NBA Rumors: Former All-Star Could Reunite With Damian Lillard In Portland

LaMarcus Aldridge could bring his feet back to where it all started. The seven-time All-Star is being rumored to a trade that would send him back to Portland to reunite with Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers.

The speculated interest on Aldridge could be a plot from the Blazers’ management as Terry Stotts and his staff seeks to boost its frontcourt by acquiring an upgrade from the underwhelming showing of Hassan Whiteside, who was acquired by the team during the last summer.

“It no longer feels like a given, but if the Portland Trail Blazers renounce their free-agency rights to Hassan Whiteside, they could have a bit of cap space to work with this offseason,” Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report wrote. “Using it to reunite Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge could make some sense.”

It seems the reunion of the former superstar duo is inevitable as Aldridge himself revealed in an interview in 2019 that he has a verbal pact with Lillard about playing and finishing their careers in Portland.

"I keep telling (Lillard) I'm going to come back and finish there," the San Antonio Spurs big man told The Athletic's Jason Quick. "That's something him and I have talked about—playing together again.”

Obviously, Aldridge, should he return, would not be asked of the same heavy role as his age is slowly becoming a factor in the impact that he gives to the game.

Lillard has ultimately thrived on the main man tag for the Trail Blazers while being backed, at least offensively, by CJ McCollum at the backcourt. If Aldridge intends to suit up for the Oregon-based squad anew, then he would have to take a back seat, according to Bailey.

But despite the apparent regression in his game, the 35-year-old can still be a significant weapon for the Blazers, especially with his much-improved perimeter shooting that now extends beyond the three-point arc.

“Being the third option behind Lillard and CJ McCollum might be the ideal role for the twilight of Aldridge's career, especially since he finally embraced the three-point shot this season,” added Bailey.

“With him pulling bigs away from the paint, driving and cutting lanes would be more open for the two guards and Jusuf Nurkic's post-game.”

For Portland to re-acquire their former prized center, the projection suggests they should unload weapons from their guard position, particularly Trevor Ariza and Rodney Hood.

The speculation will have to stay as it is for now as the Blazers and Aldridge’s Spurs are currently battling out for the eighth and final spot of the 2020 NBA Playoffs inside the Orlando bubble.