doing so publicly. I can't imagine the Spurs abiding that, especially when it seems obvious that there is a significant breach between LMA and Pop.

[sasaint]

Maybe they go full EVIL! Dont trade him...just dont play him regardless of the cost...haha.

Except they need to do something to shore up a frontcourt that is currently in shambles.

[SAGirl]

Do you think GSW worried about stopping Anderson. Their goal was stop LMA and Patty and let the others score. And it worked. Sure LMA played poor, but I'm just saying keep it in context. People want to dump him in trades that will hurt the Spurs. That's stupid. If you can't get something better, keep him. He's still a good player. I'm mostly commenting on his at ude, which is understandably bad after the beating he took in the media. A beating that should be reserved to MVP level talent. He's never been that.

They did guard KA with Durant and Draymond Green. Kyle was active off the ball and setting screens, cutting etc... he has a higher bbiq and it served him well. He competed. He had his bad games shooting (game 2) but you didn't watch him and get the impression he didn't come to play.

In the middle of the series Jon Simms shooting cooled off, he didn't score efficiently or well the past couple of games uric but you also didn't come out with the impression he didn't compete. Dijon was horrible with his shooting, he didn't score efficiently, but again he competed, he was aggressive going to the basket, etc. Heck as I said Pay was terrible... frankly Mills was like the worst guard in the entire series, accounting for all guards who played from both teams, but I would not say Mills wasn't trying... Lamarcus was extremely passive.. one of ghee press conferences Pop mentioned it.. again doubting on shots, taking the bad ones and passing up his good ones. Maybe he was shook... that's why he's gotten this reputation that he's mentally soft on top of physically playing soft.

[south side spur]

It's not so much dumping him at all costs because he's not producing. It's more dumping him to ensure the culture isn't compromised. Duncan is gone, Parker and Ginobili will be gone soon enough. Players cultivate the "Spurs Way" just as much as management.

Aldridge is new and I'm sure he is frustrated but most athletes aren't true Spurs. Culture is delicate. Can 20 years be undone in a few seasons? Probably not but why risk it? I wanted to see more Bertans for the majority of the season so how much worse would the Spurs fall off without Aldridge?

In my opinion maybe just a little drop off but not enough to put up with this bull . Gasol, Bertans and Milutinov are enough to keep the Spurs contenders.

[Ice009]

They can always tell Aldridge, look we're not trading you because your stock is so low and no-one wants to give up anything of value for you, you need to get your ass in shape and show teams at the start of the regular season that you're still a good player.

They can definitely start the season with him if they don't get any good offers that they like. It's up to LaMarcus to stop being a pussy and show teams that he's still a good player.

[duncan2k5]

Its not just about numbers...may times he wasn't giving the effort either offensively or defensively

[DAF86]

Kawhi Leonard is obviously better than LMA....are you really comparing those two? We didn't bring Aldridge here to be an iso/passing out of a double team guy. We were playing the ing Warriors dude. Quit freaking out that Lamarcus Aldridge didn't have a switch where he could suddenly turn into prime Kevin McHale.

I don't want him to be prime McHale, I want him to at least not suck, tbh.

Saying like: "Do you want him to be prime McHale?", or "Did you expect him to drop 40 and 20?" when the dude barely got 11 and 5 on less than 40% shooting.

That some dishonest arguing if I ever saw one.

[Ice009]

Its not just about numbers...may times he wasn't giving the effort either offensively or defensively

True.

Can trades still be discussed right now, or is that not allowed from now until July 1st?

[sasaint]

It's not so much dumping him at all costs because he's not producing. It's more dumping him to ensure the culture isn't compromised. Duncan is gone, Parker and Ginobili will be gone soon enough. Players cultivate the "Spurs Way" just as much as management.

Aldridge is new and I'm sure he is frustrated but most athletes aren't true Spurs. Culture is delicate. Can 20 years be undone in a few seasons? Probably not but why risk it? I wanted to see more Bertans for the majority of the season so how much worse would the Spurs fall off without Aldridge?

In my opinion maybe just a little drop off but not enough to put up with this bull . Gasol, Bertans and Milutinov are enough to keep the Spurs contenders.

Yes, exactly what I have been saying. Except with the old guard Spurs gone or departing in the very near future, I believe the culture is so delicate at this moment that the Spurs culture could, indeed, be compromised beyond repair in a single season by somebody like LMA. Experiment failed; next up.

[SAGirl]

They can always tell Aldridge, look we're not trading you because your stock is so low and no-one wants to give up anything of value for you, you need to get your ass in shape and show teams at the start of the regular season that you're still a good player.

They can definitely start the season with him if they don't get any good offers that they like. It's up to LaMarcus to stop being a pussy and show teams that he's still a good player.

I imagine in exit interviews they cut him all the slack in the world for playing without Tony or Kawhi... probably promised to upgrade the PG spot at all costs and not start Dijon for example, to get an experienced guard next to him. They must have told him they'd get the best guard available that they could get etc... but he appears to have still wanted out. Things soured and have gone south.

[sasaint]

True.

Can trades still be discussed right now, or is that not allowed from now until July 1st?

July 1 is when the FA moratorium ends. July 6 is the next date that trades can be made. I am not sure about trade discussions. As a practical matter, how could the league enforce a "no discussion ban"?

[sasaint]

They can always tell Aldridge, look we're not trading you because your stock is so low and no-one wants to give up anything of value for you, you need to get your ass in shape and show teams at the start of the regular season that you're still a good player.

They can definitely start the season with him if they don't get any good offers that they like. It's up to LaMarcus to stop being a pussy and show teams that he's still a good player.

The Spurs will never bring back a guy who aired his dirty laundry in public. That's a serious no-no. Spurs will never compromise their culture by having LMA back. Can you imagine the reception his own home crowd would give him in the home opener? He is GONE.

[SAGirl]

Regardless of how you analyze the GS series, LMA has committed a cardinal Spur sin by publicly blaming his regression on the organization. The Spurs will never tolerate that. They will dump him for a 3rd round pick before they welcome him back to the fold. He is GONE.

It destroys the culture. I think bottom line, when the dust settles on that series, even as disappointed as Pop was he realized they needed him, would be unlikely to get better through trade (let's remind ourselves he was already rumored to be in the market last preseason)... but then he couldn't be appeased. He blamed others for his own failures.

[sasaint]

I imagine in exit interviews they cut him all the slack in the world for playing without Tony or Kawhi... probably promised to upgrade the PG spot at all costs and not start Dijon for example, to get an experienced guard next to him. They must have told him they'd get the best guard available that they could get etc... but he appears to have still wanted out. Things soured and have gone south.

Seems out-of-character for you to speculate wildly. Do you know something? Because I imagine that they were pretty tough on the guy in the exit interview. (He probably wishes he had skipped it. )

[San Antonio Slayer]

He played ugly for sure but with all respect to Smith and his reliable sources it could be untrue that LMA blamed spurs for his regression and he wanted out. I dont believe it though I want some serious moves to be done to get some new blood.

[duncan2k5]

If he asked for a trade, they will accommodate him if it is to their benefit. But he is frustrated about how things turned out. I don't know that they can't convince him to comeback and give 100%. The Spurs will allow players to be human and express frustration, even to the media, and especially with the heat that he got. But people here want to dump him at all costs, which is a dumb decision. People also act like he's not a good player, he is. If he doesn't want to be here, fine, but that doesn't mean the Spurs don't think he is a legit player.

He didnt give 100% THIS season...what makes u think he will after making it public he wants out? So he can leave for nothing after next season?

[mo7888]

Do we want him gone bad enough to offer LMA and Green for Wade and Portis?

Wade probably wants out of Chicago as bad as LMA want out of here right now.

[sasaint]

He played ugly for sure but with all respect to Smith and his reliable sources it could be untrue that LMA blamed spurs for his regression and he wanted out. I dont believe it though I want some serious moves to be done to get some new blood.

I think LMA's unfollowing the Spurs on his Twitter account last night pretty much confirms all the rumors - even Jackie McMullen's last off-season.

[sasaint]

Do we want him gone bad enough to offer LMA and Green for Wade and Portis?

Wade probably wants out of Chicago as bad as LMA want out of here right now.

I thought I saw a report that Wade was opting out of his deal. (I admit I haven't checked his contract status.) If not, I would do that in a heartbeat. I like Portis.

[rjv]

I thought I saw a report that Wade was opting out of his deal. (I admit I haven't checked his contract status.) If not, I would do that in a heartbeat. I like Portis.

no, he opted in and said there were 24 million reasons why.

[south side spur]

He didnt give 100% THIS season...what makes u think he will after making it public he wants out? So he can leave for nothing after next season?

Simple. He realizes it's in his best interests to do everything in his power to repair his image. He had to hear and read all the criticism aimed at him these past few days. Athletes aren't usually the most self aware so this was yet ANOTHER epiphany. He has received no sympathy from anyone.

His desperate housewife act will more than likely return to being faithful.

[mo7888]

I thought I saw a report that Wade was opting out of his deal. (I admit I haven't checked his contract status.) If not, I would do that in a heartbeat. I like Portis.

I think Wade is going to opt in (I saw where he said he had 23 million reasons to opt in). Then I think he's either going to push for a trade or buyout.

I'm a Portis fan too.

[sasaint]

no, he opted in and said there were 24 million reasons why.

Then do it, RC!

Actually, I don't know what the plan is now for acquiring a veteran PG this off-season. But if we must move Danny and renounce guys in addition to having Pau opt out, the Spurs obviously would have to make a choice.

With the LMA development, it makes filling their needs (never mind their wish list) very tricky. Personally, I would just as soon lower expectations for a veteran PG to Patrick Beverly.

[baseline bum]

Wade's going to try to negotiate a buyout to go play with LeBron for a year.