If we had drafted Durant instead of Oden....

[Minstrel]

Durant would be on the Trail Blazers' roster and Oden would be on the Thunder's.

I just realized that.

Did we make an awful mistake, in light of that information?

 

[Cake]

Wait, how did...what? What happened?

 

[HailBlazers]

Are you saying that Oden would be playing in OKC and Durant in Portland?!? Oh shit. This changes everything. We need to break this down and analyze it all over again.

 

[Masbee]

Durant would be on the Trail Blazers' roster and Oden would be on the Thunder's.

I just realized that.

Did we make an awful mistake, in light of that information?

Yes.

Yes, we did.

And, I as a fan, take full responsibility for this tragic error.

Feel better now?

 

[Minstrel]

Yes.

Yes, we did.

And, I as a fan, take full responsibility for this tragic error.

Feel better now?

No.

 

[BGrantFan]

Should have drafted Horford.

Oden is brittle and Durant doesn't make his teammates better.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

....Kevin Durant's brittle legs would have snapped right off and Oden would be the MVP of the world championships right now.

 

[blazerboy30]

Should have drafted Noah.

 

[mook]

If Apple marketed their operating system in 1983 the right way, Paul Allen would be some broke nerd, the Blazers would be in Oklahoma, and we'd all have one button on our mice.

I don't think I could live with that one button.

 

[Nate4Prez]

If we drafted Durant instead of Oden...

Durant would be on the Thunder's roster and Oden would be on the Sonic's cause the Sonic's would have stayed in Seattle and the Blazers would have moved to OKC.

It's just the facts.

Checkmate.

 

[Nikolokolus]

We'd all be gloating about how much "awesomer" Durant is than Oden and how miserable Seattle/OKC has been at drafting big men (Sene, Swift, etc.) ... we'd also be talking about karma for Clay Bennett moving the team the way he did.

 

[Minstrel]

We'd all be gloating about how much "awesomer" Durant is than Oden and how miserable Seattle/OKC has been at drafting big men (Sene, Swift, etc.) ... we'd also be talking about karma for Clay Bennett moving the team the way he did.

I'm not asking for your fantasyland hypotheticals. I'm asking if Portland made a terrible mistake in drafting Oden instead of Durant, considering that if they had drafted Durant, they'd currently have Durant (and not Oden) on their roster.

Please keep this on topic and answer the question, with any relevant discussion in the process of furnishing that answer.

Thanks.

 

[BlazerWookee]

If we draft Durant, Zach is a Blazer for another year, Lamarcus is a run-of-the-mill and undersized center, Brandon is a petulant 2nd fiddle, and the Blazers win six fewer games in each of the last two years.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm not asking for your fantasyland hypotheticals. I'm asking if Portland made a terrible mistake in drafting Oden instead of Durant, considering that if they had drafted Durant, they'd currently have Durant (and not Oden) on their roster.

Please keep this on topic and answer the question, with any relevant discussion in the process of furnishing that answer.

Thanks.

One would be on our roster and the other certainly on another. Indisputable.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

On the eve of the draft, I was wavering back and forth - reminding myself of past Blazer #1 pick blunders - namely Jordan, but also thinking about Bowie, of course. I also pondered the Blazers's top selection of 1974 - Bill Walton.

Walton was an absolute flop - a hippie. Always injured. But we all knew what his capabilities were (UCLA). Then one season, with a new head coach in town (Ramsay), this guy named Walton showed up to camp with a "wash and wear," losing the pony tail and ready to play ball - and play he did. Arguably the best year any NBA center has ever had - the result: 1977 NBA Champions. The very next year the Blazers were on a tear, until the inevitable happend; a broken foot - followed by a broken spirit.

But you know what? The Portland Trailblazers WON an NBA Championship! Do you realize how many teams have never even been to the Show?

All the talk of a dynasty (upon drafting Oden) has always been wishful thinking. The stars must all be aligned, lady luck must be on your side, and 13 guys must come together and play team basketball, to actually wear the ring.

Pondering all this, my mind was made up: Select Greg Oden and the Blazers may one day celebrate another NBA Championship!

And to win it all again, even one more time during my life, will be all I need to celebrate the fact that we drafted Oden over Durant.

Durant may indeed become the next George Gervin. And if the team he plays for wins a ring - good for him and his teammates.

But give us one full and healthy year of Greg Oden - alongside a guy named Roy, and the Blazers may just win another ring. And if this should transpire, we will all have memories to hold for a lifetime - just as Bill Walton gifted me (and all those living in Portland) back in 1977.

If we had drafted Durant? We'd no doubt enjoy years of excitement, witnessing a rising star - and then when his contract was to expire, he'd be off to New York, LA, or God forbid, Miami!

The day will come whereby our drafing of Greg Oden over Kevin Durant will be worth a lifetime of memories! You'll see!

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

On the eve of the draft, I was wavering back and forth - reminding myself of past Blazer #1 pick blunders - namely Jordan, but also thinking about Bowie, of course. I also pondered the Blazers's top selection of 1974 - Bill Walton.

Walton was an absolute flop - a hippie. Always injured. But we all knew what his capabilities were (UCLA). Then one season, with a new head coach in town (Ramsay), this guy named Walton showed up to camp with a "wash and wear," losing the pony tail and ready to play ball - and play he did. Arguably the best year any NBA center has ever had - the result: 1977 NBA Champions. The very next year the Blazers were on a tear, until the inevitable happend; a broken foot - followed by a broken spirit.

But you know what? The Portland Trailblazers WON an NBA Championship! Do you realize how many teams have never even been to the Show?

All the talk of a dynasty (upon drafting Oden) has always been wishful thinking. The stars must all be aligned, lady luck must be on your side, and 13 guys must come together and play team basketball, to actually wear the ring.

Pondering all this, my mind was made up: Select Greg Oden and the Blazers may one day celebrate an NBA Championship!

And to win it all again, even one more time during my life, will be all I need to celebrate the fact that we drafted Oden over Durant.

Durant may indeed become the next George Gervin. And if the team he plays for wins a ring - good for him and his teammates.

But give us one full and healthy year of Greg Oden - alongside a guy named Roy, and the Blazers may just win another ring. And if this should transpire, we will all have memories to have for a lifetime - just as Bill Walton gifted me (and all those living in Portland) back in 1977.

If we had drafted Durant? We'd enjoy years of excitement watching a rising star - and then when his contract was to expire, he'd be off to New York, LA, or God forbid, Miami!

The day will come whereby our drafing of Greg Oden over Kevin Durant will be worth a lifetime of memories! You'll see!

 

[Denny Crane]

If we draft Durant, Zach is a Blazer for another year, Lamarcus is a run-of-the-mill and undersized center, Brandon is a petulant 2nd fiddle, and the Blazers win six fewer games in each of the last two years.

Or Portland would have had 3 all-stars last season.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Durant wouldn't be the player he is if Portland had drafted him. Right now, he is the number 1 and number 2 option on the Thunder. Here, he would have been the clear number 2 option on a team that has the slowest pace in the league. Durant setting up in the corner for a kick out pass from Roy is what we would have seen. Durant not getting as much playing time because of the ridiculous idea that there has to be two units for the Blazers. Durant getting pulled from games because he might not have played the best defense. There are all things that would have heppened had KP selected Durant. Durant plays the best in a flowing offense that allows him to take advantage of his excellent skill set. Portland simply doesn't run an offense that would have shown off Durant's skill set

 

[Masbee]

Durant wouldn't be the player he is if Portland had drafted him. Right now, he is the number 1 and number 2 option on the Thunder. Here, he would have been the clear number 2 option on a team that has the slowest pace in the league. Durant setting up in the corner for a kick out pass from Roy is what we would have seen. Durant not getting as much playing time because of the ridiculous idea that there has to be two units for the Blazers. Durant getting pulled from games because he might not have played the best defense. There are all things that would have heppened had KP selected Durant. Durant plays the best in a flowing offense that allows him to take advantage of his excellent skill set. Portland simply doesn't run an offense that would have shown off Durant's skill set

This is ridiculous.

 

[RoyToy]

Durant wouldn't be the player he is if Portland had drafted him. Right now, he is the number 1 and number 2 option on the Thunder. Here, he would have been the clear number 2 option on a team that has the slowest pace in the league. Durant setting up in the corner for a kick out pass from Roy is what we would have seen. Durant not getting as much playing time because of the ridiculous idea that there has to be two units for the Blazers. Durant getting pulled from games because he might not have played the best defense. There are all things that would have heppened had KP selected Durant. Durant plays the best in a flowing offense that allows him to take advantage of his excellent skill set. Portland simply doesn't run an offense that would have shown off Durant's skill set

You forgot to add the green font.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I'm willing to give Oden this (contract) year to prove that he was worth the #1 pick. And I will be rooting for him. But I think 4 years is certainly enough to look back and make a decision on who was the correct/incorrect pick of the draft in my eyes.

Obviously some will think that is too short, and some won't make a decision until the careers are over. But as for myself, I think 4 years is fair. I'm confident if he gets steady playing time and is healthy he can contribute, but right now I am worried about him being able to play at all. Also, Durant looks phenominal.

But either way, my opinion of who the right pick was in that draft doesn't matter, because hindsight IS 20/20. At that time, you had to pick Oden. Most anyone would have said that. So I will just continue to root for him.

 

[santeesioux]

Just imagine if Minny hadn't traded Roy to us, Randy Foye would be backing up our superstar sg, Rudy!

 

[LittleAlex]

This is ridiculous.

What is ridiculous about what MM said?

Nate has done all of the things mentioned to Oden, why not Durant?

Maybe Nate would have changed his entire approach to the game of basketball if Portland had drafted Durant but it's not likely.

 

[RoyToy]

What is ridiculous about what MM said?

Nate has done all of the things mentioned to Oden, why not Durant?

Maybe Nate would have changed his entire approach to the game of basketball if Portland had drafted Durant but it's not likely.

Durant would have came in with only Roy and Aldridge entering their second years, before Roy was an all-star and before Aldridge avg 18/8. He would have been apart of that process of playing together and building from the beginning.

Oden, otoh, came in during Roy and Aldridge's 3rd season, after Roy was an all-star and Aldridge averaging 18/8. You can't just slide Oden in and change everything from day 1, and McMillan has done his best working Greg in, and it was working before Greg went down.

It would have played out much differently.

 

[Masbee]

What is ridiculous about what MM said?

Nate has done all of the things mentioned to Oden, why not Durant?

Maybe Nate would have changed his entire approach to the game of basketball if Portland had drafted Durant but it's not likely.

Durant is a super-duper deluxe version of Rashard Lewis. How'd that cat do under Nate?

 

[bemac]

Durant is a super-duper deluxe version of Rashard Lewis. How'd that cat do under Nate?

Wow, never thought of that....It's fascinating that the year after Nate left Seattle, Rashard's numbers all went up and he became an allstar. Interesting stuff.

 

[andalusian]

Wow, never thought of that....It's fascinating that the year after Nate left Seattle, Rashard's numbers all went up and he became an allstar. Interesting stuff.

Also interesting that that Seattle team went from 2nd round in the playoffs to no playoffs at all...

 

[Mediocre Man]

Also interesting that that Seattle team went from 2nd round in the playoffs to no playoffs at all...

Like Nate's previous seasons in Seattle.

 

[andalusian]

Like Nate's previous seasons in Seattle.

You should read coach Dean's recollection of that year. It was the only year they decided to coach the way they wanted, instead of instill the system forced on them by the front-office... and it was a huge success.

 

[Minstrel]

Why are we arguing about Nate McMillan? We've been over than and over that. This thread isn't about beating a dead horse. It's about questioning whether Portland made the right selection, when they selected Oden over Durant, considering that if they had drafted Durant, Durant would be on their roster now.