With Aldridge out, will Portland make a push for Bass?

The Portland Trailblazers, owners of the 3rd best record in the Western conference, learned yesterday that All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge will miss the next 6-8 weeks because of a thumb injury. I immediately wondered if Portland would have interest in Brandon Bass. There isn’t much traction on this front, but Grantland’s Zach Lowe did reference Bass in his latest column on Portland’s dilemma:

The cheapo buyout market for big men is thin, and Portland has a full 15-man roster. No one knows if Emeka Okafor can play, or even if he wants to, and the Celtics appear reluctant for now to buy out Brandon Bass. Any Western Conference playoff team with a tradable rotation big — Phoenix with Miles Plumlee, for instance — will be hesitant to throw Portland a life raft. Sexier Eastern Conference names like David West and Kevin Garnett earn enough salary that it would be difficult for Portland to cobble together matching money.

Buyout?

I don’t see any scenario where the Celtics buyout Brandon Bass. There’s absolutely no financial need to do so.

I still think Bass gets moved at the deadline. A steady veteran who can shoot and play defense is a valuable asset for any playoff team.

I just think Danny Ainge is going to have to settle on a 2nd round pick for him.