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LaMarcus Aldridge has entered the phase of his career where he can longer be patient on waiting to play for a contending team. The Portland Trail Blazers have upgraded their roster under Neil Olshey, but remain a fringe playoff team.

"I'm happy here right now," Aldridge told USA TODAY Sports in an exclusive interview. "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 has two seasons and $30 million remaining on his deal.

There have been many trade rumors involving Aldridge over the past few months, but the Blazers are not motivated to trade him for anything less than another All-Star in return.

"It's not 'If there's a better deal, then get me out of (Portland) or take that. It's 'We're here. Let's win, and let's try to have the best season that we can.'"

Aldridge is currently averaging 25.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

"The team that we have now is a good balance of old and young, a good balance of hungry and – not satisfied – but hungry and older," said Aldridge. "By 'hungry' I mean (players like) T-Rob (Thomas Robinson), who was a (No. 5) pick and he's trying to prove that he should be here (Robinson was traded to Portland from Houston on July 1)."

Via Sam Amick/USA Today

Him and D Rose should be best friends. They both don't complain enough about how they're FO are failing to put another true super star next to them.

Good for POR I say. They have a guy who is basically gonna be quiet, go out and play, and wait for FA. They really should be fielding offers though if their smart, because he's going to a championship caliber team in FA, and it won't be POR.


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MICHAEL_JORDAN wrote:Him and D Rose should be best friends. They both don't complain enough about how they're FO are failing to put another true super star next to them.

Dame is legit and on the rise. Rose on the other hand needs help

I remember when he was in Texas.And bosh want him in Toronto.He might be the best power forward in the NBA.He reminds me of Tim Duncan.If he was in a major market.He would be a household name.he as a big man is better than a lot of contenders have!(clippers,knicks,bulls,thunder,

I don't think he's staying in Portland beyond his current contract

rap980 wrote:I remember when he was in Texas.And bosh want him in Toronto.He might be the best power forward in the NBA.He reminds me of Tim Duncan.If he was in a major market.He would be a household name.he as a big man is better than a lot of contenders have!(clippers,knicks,bulls,thunder,

...and so Colangelo drafted Bargnani. LOL!!!!

[And when Vince Carter wanted Dwayne Wade, they drafted Bosh]

Poor Raps--Mismanaged for more than a decade. I wonder how the Raps would have fared with Carter, Wade and Aldridge

MICHAEL_JORDAN wrote:Him and D Rose should be best friends. They both don't complain enough about how they're FO are failing to put another true super star next to them.

It's even more interesting when you realize they could have/should have been teammates considering Chicago was the team that actually drafted LA....and then promptly traded him for Tyrus Thomas.