Trail Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge undergoes successful surgery on thumb

Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge underwent successful surgery Monday to repair the radial collateral ligament of his left thumb.

He's expected to recover in approximately eight weeks.

Aldridge averaged a double-double of 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 71 appearances for the Blazers, helping lead the team to a 51-31 record and their first Northwest Division title since 1998-99.

His injury occurred during the second quarter of a 98-94 Blazers victory over the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 19. Aldridge elected not to have surgery after initially being ruled out of action for six-to-eight weeks.

Portland was eliminated from the opening round of the NBA playoffs in five games by the Memphis Grizzlies. Aldridge shot a putrid 33 percent from the floor, yet his 21.8 points and 11.2 rebounds closely resembled what he put up during the regular season.

HoopsHype has the 29-year-old as the third-biggest free agent of the summer, behind LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol.

When ESPN's Chris Broussard asked Aldridge whether Portland was the favorite to retain his services following a Game 3 defeat to Memphis, Aldridge smiled and said, "We'll see."