LaMarcus Aldridge Will Stay With Portland Trailblazers But Refuses To Sign Extension! Franchise Player Wants Five Year Deal Next Year; 'I Want To Be The Best Blazer Ever!'

LaMarcus Aldridge has reiterated that he will stay in Portland. He is set to become a free agent next season but he has already discussed options with the team. This does not mean he is entirely off the table in next year's free agency madness.

A report from Yahoo has the Blazers brass, all the way to its owner making their due diligence:

"Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen and general manager Neil Olshey formally presented the representatives of three-time All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge a maximum contract extension in Los Angeles last week, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Allen and Olshey met with Wasserman Media Group agents Thad Foucher and Arn Tellem to lay out the max contract extension scenarios available to Aldridge and reaffirm the franchise's desire to secure him for the long term, league sources said.

With only a remote chance that Aldridge will agree to the three-year, $55.5 million extension afforded him this summer under the collective bargaining agreement, the Blazers are determined to keep Aldridge on a five-year, $108 million extension that he can sign upon reaching free agency next summer."

As expected, Aldridge did not sign the 3-year deal and will opt to let his contract lapse at the end of the 2014-15 season. From the Oregonian:

La Marcus Aldridge: I'm happy to stay (in Portland), happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone the last year or 2. But I just want to get a 5-year deal. I feel like that's the best decision on my part."

His reason for opting on the longer deal: "LaMarcus Aldridge said he wants to finish his career in Portland. 'I want to be the best Blazer. Ever.'"

In doing so, Aldridge places a risk on himself. If he gets injured or plays subpar next season, Portland may not extend that offer anymore (5 years/108 million). Conversely, if he loses faith in the team's ownership, he can also walk away and sign for another team.

The risk is at the minimum level for the two parties, but it's still there. If LMA signed the three year deal, he would get the amount no matter what happens.