This post isn’t about Channing Frye. I promise. After contributing to OregonLive.com’s “You Be The GM” series on Tuesday - along with a previous blog entry and a separate featured story - I can officially say I’m Fryed. Sorry. That was bad.

But after sifting through 147 comments (and counting) from the OregonLive piece, I had to at least reflect on some of the opinions readers were kind enough to leave.  Rip City spoke loud and clear: “personality”, “character”, “good guy”, “helps with team chemistry” – those words and phrases were all associated with Frye, but the majority of you felt his personality isn’t enough to keep him around for another season.

Tell me something I didn’t know.

The comments that got me the most were the ones that compared Frye to LaMarcus Aldridge.

Let me paraphrase just a few:

I don’t think Aldridge is better than Frye when it comes to defense and toughness….they are the same player….if Frye got the minutes he’d produce the same way Aldridge does….Portland should trade them both for a “real power forward”.

Ouch. Where do I start? First off, Frye is not LaMarcus Aldridge.

Don’t let their frame or face-up game fool you. No one gets up and down the floor in Portland like Aldridge, a guy that finished on the break or got out early better than any other guy on the team. The guy can fly. Frye is a plodder.

Yes, consistent minutes would help anyone – especially Frye - to perform better, but to what extent? Not only did Aldridge post a career-high 18.1 points to go along with 7.5 rebounds per game, but he also led the team in double-doubles (19) and ranked second on the team in steals (77) and blocks (77).

Call me crazy, but even with given playing time I don’t see too many guys pulling that kind of weight on the roster. Sure, L.A. isn’t the toughest cat around, but I can honestly say he left me impressed plenty this season the way he played aggressively in a number of games. And aside from Joel Przybilla, Steve Blake and Brandon Roy, the word “tough” isn’t that easy to apply to many Blazers.

Frye is a long shot to stick in Portland.

Aldridge – along with Brandon Roy and Greg Oden - got the invite Tuesday to participate in training for USA Basketball in hopes of securing a roster spot and the chance to represent the country at the World Championships and 2012 Summer Olympics.

They are not one in the same - even if the playing time were equal.

Am I wrong here?

pic via: yahoo

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