While most of the attention has been centered on the potential for him to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers or move to another contender in the offseason, the latest rumors have addressed one of the lesser talked about possibilities. There have been rumors about the Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers potentially coordinating a sign-and-trade deal that includes Aldridge and Blake Griffin and while at this point it is nothing more than a rumor (a rumor that ESPN’s Marc Stein reported), it is never too early to start looking towards the future and what repercussions that potential move would have. Here is a look at how a potential sign-and-trade deal involving Aldridge for Griffin would affect the most important fantasy players on their respective teams.
Blake Griffin
It’s hard to imagine Griffin’s fantasy value getting any better than it is now with one of the game’s elite point guards leading their offense along with a strong supporting cast. However, in fantasy terms, a great supporting cast often leaches fantasy production. The Trail Blazers are thinner in terms of talent and a move to Portland would make this the Griffin and Lillard show. It might be a bad move for Griffin’s career but it would be good for his fantasy value.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Aldridge could end up benefiting from playing with a better pure passing point guard in Chris Paul, especially if DeAndre Jordan leaves in free agency and he becomes the Clippers undisputed No. 1 big man in the paint. Paul has worked wonders with both Griffin and Jordan, and he would do wonders for Aldridge. Lillard is still an offense-first point guard and that saps away some of Aldridge’s production.
Aldridge seems to put up steady numbers regardless the situation but you can see that he needs some help. By the end of the season, he’s usually worn down from doing so much, as evidenced by the 22.3 points per game and 8.8 rebounds he averaged in April. Those are down from his season averages.
Chris Paul
A change from Griffin to Aldridge would be a changing of the guards for the Clippers and not only at the power forward position. It would signal that they are fully putting their faith in Paul as their leader and alpha dog. We saw what he was capable of when Griffin missed a chunk of the season and Paul quickly became and MVP contender. Expect his fantasy value to rise if this rumor becomes a reality.
Damian Lillard
Lillard is one of the game’s premier point guards but he isn’t the type of elite passer than Paul is, so it would help him to have somebody that could do more with the ball in his hands like Griffin. Aldridge is an excellent power forward but he’s nowhere near the passer that Griffin is. Lillard’s fantasy value would improve with Griffin in his place.
DeAndre Jordan
The arrival of Aldridge would probably hurt Jordan’s potential but there are some questions as to whether Jordan will stay with Los Angeles anyway. Aldridge is a much better pure shooter than Jordan and the Clippers would definitely feel more comfortable with the basketball in his hands in important situations knowing that they can trust him from the free throw line.
Robin Lopez
One player on Portland’s roster whose fantasy value would improve would be Lopez, who mostly serves as a primary source of rebounds and defense for the both the Blazers and fantasy GM’s. The difference here is that Griffin only averaged 7.6 rebounds per game this season compared to Aldridge, who has been in double digits over the last two seasons. And in terms of blocks, Aldridge offered up a half-block more per game this season than Griffin, who for his career only averages 0.6 blocks per game. That means there should be more mop-up duties for Lopez if he’s playing beside Griffin.
