FanPost

Is the Spurs first round loss the best thing for the Blazers?

Now, I have been very vocal about my opinion on the "will Aldridge leave the Blazers" question. My answer has been, and still is, ABSOLUTELY NOT. However, the Spurs were the only team that worried me. If they made a deep playoff run this year, perhaps even winning the championship, I thought that could be a pretty enticing offer to a guy we all know wants to win.

Butttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt, that didn't happen. The Spurs lost in Game 7 to the Clippers (got robbed in my opinion, with the bail out foul for Chris Paul and the game clock error on the last inbounds play). Now, the important part. The loss itself isn't that surprising, because the Western Conference is stacked, and besides Houston, I believe any of the teams left in the West could possibly go on to the Finals. What IS important is how the loss came. The Blazers lost against a team that is conceivable their worst matchup while battling multiple injuries. The Spurs lost to a good Clippers team while perfectly healthy (Tony Parker's lingering injury aside, just like I don't count LMA's injury).

Now, if Aldridge was planning on leaving, I believe it would be for the Spurs, as he clearly doesn't care about going to a big market like LA or NY just to be on a crappy team. And Dallas is probably in a much worse position than Portland or San Antonio are.

Ultimately, the Blazers have legitimate reasons as to why they lost in the first round, and thanks to those reasons, also a lot to be excited for next year (possibly a deep bench rotation, with CJ looking like he could win 6th Man of the Year). A deep bench would be something we haven't had in Portland since....forever? San Antonio seems to finally be on the decline. Ginobli is a shell of his former self. Kawhi Leonard is still learning how to be the #1 option. It sounds like Duncan and Pop will be back next year, so you know that will be a good team regardless, but it doesn't look like they will be the greener pasture everyone made them out to be.

I didn't think there was any chance of Aldridge leaving to begin with, but to me, this seals the deal. Portland is clearly the best option for him financially, as well as giving him the best chance to win a championship. This Portland team is built around him. This city loves him, and everyone who knows basketball knows who's team this is. He is already the greatest Blazer in my mind, and a lot of others, and he will only solidify that if he resigns.