The former Spur says he tried a few times to get traded back to Portland while with the Spurs.
SAN ANTONIO — Former San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge revealed that during his playing days in San Antonio, he tried to make a return to the Portland Trail Blazers.
After the first year he left Portland for San Antonio, Aldridge admitted that Damian Lillard tried to convince him to return to the Blazers.
“So then hearing it from him and me going into San Antonio and actually experiencing it at some point, I did try to get back,” he said.
However, Aldridge pointed out that Portland General Manager Neil Olshay did not want a reunion to happen.
“Neil, at the time, didn’t want me back,” he said. “He confirmed it when I tried to come back two or three times throughout my career.”
He also says he wanted to retire as a Blazer at the end of his career, but Olshay rebuffed him.
After signing as a free agent, Aldridge played for the Spurs from 2015 to 2021. On March 25, 2021, he reached a contract buyout agreement with San Antonio and signed with the Nets.
In 2016, coach Gregg Popovich stated that Aldridge requested a trade out of San Antonio and spoke to him about his feelings. This ultimately led to Aldridge having one of his best seasons as a Spur, averaging 23.1 points per game and 8.5 rebounds.
“It’s as simple as that,” Popovich said. “I said, ‘Whoa, nobody’s ever said that to me before.’ It’s my 20-whatever year, and nobody’s ever said that, like, ‘I’m not enjoying this. I’m not confident. I’m not sure you want me here. I want to be traded.'”
“So we had some dinners and meetings and laughed,” Popovich said. “I was very candid with him. I told him, ‘I’d be happy to trade you. You get me a talent like Kevin Durant, and I’ll drive you to the airport. I’ll pack your bags. And I will drive you there, get you on the plane, and get you seated.’ He laughed, you know, that kind of thing.”
It would have been interesting if Aldridge did get his wish to return to Portland and the ripple effect it would have had on the Spurs.
Do the Spurs bottom out? What players would have come to San Antonio in a deal with Portland? Does the Spurs playoff drought start sooner?
While with the Spurs, Aldridge became an All-Star (2018, 2019) and was named to the All-NBA Second Team (2018). He also led the Spurs to the playoffs from 2016-2019.