Addressing the Oden question

[julius]

I think fans fall into a few groups.

those who think oden still will/could comeback and be a factor on this teams success in the future.

those who are pissed that the team hasn't said diddily squat about him, and would rather the team be honest about it instead of denying it.

and those who hope he just retires and we (as a fanbase, franchise, team whatever) move on.

I'm in the middle group, with a slight 3rd group feeling too. I'm tired of the team not saying much if anything about him, and would rather the team be honest about him instead of just being silent.

What/which are you?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Who is this Oden person you speak of?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't "hope" he retires, but I do think the odds of him being a viable rotation quality player (never mind an impact rotational player) is pretty low. So I hope the team moves on and I hope his body stops breaking all the time. Via con dios.

 

[HailBlazers]

I think he has to/will come back this year to prove his value.

 

[e_blazer]

I'm in the group that says we don't have enough information to have a valid opinion about if and when Greg may play again, so why sweat it until we know more?

 

[Rhal]

The second group is a little vague to me. Honest instead of denying what?
Im part of group one and two. I think he could come back and contribute but id also like the front office to tell us what is going on with him.

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[PtldPlatypus]

I don't "hope" he retires, but I do think the odds of him being a viable rotation quality player (never mind an impact rotational player) is pretty low. So I hope the team moves on and I hope his body stops breaking all the time. Vaya con dios.

Pretty much me to a tee. A watered-down version of Julius' #3, with a smidgen of #1 mixed in there for optimism's sake.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I'm in the group that says we don't have enough information to have a valid opinion about if and when Greg may play again, so why sweat it until we know more?

Good God - a voice of reason!

 

[BBert]

I want Paul Allen to continue paying him $1 mil a year to ensure he NEVER plays for any other team and breaks out.

Oops, did I say 'break'? Must be a Freudian slip.

 

[BBert]

Honestly, this is the make or break season. (Crap, I did it again.) I am embarrassed to say I haven't given up yet. I don't have enough information, wish I did, so I guess I'm in the wish they'd be more straight forward and honest camp. Come on, give it to me straight doc, I can take it! How long have we got to live (with Oden)?

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Unless he has some serious career injury we don't know about, I'd like to resign him for a few years and see how he pans out. I no longer have any expectations and will be glad for whatever we can get from him.

 

[MickZagger]

Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Sinobas]

Has any player had a comparable injury history and come back? Grant Hill is the worst I can think of, but Oden is even worse than Hill.

Oden is not even getting injured on the court.

 

[julius]

I think Sinobas kind of gets at what #2 is about.

We barely know anything about the nature of the injury. I know he has a leg that is shorter than the other, but how the hell did he get THIS badly injured?

Are his knees completely shot and we totally gambled on him and blew it (kind of like how they gambled on Roy, knowing his knee history, and at least got 5 years out of him)?

 

[Kaydow]

Honestly, this is the make or break season. (Crap, I did it again.) I am embarrassed to say I haven't given up yet. I don't have enough information, wish I did, so I guess I'm in the wish they'd be more straight forward and honest camp. Come on, give it to me straight doc, I can take it! How long have we got to live (with Oden)?

You would think so, but it's not. At 24 years old, Greg is going to get (probably several) more chances even if he doesn't play a game this season. There is so much upside, and so few quality options who play his position. Think about this, Sabonis was 31 years old when we got him. The injuries he suffered earlier in his career were evident in his Portland years, but he was still extremely productive. 7'0"+ guys who are strong and have decent coordination are hard to find.

I could be wrong, but I'm starting to think Greg's plan is to sit out the season to get 100% healthy. Obviously, he won't be offered a big contract, but he'll get something decent. He may even get a 1 year with a player option. That way he can come back when he knows he's healthy, showcase that he can still play, and THEN sign a big deal. He's young enough to be able to think that way. I am convinced that he will never play another game in a Blazer Uniform though. It's going to be a bitter pill to swallow if he's gives somebody 15/10/3 for years to come . . .

 

[illmatic99]

2/3. Between anger and apathy depending of whether we lose or win.

 

[BlayZa]

i just hated holding on to greg combing back being the silver-lining of the franchise when really he's just a major part of the stormcloud.
after 2-3 years of anticipation, delay and ultimately, huge disappointment, i just found it a lot easier (considering the extreme lack of information, definitive status updates etc) to just remove him from the equation and support the players that are workin it for the team. if he comes back , ill be amazed and happy - but if we never see him on court again i really can't say (after all the time and let-downs) that'd i'd overly give a shit.

 

[Nikolokolus]

i just hated holding on to greg combing back being the silver-lining of the franchise when really he's just a major part of the stormcloud.
after 2-3 years of anticipation, delay and ultimately, huge disappointment, i just found it a lot easier (considering the extreme lack of information, definitive status updates etc) to just remove him from the equation and support the players that are workin it for the team. if he comes back , ill be amazed and happy - but if we never see him on court again i really can't say (after all the time and let-downs) that'd i'd overly give a shit.

If it was just 2-3 years that would be awesome ... instead try 4 going on 5.

 

[magnifier661]

Oden will play this season! Well I am 100% sure I want it to happen.

 

[HailBlazers]

At 24 years old, Greg is going to get (probably several) more chances even if he doesn't play a game this season. There is so much upside, and so few quality options who play his position. Think about this, Sabonis was 31 years old when we got him. The injuries he suffered earlier in his career were evident in his Portland years, but he was still extremely productive. 7'0"+ guys who are strong and have decent coordination are hard to find.

Very Astute points and perspective.

I could be wrong, but I'm starting to think Greg's plan is to sit out the season to get 100% healthy. Obviously, he won't be offered a big contract, but he'll get something decent. He may even get a 1 year with a player option. That way he can come back when he knows he's healthy, showcase that he can still play, and THEN sign a big deal. He's young enough to be able to think that way. I am convinced that he will never play another game in a Blazer Uniform though. It's going to be a bitter pill to swallow if he's gives somebody 15/10/3 for years to come . . .

Hope your Wrong, but in congruence with the first half of your post it would make sense for him to sit out.

However, I'm not convinced he's done here in Portland. Our squad is a quintessential team of role players, everyone has a role where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Greg is the missing piece to a puzzle that could come together very very well. I'm optimistic he sees it, the opportunity, the glory of the RG, and the possibility of being part of one of the best Blazer squads ever.

 

[Rhal]

Has any player had a comparable injury history and come back? Grant Hill is the worst I can think of, but Oden is even worse than Hill.

Oden is not even getting injured on the court.

Big z is the only name that comes to mind. There are quiet a few centers that have missed a ton of games there first three or four seasons and are or were good centers. Only problem is none of them are in the same catagory as oden injury wise.
The thing that really bothers me isnt the injuries he already has, all of those he should recover fine from. His knee cap will have healed stronger and there are tons of examples of coming back from microfracture surgery. The thing im worried about is why he keeps getting injuried. Is there something structurely wrong with his body? All we can do is wait and speculate untill the team doctors or his own come out and tell the team, then i would hope that information somehow gets leaked to us on what his diagnosis for the future is.


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[The_Lillard_King]

Trade bait?

 

[magnifier661]

Trade bait?

I thought he can't be traded unless he approves the trade. But any trade would take away his bird rights. I doubt he would approve any deal this season.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

You would think so, but it's not. At 24 years old, Greg is going to get (probably several) more chances even if he doesn't play a game this season. There is so much upside, and so few quality options who play his position. Think about this, Sabonis was 31 years old when we got him. The injuries he suffered earlier in his career were evident in his Portland years, but he was still extremely productive. 7'0"+ guys who are strong and have decent coordination are hard to find.

I could be wrong, but I'm starting to think Greg's plan is to sit out the season to get 100% healthy. Obviously, he won't be offered a big contract, but he'll get something decent. He may even get a 1 year with a player option. That way he can come back when he knows he's healthy, showcase that he can still play, and THEN sign a big deal. He's young enough to be able to think that way. I am convinced that he will never play another game in a Blazer Uniform though. It's going to be a bitter pill to swallow if he's gives somebody 15/10/3 for years to come . . .

Rep'd. VERY solid post.

I tend to think we have a full 50/50 chance of seeing Oden play for us next season. I mean, I get the idea of a "new beginning"..., but I like to think of "unfinished business" here.

I may be no longer fully on his bandwagon, but I like giving him one more chance.

 

[BlayZa]

If it was just 2-3 years that would be awesome ... instead try 4 going on 5.

yeah the 2-3 was the care years, last 18months - fuck it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

yeah the 2-3 was the care years, last 18months - fuck it.

Oh, haha. Got it.

 

[julius]

I think the whole issue is that none of us know what will happen. will he play this year? will he re-sign? Can he play?

Thats what bugs me. Let us know, one way or the other. We all wear big boy pants (although thats not always evident with this message board)

 

[oldmangrouch]

I think the whole issue is that none of us know what will happen. will he play this year? will he re-sign? Can he play?

Thats what bugs me. Let us know, one way or the other. We all wear big boy pants (although thats not always evident with this message board)

Agreed. The silence is confounding.

 

[PapaG]

I remember the days when calling him "injury-prone" was worthy of being flamed and branded as a troll.

Where is the category for 'those who think he should be the centerpiece of the offense'? That was a large faction of interweb fans for more than a few years. Someone out there must still be clinging to that hope.

 

[magnifier661]

I remember the days when calling him "injury-prone" was worthy of being flamed and branded as a troll.

Where is the category for 'those who think he should be the centerpiece of the offense'? That was a large faction of interweb fans for more than a few years. Someone out there must still be clinging to that hope.

I cling to hope cause I'm a homer. It's in my genes!