Worse draft pick?

[julius]

Portland picking Oden #1 or

Vancouver trading for Otis Thorpe and Detroit winning the 2nd pick in the draft that garnered (after James), Anthony AND Wade...and instead are stuck with Darko "One of these years" Milicic?

Yeah, he's had by far a more productive career than Oden has had (or will have, who knows), but they passed over 2 future HOFers (or at least one HOF and a perennial All Star)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Worse than both: trading down from the pick that could have had Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

durant might make the hall of fame, so if he does, it will be a tie

but only if oden gives us 2 years of scrub play and then we trade him for kelvin cato

 

[magnifier661]

Worst draft pick is picking Durant #2. They should have traded that pick for future consideration for the great white hope called Luke Babbitt!

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

The Oden pick was the right one.

As to Darko, I think it wasn't very wise. Euros are always dicey.

 

[julius]

Worse than both: trading down from the pick that could have had Chris Paul or Deron Williams.

good choice.

 

[handiman]

Portland picking Oden #1 or

Vancouver trading for Otis Thorpe and Detroit winning the 2nd pick in the draft that garnered (after James), Anthony AND Wade...and instead are stuck with Darko "One of these years" Milicic?

Yeah, he's had by far a more productive career than Oden has had (or will have, who knows), but they passed over 2 future HOFers (or at least one HOF and a perennial All Star)

Sadly, I think Oden has been more productive in Portland than Darko was in Detroit.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Darko at least turned into a total luxury when the Pistons were able to get production out of one of the most dominant post defenders the league has ever seen in Ben Wallace and were able to trade for Sheed and get a title. The Blazers needed Oden and have been living with the "mistake" far more intimately.

Edge to Oden, but it's close.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The Oden pick was the right one.

As to Darko, I think it wasn't very wise. Euros are always dicey.

The "right one?" Please 'splain?

 

[3RA1N1AC]

oden gave us way more in his time here so far than darko gave the pistons production wise

oden averaged .180 ws/48 for total of 6.8 winshares in his 82 games

darko averaged .035 ws/48 in his time with the pistons through the season he was traded for a grand total of 0.8, and that includes his time with orlando that year

in fact, darko has 7.3 winshares through 9 seasons, barely eclipsing odens contribution in 82 games

and durant isnt a hall of famer yet peoplez, mcgrady was the better player thus far at the same age

 

[3RA1N1AC]

The "right one?" Please 'splain?

darko was a consensus top 3 pick as well as far as i remember, so the same could be said of darko being the "right" pick, im with ya

 

[magnifier661]

oden gave us way more in his time here so far than darko gave the pistons production wise

oden averaged .180 ws/48 for total of 6.8 winshares in his 82 games

darko averaged .035 ws/48 in his time with the pistons through the season he was traded for a grand total of 0.8, and that includes his time with orlando that year

in fact, darko has 7.3 winshares through 9 seasons, barely eclipsing odens contribution in 82 games

and durant isnt a hall of famer yet peoplez, mcgrady was the better player thus far at the same age

It would be so fitting if Durant never wins a ring. All this hype would be in vain. Personally I think we could have done better with Noah. He is a rebounding machine and plays within a team system. Hell it would have been nice if we traded our #1 to Memphis for gay and their #4 pick (Conley jr). In hindsight it would be pretty sweet. Lol

 

[Denny Crane]

Darko was a pick for a position of need, and look how that turned out.

Pretty much a tie with the Oden pick. But let's hope Oden actually can play again.

I disagree that Oden was the right pick. He wasn't the best basketball player available.

 

[RoyToy]

Darko was a pick for a position of need, and look how that turned out.

Pretty much a tie with the Oden pick. But let's hope Oden actually can play again.

I disagree that Oden was the right pick. He wasn't the best basketball player available.

His potential to impact the game was at the very least as high as Durant's.

 

[Denny Crane]

His potential to impact the game was at the very least as high as Durant's.

He never showed it, even when healthy.

Durant is just crazy good.

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I still find drafting Bowie over Jordon the worst. Even had Bowie played a productive career - had Portland taken Jordon, despite having Clyde Drexler on the team - would have changed basketball history. I say this because Jordon won six titles without a top 5 center.

On another note, trading Moses Malone for Wally Walker prior to the start of the '76-77 season ranks as one of the worst Blazer trades in history. Yes, we had Lucas, but had we also had Malone - - once Walton fell to injury, we may have won numerous titles.

 

[RoyToy]

He never showed it, even when healthy.

Durant is just crazy good.

Oden never was healthy, that's the problem.

He came into the league with a MF surgery. He wasn't fully healthy from the beginning, then he put on weight because of it, thus we never really saw the true Oden.

That said, even in his second season when he was at his healthiest (still not athletically what he was before injury), he showed some really good signs. He was a better shot blocker than Dwight Howard

 

[BoomChakaLaka]

I have always wondered if Portland ever considered trading down (with Seattle) to take Durrant over Oden - and obtain other players and/or future picks for making such a move? Anyone know? Seems to me that Portland's ONLY plan was to take Oden.....despite knowing of his previous bone deficiencies.

PS: I was in attendance at the Rose Garden on draft day - - and all I was hoping for was for Portland to select Oden! I too was full of hope that Oden was going to lead us (with Roy and Aldridge) to multiple championships. Shoot, I even bought season tickets to share with my Dad - although I live in Vancouver, BC Canada!

 

[handiman]

He never showed it, even when healthy.

Seriously? I can't tell if you're just stirring the pot or are totally oblivious. I'm hoping it's the latter, as the former seems a bit out of line from someone of your status.

 

[jlprk]

Seriously? I can't tell if you're just stirring the pot or are totally oblivious. I'm hoping it's the latter, as the former seems a bit out of line from someone of your status.

He's a potstirrer. Nothing but trouble.

Shoot, I even bought season tickets to share with my Dad - although I live in Vancouver, BC Canada!

Where's your dad live? A lot closer to Portland than you, I hope. If not, can you give me all those unused tickets?

 

[Denny Crane]

Seriously? I can't tell if you're just stirring the pot or are totally oblivious. I'm hoping it's the latter, as the former seems a bit out of line from someone of your status.

Seriously. I probably watched him play 20+ games for the Blazers. I was impressed with his size and athleticism, but he didn't seem very skilled. I saw him in college and he looked like a man among boys. it was hard to see any real skills; similarly they raved about Tyson Chandler who was a giant among boys in HS.

Durant was going to be the next Kobe Bryant. The guy was big for a SG/SF, has tremendous wing skills, and was a top defender, and blocked 2 shots per game.

If the Blazers drafted him, they'd have had a front court of Durant, ZBo, LMA, and Joel. And Roy at SG. Take away Durant and ZBo and add Oden and it's not as good a lineup.

 

[RoyToy]

You're still ignoring the fact he was never healthy.

Shipping out Zach and letting Aldridge grow has proven to be the right move. Can't argue that one at all. It also put Roy in the leadership role and the #1 on the team. Having Zach on the team hurts both, especially the immature Zach and not the one that took a few years to get himself together that showed up in Memphis.

The Blazers made the right moves when it comes to building a championship roster. They even eventually ended up with Batum at SF. Health is the only reason it was derailed.

PG
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Oden

My god

 

[3RA1N1AC]

durant isnt even on tracy mcgradys level denny, cut the noiz, amazing defender? wtf

 

[RoyToy]

In his last 7 full games he averaged 15.5/9 in 26 minutes per game

This was when he was at his absolute healthiest in the NBA

Pretending like Oden wasn't going to be a force is foolish. Health is the only reason he's not at least as good as Dwight Howard right now.

 

[Denny Crane]

You're still ignoring the fact he was never healthy.

Shipping out Zach and letting Aldridge grow has proven to be the right move. Can't argue that one at all. It also put Roy in the leadership role and the #1 on the team. Having Zach on the team hurts both, especially the immature Zach and not the one that took a few years to get himself together that showed up in Memphis.

The Blazers made the right moves when it comes to building a championship roster. They even eventually ended up with Batum at SF. Health is the only reason it was derailed.

PG
Roy
Batum
Aldridge
Oden

My god

A guy who is never health (or never WAS) cannot be the game changer you claim he is. In fact, I feel it hurt his development as a basketball player, by the time he was drafted. I saw him in college and he was in a cast. I saw him in the pros and he looked like the 2nd coming of Dikembe Mutombo to me.

And you can argue shipping out Zach. He is hurt this season, but was an all-star caliber talent. Aldridge should have been the C in that lineup, and durant and zbo ideally complement him.

 

[Denny Crane]

In his last 7 full games he averaged 15.5/9 in 26 minutes per game

This was when he was at his absolute healthiest in the NBA

Pretending like Oden wasn't going to be a force is foolish. Health is the only reason he's not at least as good as Dwight Howard right now.

He averaged a whopping 9/7 for his career. Howard averaged 12/10 for his first 82 games.

Oden averaged 11/9 for his second season. Howard averaged 15/12.

Next you'll be telling me Batum is better than Durant.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Next you'll be telling me Batum is better than Durant.

no but tracy mcgrady was

 

[RoyToy]

A guy who is never health (or never WAS) cannot be the game changer you claim he is. In fact, I feel it hurt his development as a basketball player, by the time he was drafted. I saw him in college and he was in a cast. I saw him in the pros and he looked like the 2nd coming of Dikembe Mutombo to me.

People often made comparisons like that but they are misguided.

It's not as bad as the Ben Wallace comparisons, but it's up there.

And you can argue shipping out Zach. He is hurt this season, but was an all-star caliber talent. Aldridge should have been the C in that lineup, and durant and zbo ideally complement him.

He was a headache for coaches in the years after he left the Blazers. Two teams later he finally put it together for the Grizzlies, and good for him.

And as much as people want it to happen, Aldridge isn't a center. He's said numerous times he doesn't view himself as a center, nor does he want to play that position regularly.

 

[RoyToy]

He averaged a whopping 9/7 for his career. Howard averaged 12/10 for his first 82 games.

Oden averaged 11/9 for his second season. Howard averaged 15/12.

Next you'll be telling me Batum is better than Durant.

Dwight Howard put those numbers up in 37min per game. Oden put up 11/9 in 23min per game. The only thing holding Oden back at that point was foul trouble, but that would have worked itself out.

Sorry, nice try.

And besides, again, the first season was mostly a wash as it takes two years to fully recover from MF surgery and at the point he was only at 1 year.

 

[PapaG]

durant might make the hall of fame, so if he does, it will be a tie

but only if oden gives us 2 years of scrub play and then we trade him for kelvin cato

Might make the Hall of Fame? He's a two-time scoring champ that is a game away from 9k points for his career. He's 23 years old.

Barring some sort of fluke tragedy, Durant's a lock already for the Hall of Fame, and even then, he may make it based on his incredible start to his career.