Wow, Oden is just a fricking mess, has 3rd MF surgery

[MickZagger]

I never chime in about Greg Oden threads because the dude is a flop of epic proportions. Remembering back to the time of the draft I remember without knowing his injury history I didn't think the Blazers could do wrong either way whether they picked Oden, or Durant. In hindsight now with Blazer brass knowing that he was a 7 footer with one leg way bigger than the other, it was huge blunder. Its definitely a reason KP who was once thought of as such a hot commodity in the GM circles hasn't got a GM job since.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I never chime in about Greg Oden threads because the dude is a flop of epic proportions. Remembering back to the time of the draft I remember without knowing his injury history I didn't think the Blazers could do wrong either way whether they picked Oden, or Durant. In hindsight now with Blazer brass knowing that he was a 7 footer with one leg way bigger than the other, it was huge blunder. Its definitely a reason KP who was once thought of as such a hot commodity in the GM circles hasn't got a GM job since.

First it's only a 1/2" difference.

2nd, most peoples legs are not the same length. Have you ever measured the length of your legs?

 

[julius]

First it's only a 1/2" difference.

2nd, most peoples legs are not the same length. Have you ever measured the length of your legs?

no, but I have measured the thing in between my legs.

5 inches strong baby!

 

[PapaG]

I never chime in about Greg Oden threads because the dude is a flop of epic proportions. Remembering back to the time of the draft I remember without knowing his injury history I didn't think the Blazers could do wrong either way whether they picked Oden, or Durant. In hindsight now with Blazer brass knowing that he was a 7 footer with one leg way bigger than the other, it was huge blunder. Its definitely a reason KP who was once thought of as such a hot commodity in the GM circles hasn't got a GM job since.

KP will likely be Indiana's GM next year, because David Morway is in the final year of his contract. It's been less than two years, and Pritchard spent last season being paid by Paul Allen.

Thinking that KP picked Oden all on his own, and that everybody else wanted Durant, isn't realistic.

 

[MickZagger]

First it's only a 1/2" difference.

2nd, most peoples legs are not the same length. Have you ever measured the length of your legs?

1/2" difference is big when your dealing with a pigeon-toed 7 footer. They found out about his limp caused by the un-even legs when he was in just the 6th grade.

 

[Minstrel]

I guess I was trying to say that money isn't going to be an issue for Oden deciding where he plays, if he plays again. Holding his Bird Rights is pretty much useless considering his base year contract is going to be small.

Yeah, Bird Rights are irrelevant. It'll just be about where Oden wants to be among whichever teams are interested. I think the Blazers may well be one of the team offering him something, maybe a two year deal, low on base salary but perhaps incentives (I've lost track...do basketball contracts allow for incentives?).

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The question that no one is asking is why does he need MF surgery when he hasn't played in over 2 years. MF surgery is to repair wear and tear on the knee. Oden has no wear and tear. That's what is scary about the situation. Shit is just chipping out of his knees without him doing anything.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Time for dental school for Greg.

I wonder: would it have been better to have drafted a Olokandi/Milicic or an Oden? Obviously physically, it's better for the players involved to be the former. But you've got to think the mockery gets to them (yeah, yeah, they can cry to the bank, but that doesn't change the fact that it's insulting). But then again, people seem to want to blame and mock Greg for his body's failings, as if him being paid a lot gave people a right to berate him for the crime of having bad knees.

Sigh. If I were a center drafted by the Blazers, I would retire immediately. It's not even enough to stay overseas, as Sabonis found out.

Maybe the solution is to call yourself a PF, as Aldridge seems to have survived the curse...so far.

 

[MickZagger]

KP will likely be Indiana's GM next year, because David Morway is in the final year of his contract. It's been less than two years, and Pritchard spent last season being paid by Paul Allen.

Thinking that KP picked Oden all on his own, and that everybody else wanted Durant, isn't realistic.

I'm not saying its 100% KP's pick. But, what do we not give the GM credit for making some picks, but then give him credit fore making others. If it happened under his watch, it goes on his resume.

I've seen quite a few GM openings being filled over the last 3 years and have yet to see KP hired. I remember him being mentioned as an interview candidate for a few of them.

 

[MickZagger]

Looking back on it, what could the Blazers have done differently?

Hired a babysitter/nutritionist to live with him instead of having his obese uncle living with him?

 

[julius]

Looking back on it, what could the Blazers have done differently?

Hired a babysitter/nutritionist to live with him instead of having his obese uncle living with him?

Draft Durant

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Chad Buchanan says the team has not yet considered cutting Oden in order to sign another player. Team is currently at 15 players, the max.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Chad Buchanan says the team has not yet considered cutting Oden in order to sign another player. Team is currently at 15 players, the max.

Cut him.

 

[julius]

Chad Buchanan says the team has not yet considered cutting Oden in order to sign another player. Team is currently at 15 players, the max.

Of course not, because they're stupid enough to think that he'll amount to anything ever again.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Stupid things that people need to stop saying:

1. This was foreseeable.
No it wasn't. Lots of players have injury histories and do fine. Oden didn't walk any worse than Patrick Ewing. And his only significant injury in college was to his wrist, which has not been a problem since.
2. We should have taken Durant and therefore made a mistake.
It was only a mistake if it was foreseeable, but see 1.
3. Pritchard was an idiot for not taking Durant.
Again, see #1. In the little time that Oden played, his PER and effect on the game put Durant's to shame. Durant was always a flashier pick, but in a choice between Bill Russell and Bernard King, you take Bill Russell 10 times out of 10. Besides, we had Brandon Roy (yeah, yeah - let's not pick THAT scab) and Durant and he would not have complemented each other well.
4. Oden should somehow be blamed for this or is somehow a bad person because he made a lot of money just sitting around.
Go fuck yourselves. He never made anyone pay him money, and you don't know what it's like to be him.
5. Oden is some kind of gold-digger who has been planning all along to shaft the Blazers.
Nobody comes right out and says this, but it is the subtext of an awful lot of shit that people say.

Look: shit happens. As a fan of the Portland Trail Blazers, you of all people should be prepared for this. It's nobody's fault, except maybe God's, but he/she/it's got a lot more to answer for than that. Now be a halfway decent person and just hope that Greg can walk without pain when all this is over. It wasn't your fucking money, so stop acting like it was.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Cut him.

Why? Just so you can get closure? Sitting at home in street clothes he's more useful than Armon.

 

[MickZagger]

The NBA is a billion dollar business. Teams make business decisions. The reality of the situation is that someone is going to take blame for that pick. It was a botched pick.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Why? Just so you can get closure? Sitting at home in street clothes he's more useful than Armon.

Yes.

I need closure. Lots of closure.

And a hug.

 

[THE HCP]

If Greg Oden never plays another game for the Blazers, he will have been paid $11,454 per in-game minute.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The NBA is a billion dollar business. Teams make business decisions. The reality of the situation is that someone is going to take blame for that pick.

So? People blaming you doesn't mean you should be blamed. That's like marrying somebody who then gets terminal cancer and thinking "wow, I made a mistake - I should've married someone healthy!"

 

[THE HCP]

It would take 714 years for the average Portland, OR resident to earn what Greg Oden earned in 5 years ($20.8M)

 

[Sedatedfork]

At this rate even if Greg could rehab and get back to the NBA, you would have to think he is out all of next year too, which basically means 2014? Maybe?

 

[MickZagger]

So? People blaming you doesn't mean you should be blamed. That's like marrying somebody who then gets terminal cancer and thinking "wow, I made a mistake - I should've married someone healthy!"

Is it really though? One's a business with millions of dollars on the line, your analogy is based on whether a person is a heartless bastard, or not.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It would take 714 years for the average Portland, OR resident to earn what Greg Oden earned in 5 years ($20.8M)

That's why taxes are a good thing, because at least his money went to Portland schools. Of course, in reality the taxes cramped his job-creating moxie, so we should get rid of them.

And, of course, the same thing would be true if Greg had stayed healthy and played well. And the only difference between the two scenarios is that in one of them Greg would've played a sport where grown men jump and down after a ball. Would that have made everything just and fair?

 

[Draco]

Yes this is scary that he can't even rehab without chipping of cartilage from his knee. Makes you think it's more likely he retires then plays a full season of basketball again. He needs to be concerned about just walking the rest of his life when dealing with future rehabs.

I'm beyond having some fear of Oden leaving our team and becoming an all-star someplace else. Hell I think I might welcome that sight, I'd rather see the guy finally have some healthy seasons of basketball at this point even if its not in Portland.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Is it really though? One's a business with millions of dollars on the line, your analogy is based on whether a person is a heartless bastard, or not.

Should someone have been fired for picking Len Bias? Or what about Reggie Lewis? Are you a good business manager if you fire someone for something LITERALLY UNPREDICTABLE, or are you just a moron who wants to blame someone because you lost money through bad luck?

Of course, what people usually do at this point is claim that it was predictable, and that they knew all along. Thus proving themselves to be completely full of bullshit.

 

[Rhal]

I'm feeling fairly sick reading he has to have another MF surgery. What bad luck for a supposed great and nice person. I wanted to at least see him return to the court healthy at some point but now i'm just hoping he retires before he screws himself up so badly he can't walk in 20 years.

 

[Draco]

At this rate even if Greg could rehab and get back to the NBA, you would have to think he is out all of next year too, which basically means 2014? Maybe?

Yeah agreed. He will be out all of next year (2012-13). If somehow he is finally healthy for the season after that, it really takes guys like KMart, ZBo, Amare, a year to get back to top form. So the 2013-14 year would be Oden's "tune-up" season.

So even if Oden successively comes back from this latest surgery to become a dominant big man your talking about that not being until the 2015 playoffs.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Re: Wow, Oden is just a fricking mess

WOW, flashback to 2007.

The relationship between Larry Miller and Greg is very strong. If he ever resigns with Portland this will be the reason why.

Jesus. You don't get it do you? Finito, Fine', Fertig ... Dental school. He's done, that's it, turn off the lights.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Greg Oden for GM!