Aldridge has a series to forget in potential last stand with Blazers
If the last five games spell the end of LaMarcus Aldridge's nine-year run in Portland, what a miserable end it will be to an otherwise spectacular Trail Blazers tenure.
Aldridge, a pending unrestricted free agent, went 5-of-18 from the field in Wednesday's Game 5 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, as the Blazers saw their injury-derailed season come to an end.
It was more of the same for Aldridge, who was completely neutralized by Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and the rest of Memphis' vaunted frontcourt for the entire series.
Aldridge averaged 23.8 points and 11.2 rebounds in the five-game loss, but the four-time All-Star shot a pitiful 37-of-112 (33%) from the field, with the Blazers performing an unbelievable 27.4 points per 100 possessions better with Aldridge on the bench in the series, according to NBA.com.
The 29-year-old wouldn't comment on his free agency after Game 5, saying only that he wanted to be with his teammates at the moment and that he'll cross that bridge later.
Aldridge, a Texas native and a former Longhorn, has been linked to both the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks in recent weeks, with a report emerging last week that some of his Portland teammates are concerned he's set to flee Rip City.
Aldridge, who has played through a torn thumb ligament that requires surgery since January, flew back to Portland from Memphis by himself after Game 2 while the rest of the team returned together the next day, which only added fuel to the free agency fire.
If Wednesday was the last time Aldridge donned Blazers colors, he'll go down as the team's all-time leading rebounder and second-leading scorer.