If OKC had ended up with Oden

[SlyPokerDog]

would the Thunder currently be one of the teams mentioned for contraction?

 

[BGrantFan]

would the Thunder currently be one of the teams mentioned for contraction?

Dunno about that, but Rich Cho and Sam Presti would likely be out of the NBA.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The Oklahoma City Thunder wouldn't exist. I still think they would be the Supersonics. And oden wouldn't be injured and would be dominating.

Its just our team's curse.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Dunno about that, but Rich Cho and Sam Presti would likely be out of the NBA.

Not one GM would have passed on Oden with the 2nd pick in that draft.

 

[Rhal]

Not one GM would have passed on Oden with the 2nd pick in that draft.

Very few would have passed on him as the #1 pick. Probably only Orlando. Bad luck has happened but even with Oden having tons of weird injuries we are still a great team. It would be nice to have a lineup of Dre/Roy/Durant/LMA/Camby but who knows what our team would actually look like if we had taken Durant then. Anyhow i'll stick with the Big Man who gives us a shot at a championship for a few more years before I start daydreaming of inventing a time machine.

Hmm I realized I failed to address if I thought OKC would be under threat of "contraction" or not if they had nabbed Oden instead of Durant. I personally don't think so because of how much Stern wants them to succeed.

 

[BGrantFan]

Not one GM would have passed on Oden with the 2nd pick in that draft.

Yeah, I know that. Without Durant (or Oden), though, OKC is a lottery team. I don't think Presti still would have a job, but that's just my opinion. Without Oden, Portland is a playoff team, thanks in large part to the acquisitions of Roy, Aldridge, Camby, Batum, and Miller.

Presti lucked into getting the #2 pick. Nobody knew that at the time, but that's the way it has worked out so far in the aftermath of the Durant/Oden draft.

 

[maxiep]

Oden would have played 82 games a year, his nickname would have been "Iron Man" and they would have played Black Sabbath every time he came on the court. GO's injury issues have only to do with the Blazers' Big Man Curse.

Meanwhile, we'd be known as the pretty team that has plenty of scorers but no defense.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Yeah, I know that. Without Durant (or Oden), though, OKC is a lottery team. I don't think Presti still would have a job, but that's just my opinion. Without Oden, Portland is a playoff team, thanks in large part to the acquisitions of Roy, Aldridge, Camby, Batum, and Miller.

Presti lucked into getting the #2 pick. Nobody knew that at the time, but that's the way it has worked out so far in the aftermath of the Durant/Oden draft.

Hence the question that started this thread.

Without Durant I don't think fans would have embraced the Thunder like they have. OKC would be one of the teams mentioned for contraction and Oden labeled a Franchise Killer.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Oden would have played 82 games a year, his nickname would have been "Iron Man" and they would have played Black Sabbath every time he came on the court. GO's injury issues have only to do with the Blazers' Big Man Curse.

Meanwhile, we'd be known as the pretty team that has plenty of scorers but no defense.

yeah, we'd have "we have to get rid of Roy" or "Durant is a ballhog" threads here every day.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Oden would have played 82 games a year, his nickname would have been "Iron Man" and they would have played Black Sabbath every time he came on the court. GO's injury issues have only to do with the Blazers' Big Man Curse.

Meanwhile, we'd be known as the pretty team that has plenty of scorers but no defense.

Nate would have tamed Durant and turned him into as good of defensive player as Batum.

 

[maxiep]

Nate would have tamed Durant and turned him into as good of defensive player as Batum.

By playing him 13 minutes a game?

 

[BGrantFan]

yeah, we'd have "we have to get rid of Roy" or "Durant is a ballhog" threads here every day.

Actually, Roy, Przy, and Miller would be Hornets, and the Blazer line-up would include Chris Paul, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kevin Durant, with Peja coming off of the bench.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

By playing him 13 minutes a game?

YES!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Actually, Roy, Przy, and Miller would be Hornets, and the Blazer line-up would include Chris Paul, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kevin Durant, with Peja coming off of the bench.

We wouldn't have miller. Imaginary cap space!!!!

 

[LittleAlex]

Oden would be a two time all-star and Durant would be nursing his third knee injury.

Viva La Blazer Training Staff!