In an email to the Oregonian, LaMarcus Aldridge said "I have not demanded a trade," and "I'm looking forward to who we sign in free agency to make us better," reports Joe Freeman (these tweets).
Freeman went on to tweet that Aldridge declined an interview to address his feelings about being in Trail Blazers uniform, but expressed optimism about the team's future.
Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com spoke with Aldridge by phone, and Aldridge repeated what he said in the email to the Oregonian: "I haven't demanded a trade or cleared a way for my departure. It's not true. That's all I am saying right now.”
As Jason Quick of the Oregonian suggests (via Twitter), Aldridge's denial is curious since no previous reports explicitly stated that the big man had requested or demanded a trade. Haynes had mentioned on Thursday a tentative dissatisfaction with the Blazers on Aldridge's part, writing: "Does Aldridge want out of Portland? Yes and no, a source close to the 6'10" forward informed CSNNW.com."