But he’s young. Can Portland, if it gets the No. 1 pick, afford to throw another player into the mix who could take three years to hit his stride? The Blazers are already waiting for guys to bloom.

Thomas was completely dejected after several bad games this season. Who is going to pick him up on a Portland team with chemistry problems?

Aldridge, on the other hand, seems more seasoned, more developed offensively, and  less prone to swoons.

Sure, he’s light, just 240 pounds. But he has added thickness since he came on campus at Texas. He has also played more games than Thomas and is more developed offensively.

What else about Aldridge? He runs the floor on just about every possession and while he is not Joakim Noah in that regard, Aldridge can still get his share of easy buckets if the game is changing ends quickly.

Portland could also opt for Adam Morrison and that would not be a bad move. If the Blazers do not like Aldridge, they should grab Morrison, who will go for 16 a night as a rookie and sell tickets. Thomas won’t do that.

I like Thomas. He will shine in the NBA, but he has to go to a team that can give him time to grow, a team like Chicago that has a solid nucleus and could add veteran Al Harrington in the off-season.

If Portland gets the pick, it should get Aldridge. He wants to get better. He wants to be a star. He has the make-up.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos

If Chicago gets the top pick, it should get Aldridge, too, because the Bulls can get overmatched in the paint.

There are many flops and players who did not bloom among those taken in the top five of the NBA draft. Aldridge will not be one of them. He is a safe bet for any franchise that worries it is about to make a colossal mistake with the No. 1 pick in the draft.