Portland may lose 4 of their starting 5

[RightTwoCensor]

Portland fans should be praying Lamarcus Aldridge chooses to sign with a team that would require him to be traded.

[screeningnick]

Can someone who knows the Blazers please explain why all the players decided to leave. They seemed as if they had good chemistry together, wouldn't necessarily say a true title contender but definitely one of the top teams in the league. Confusing is all why they would want to all split.

[imdaman99]

Lillard about to go Westbrook mode from last year. Gonna put to rest the Lillard vs Westbrook debates from 2 years back (well, they've already been proven but still should be fun )

[OG LeeTSkeeT]

too many years of hitting a plateau of first round exits and wanting to chase the money+better opportunity to win. Others like Batum had no choice cause he was traded.

[RightTwoCensor]

Can someone who knows the Blazers please explain why all the players decided to leave. They seemed as if they had good chemistry together, wouldn't necessarily say a true title contender but definitely one of the top teams in the league. Confusing is all why they would want to all split.

Not a Portland fan, but it's pretty obvious that they wouldn't be able to afford extensions to Matthews, Aldridge, and Lopez. Their front office weren't on their hand and knees ready to take in the luxury tax for improving their bench, so it seems reasonable that the Blazers would be hesitant with resigning their core.

[GreggPopazit]

In one offseason

Batum and Matthews are gone, Lopez is nearing a deal with the Knicks, and LMA...who knows

That is brutal. No reason for LMA to stay. They will suck.

[Myth]

Not a Portland fan, but it's pretty obvious that they wouldn't be able to afford extensions to Matthews, Aldridge, and Lopez. Their front office weren't on their hand and knees ready to take in the luxury tax for improving their bench, so it seems reasonable that the Blazers would be hesitant with resigning their core.

I disagree. Paul Allen has shown he is willing to spend money IF he thinks the team will be good. With them expecting to lose LMA, they didn't have a bright immediate future, so in that case it doesn't make sense to extend Matthews and Lopez. It was more of an all-or-nothing situation. I think they would have even gone as far as extending Matthews, offering a max to Monroe, and re-signing LMA, but again, that was all contingent on LMA staying.

[Blue&Orange]

Lillard sounded like a whinny self entitled annoying little biatch about his all star snub, maybe he is?

[ArbitraryWater]

[Duggrr]

Thank god i'm moving up to Seattle for college this year - will bandwagon with the Bucks or something. Shit's gonna be rough in P-Town.

[ArbitraryWater]