LaMarcus Aldridge Thought Roy Hibbert Would Take Blazers To ‘Next Level’


Although impressed with rookie center Meyers Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge expressed his frustration over not getting Roy Hibbert after the Blazers’ summer league game Friday afternoon (via Oregonian): “Aldridge did admit that one offseason happening disturbed him: the Blazers’ failed pursuit of Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert. Aldridge allowed himself to imagine the possibilities of playing alongside the 7-foot-2 All-Star center, and the two exchanged phone calls and regular text messages during the NBA free agency moratorium. Aldridge thought he finally was going to have an established franchise center on his court. So when the Pacers informed the Blazers they planned to retain their franchise center and Olshey rescinded his maximum contract offer sheet to Hibbert, Aldridge was distraught. ‘I definitely felt like he would have put us over that hump of being on the next level,’ Aldridge said. ‘Having him beside me; that’s big time. So I was disappointed.'”