Throughout the entire offseason, LaMarcus Aldridge has faced trade rumors upon trade rumors. The power forward made headlines for reportedly being unhappy with the Portland Trailblazers, wanting more money or wanting to play in a larger market. After it was all said and done, Aldridge is still a member of the Trail Blazers and reportedly thrilled to be there.
"I'm happy here right now," Aldridge said, via USA TODAY Sports. "I feel like we have a team that can win, that can make noise, and I feel like if we buy in then anything is possible. So I'm happy, and it's still my team and I'm playing well. I feel like the team has jelled around me. I feel like coach (Terry Stotts) has trusted me more this year to where I'm getting different opportunities that I didn't get last year, so I think everything is going great right now."
Aldridge is now the veteran leader amongst a young team. Notice he says "right now" when discussing his happiness in Portland. The forward currently has two years and $30 million left on his current contract, but is stressing that he is not interested in a trade or a release. Aldridge went as far to say that told general manager Nick Olshey not to move him to a different situation. He understands that the front office will do what they want, but for right now he is focused on Portland.
Aldridge admits that last season was a struggle with so many new faces on the team. Now, there is a better mix of old and young players that head coach Stotts is building up better.
"I feel like last year, we were so young that it was just too strict for me last year," Aldridge said. "I went from having (teammates in) Marcus Camby, Andre Miller and Gerald Wallace - (players) who coaches know that those guys are pros so it wasn't as strict - to having this really young team last year where everything was just so strict that I didn't know how to handle it. But this year I feel like coach is giving us a little bit more leeway of (saying) 'I have veterans now,' so it's been good for me."
So far this season, the forward is averaging 25.7 points per game and 6.7 rebounds as the Trail Blazers sit at 2-1 to start the year. Stotts believes all of the trade rumors stem from Aldridge being frustrated with losing and simply wanting the best for the team. Now, he is playing at a high level and leading the team to a hopefully better 2013.
