Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge talked contract extension

May 8, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) reacts against the San Antonio Spurs in game two of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 114-97. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers’ star big man LaMarcus Aldridge once seemed destined to leave but now that they have found him a running mate in point guard Damian Lillard, it will be a surprise if he does.

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Blazers’ owner Paul Allen met with Aldridge, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2015, to discuss a contract extension but Aldridge has opted to play out his current deal.

“I just thought it was very important that we have a direct discussion with LA,” Allen told Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com. “It went great. We presented him with a couple of options and obviously he thinks the option of being unrestricted next season and of course looking at a very long [new contract] is the one he chose to pursue. We understand that, but we thought we should talk through all those things. It was just great to be able to sit down with LA and get a chance to really understand his thinking about the team. He’s very excited about the team. You guys talked to him at media day yesterday and I hope you got that sense, too.”

All reports indicate Aldridge wants to stay but it doesn’t make sense for him to sign an extension now when he can enter free agency and get a five-year max deal from the Blazers.

Aldridge averaged 23.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 45.8% from the field, 20.0% from beyond the arc and 82.2% from the free throw line. In his eight-year career, has put up 18.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 48.8% from the floor, 20.7% from three and 78.8% from the charity stripe. He was selected with the second-overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft.

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