When Damian Lillard officially requested to be traded by the Portland Trail Blazers, it didn’t come as a shock. For years, the veteran had spoken about wanting to compete for championships. Instead, the Blazers accepted being a middling team, even going so far as to draft what seemed to be Lillard’s replacement.
It didn’t have to be that way.
“If [LaMarcus Aldridge] would have never went to San Antonio, we would have won at least once already,” Lillard tells the Club 520 Podcast while discussing his chances of winning a championship with the Blazers.
“I would have came into my own, but he was that good.”
Damian Lillard Makes Bold Blazers Claim
LaMarcus Aldridge was once one of the most consistent players in the NBA. A hybrid big man who was a knockdown shooter from the midrange, the Texas native averaged 20.5 points per game with the Blazers after his rookie campaign.
In that time, Portland clinched five playoff berths, winning 50 or more games in four of those seasons. However, the Trail Blazers were only able to make it past the First Round on one occasion while led by Aldridge. In 2014, he and Lillard eliminated the Houston Rockets in six games before being felled by the San Antonio Spurs. As it so happens, that was Aldridge’s final season in Portland.
This wasn’t a Klay Thompson-like situation where he was being pushed out. It’s been reported that he expressed a desire to stay in Portland and become the greatest player in franchise history. With that being said, when he decided to sign with the Spurs instead of re-signing with the Blazers, it was truly surprising.
Ego Interfering With Opportunity
When he retired in 2021, Aldridge commented on his decision to leave Portland. Ultimately, it was his relationship with Lillard —or lack thereof —that helped push him out the door. The Weber State product had cemented himself as one of the league’s top players by the time he left. Aldridge, who was finally getting the respect and opportunity he wanted, didn’t necessarily want to share the spotlight.
“I had to really go earn this thing of having your own team,” he tells The Athletic’s Shams Charania. “I had to go fight for that for a bunch of years. When I got it, it was a proud moment for me.”
“I just feel like I wish Dame and I would’ve talked more and tried to develop a better relationship. Part of it was he was young, trying to find his way, and I had worked so hard to get to this spot I was at. I wish I would have worked harder … the only regret I have is I wish I would have worked harder to have a relationship with Dame.”
Notably, Aldridge states in that interview that he believes the Blazers could’ve made it to the NBA Finals if Greg Oden and Brandon Roy had stayed healthy. Many others believe the same about Wesley Matthews, who Aldridge called “the heart and soul” of the team.
Was Dame Right?
In the end, the home state appeal may have mattered to Aldridge when he signed with the Spurs. San Antonio was also preparing to replace cornerstone Tim Duncan, who went on his retirement tour in 2015-16. Though Kawhi Leonard had developed into a reliable go-to scorer, he wasn’t so popular that he would overshadow him. Considering Aldridge’s comments post-retirement, this could’ve been a significant factor.
Whether Portland would’ve won a championship in the time Aldridge was with the Spurs is another question though.
Immediately after his departure, the Golden State Warriors took the league by storm. Playing a unique style that emphasized 3-point shooting, off-ball movement, and switchable defensive personnel, their opponents had to lean into the 3-ball more than ever to keep up. However, Lillard and Stephen Curry share more similarities than differences in terms of their skillset. With those two going toe-to-toe, Aldridge and Co. may have had enough to take down the Warriors.
Defeating the Warriors’ then archrival —LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers —after that would certainly be difficult. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t have been impossible.
