Oden wants to come back this season

[SlyPokerDog]

Chris Tomasson

• Greg Oden’s agent told me his client has changed his tune and now is willing to return this season after having wanted to take all of 2012-13 off. “(Oden) called me, and he was kind of excited,’’ agent Mike Conley said about the often-injured Oden calling Conley earlier this week. “I think he’s motivated… He wants to play. He had said he wanted to take this season off but he’s backed off from that… He’s open to playing this season. I think he will play this season.’’

Chris Tomasson

Also in Miami Heat

• Agent Mike Conley said one reason Greg Oden has backed off from taking this season off is he’s been cleared to work out and is feeling better about his situation. “He’s starting to work out,’’ Conley said. “He’s excited. You can tell he’s getting antsy. At the end of the day, I want him to finish out his NBA career. He’s still pretty young (24).’’

 

[Mediocre Man]

I hope he stays healthy

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

as long as he doesn't go to the L*kers or Zombie Sonics, go at it.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I don't think Oden really wants to come back, he's just grown tired of paying for his own rehab and medical care.

 

[ironcrotch]

He'll go to the Heat and win his 10 championships.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

He'll go to the Heat and win his 10 championships.

All while preventing Durant from winning any...

 

[Sedatedfork]

All while preventing Durant from winning any...

So KP was right after all?

 

[barfo]

I hear the Timberwolves are hiring...

barfo

 

[Ed O]

I wish nothing but the best for Oden. Unless he's on the Lakers or Thunder.

I'm sure he's going to be waiting for a coach to make him a defensive specialist, though. I bet he loved that.

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I wish him well. He's had an epic run of bad luck intersecting with bad decisions but everybody deserves a break.

 

[Draco]

I wish him well. I'd love to see Oden get healthy and regain some of the brillance he had at Ohio State.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Some of you are really nice people.

I'm not nice. If he ever steps on an NBA court, I hope a flesh-eating bacteria infests all 5 of his extremities. IMHO, a Blazer fan rooting for Oden is like a rape victim feeling sorry for the perp because he has erectile dysfunction.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I've moved on.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

is he allowed to come back to us?

 

[crandc]

Bullcrap.

Oden had shitloads of bad luck, to which he contributed by lack of work ethic and too much booze. I see nothing equivalent to rape. Comparing a bad draft choice to rape is like the jerks who say everything is "just like Hitler". It's not, and it's offensive.

 

[maxiep]

He has a long road back. I think Job One for him is to change his body. His knees can't take the weight at which we tried to play him. He needs to play in the 250s, not the 280s.

He didn't like it here. We gave him a lot of love and it wasn't returned. It's a different age, I guess.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Some of you are really nice people.

I'm not nice. If he ever steps on an NBA court, I hope a flesh-eating bacteria infests all 5 of his extremities. IMHO, a Blazer fan rooting for Oden is like a rape victim feeling sorry for the perp because he has erectile dysfunction.

Did you feel the same way about Sam Bowie? When he was in New Jersey? When he was a LAKER? What about Bill Walton on the Celtics? I know Bill helped us win our one and only title, be he also had bad luck with injuries due to bad medical advice and forced his way out of Portland.

I guess I just don't get the source of your hatred. I am extremely disappointed Oden did not even come close to living up to expectations, but he didn't rape me, or anyone else. That analogy seems a bit over the top to me.

BNM

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I kind of want him to win some rings with Miami or just to play well and dominate...just to prove that he was the right choice and he lives up to his potential.

 

[tlongII]

We should not have waived him. It was a stupid decision.

 

[SantaDora]

I liked Oden before and I still do - wish him all the best.

He had a really bad period in his life - and I for one hope that he is able to be healthy and prove what he can do.

 

[Fogojam]

PTI is about to do a segment on Oden, I'll post a recap once its over.

-Oden wants to play this year, and according to his agent there are 7 teams interested.
-Frontrunner/team that makes the most sense is the Heat
-PTI thinks he won't get anything more than the minimum


in short, nothing enlightening

 

[MickZagger]

Who woulda thunk that Oden would be the next Priest Lauderdale?

 

[oldmangrouch]

Did you feel the same way about Sam Bowie? When he was in New Jersey? When he was a LAKER? What about Bill Walton on the Celtics? I know Bill helped us win our one and only title, be he also had bad luck with injuries due to bad medical advice and forced his way out of Portland.

I guess I just don't get the source of your hatred. I am extremely disappointed Oden did not even come close to living up to expectations, but he didn't rape me, or anyone else. That analogy seems a bit over the top to me.

BNM

The short answer: I don't believe in miracles.

If his injuries were legit, all this talk of a comeback is just hot air. If he actually comes back and plays, I will go to my grave convinced his injuries were exagerated and he sandbagged us.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

This is a perfect example of getting paid millions because you're 7-feet and can walk/talk at the same time.

If Eddy Curry could do it....

 

[NOVoodoo]

This is a perfect example of getting paid millions because you're 7-feet and can walk/talk at the same time.

If Eddy Curry could do it....

Truth.

However, there is a place for guys like them. Just look at guys like Jake Tsakalidis, Hamed Haddadi, and the slightly more talent Aaron Gray. Those guys go into the lineup in situations where the team just needs a giant who can take up space and who can pick up fouls in place of the real players in foul trouble without completely screwing with the ebb and flow of the game.

It's b.s. that those type of players keep getting jobs, but there's a definite need for those types on most rosters.

Given the centers in this free agency, I'd definitely take a flyer on Oden if I were a contender with a roster spot to give away (of course, that's considering he could get past the team doctors).

Regardless of how much Oden has lost through his injuries, weight gains, and partying, I'd still take a broken down Greg Oden at the minimum over a completely athletic, healthy, and willing Solomon Alabi, Kyrylo Fesenko, or Nazr Mohammed.

 

[Sinobas]

Count me as one that would NOT be happy if Oden suddenly found his health and became a star on another team.....in fact, I can't think of a worse ending to this story.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Count me as one that would NOT be happy if Oden suddenly found his health and became a star on another team.....in fact, I can't think of a worse ending to this story.

Why? It wasn't like he was faking the injuries

 

[Sinobas]

Why? It wasn't like he was faking the injuries

Because it would mean that the Blazers not only missed out on Kevin Durant, but they missed out on the guy they drafted. We waited for years for him to get healthy, and after finally giving up on him he becomes a star. It would mean we made a mistake of epic proportions in waiving him. I don't understand the "golly-gee good for Greg" sentiment here. Him going on to be a star somewhere else would be just as bad as the fact that we drafted him over Durant.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

We should not have waived him. It was a stupid decision.

i guess im not sure why it matters?

 

[crandc]

Oden may, big may, be, as as said, a big body 6 fouls guy. But the Blazers gave him 5 years of chances. The chances he'll ever be a star or even a respectable starter are just about nil, and the only reason I don't say nil is that it doesn't actually violate the physical laws of the universe. But damn near.