PORTLAND — The NBA announced Thursday that Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge was named to the 2015 All-NBA second team.
Joining Aldridge on the second team are Clippers guard Chris Paul, Thunder guard Russell Westbrook as well as big men DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings and Pau Gasol of the Bulls.
Aldridge is the first Blazer to make the All-NBA second team since Brandon Roy in the 2008-09 season.
The first team was headlined by 2015 MVP Stephen Curry of the Warriors. LeBron James of the Cavs, Anthony Davis of the Pelicans, James Harden of the Rockets and anchored by Grizzlies center Marc Gasol were all named to the All-NBA first team.
It’s the highest such honor in Aldridge’s career after being named to the All-NBA third team twice before, including last season.
Aldridge averaged a career-high 23.4 points in the 2014-15 season while playing almost half the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb.
He averaged double-digit rebounds for the second time in his career on his way to his 4th All-Star game selection.
Aldridge’s teammate Damian Lillard, who joined Aldridge on the 2014 All-NBA third team in just his second season, did not make an All-NBA team this season. Lillard did receive votes, 22 in total, but not enough to break into one of the teams.
Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving took the two guard spots in the All-NBA third team.
Of course, this means that Lillard is not yet eligible for the “Derrick Rose rule” 5-year maximum contract that is worth 30 percent of the salary cap. Lillard will be on his rookie contract for at least one more year, giving him a chance to still qualify for the Rose Rule.
Lillard is eligible to sign an extension this season, something he said he wants to get done and multiple reports say that he will pursue a max extension with the Blazers this offseason.
Lillard’s max contract, which is a no-brainer at this point, will go from being worth 25 percent of the cap to 30 percent if he does one of two things next season: is named to one of the three All-NBA teams at season’s end or is named league MVP.
Lillard can still be considered Portland’s “designated player” and earn 25 percent of the max with a clause allowing him to get 30 percent should he meet the criteria of the “Rose Rule.” But if he doesn’t make an All-NBA team next year or win MVP, the Blazers will be able to keep their five percent.
