I didn't realize they were being held hostage by Oden's potential. We're the Blazers going to win a title this season if Oden had been healthy? I doubt it. So, how is he holding them back? Should we also give up on Roy. His injuries seem to be holding us back more right now than Oden's. Examples? Basketball examples, that is. Baseball is a much different sport. Longer season, more players on the roster and on the field, specialized positions. Most high draft picks taken without any college experience, etc. I disagree. If we traded Oden right now, we'd be selling low - which is rarely a good idea. BNM
Why can't they get on with their lives while keeping him? If Oden is what stands between the Blazers and Thompson and a questionable pick - I honestly do not know how much he is impeding them... The Blazers drafted a Center/PF combo in the 2nd round last year despite the fact that Oden and Pryzbilla were on the roster, they traded for another big after these guys went down. I just do not think this is that big of a deal. If it was John Wall and Thompson for Oden - sure, I would make the trade - but since it is not very likely it would be Wall - Oden is still a lower risk. The Rockets had the twin towers they build around, when it became clear that Sampson would not be a building block - they rebuilt around Hakeem. The Blazers have Roy, LMA and Oden. Since it is unclear that Oden is done - it is way to early to make these claims.
OK, might have been someone else. It was at the beginning of the college season, so it was about drafting him with our (anticipated) lottery pick.
No. It mitigates risk somewhat, at the expense of potential team ceiling. If Oden is healthy, the Blazers are a title contender. That almost surely won't be true with Thompson and whomever is available for the Kings pick. Yes, if Oden's health continues to flame out, Portland is again not a title contender...and making the trade is the better of the two "not a title contender" scenarios. But I don't really care which of the two "not a title contender" scenarios is better...I want the chance for a title contender. Anything less is really not that relevant to me. To win a championship, you have to take some upside risks. There is no safe, steady route to a title, or else it would have been discovered, all teams would use it and every team would win the title every year...err, or something. There must be some risks taken that work out that elevate smart teams that succeed from smart teams that just come up short. Your trade adds a bit most certainty, but takes away the Blazers' only real championship-contention gamble.
No, but there are players available in the draft who could be that good. Thompson would just be a bonus.
No way. I'm not sure Oden will ever be the player I thought he would but I wouldn't make this trade. Maybe a #3 pick which wouldn't really get us anything in this draft to make us a championship contender. There is still a chance Oden could stay healthy and if we trade him this will make our pick even worse. I think Sac would do this trade but not the Blazers.
Oden has missed 82-21-61(he isn't coming back this season) along with HAVING THE INJURY CONCERNS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
nope. I know there is risk with Oden's health. But Basically it comes down to this. Oden if healthy provides us a chance at a championship. Jason Thompson would not. So for me thats a gamble I am willing to take. I wanna WIN.. not have a team good enough for consistently making just the WCF.
What injury concerns did Oden have in high school? In fours years of high school and six years of AAU ball, what injuries did he have. How many games did he miss? He had the wrist injury and elected to have surgery after his senior year of high school, after he had led his team to a third straight state title and after he'd been named HS player of the year for the second straight season. He had the wrist surgery in June and missed Ohio State's first seven games. So, between high school AAU ball and college he missed seven games due to injury. BNM
My contention has been that he's not injury prone, that it's just been bad luck. The injuries haven't been the same every time, like Walton's or Bowie's. A torn cartilage is nothing. The cure--microfracture--is something, however. He rolled an ankle just like tons of other players do. As for his latest, well, that was a bitch. That being said, he's far from done. Camby and Przybilla are both players who missed huge chunks of time when they were young. GO will be fine.
Ummm he already held us back by missing the 2007-08 season. If he had been healthy from Day in 2007 and had lived up to expectations, we WOULD be playing for a title this season.
Not to mention all the games he sat out with foul trouble. Do the 4 pts, 2 rebs, 5 fls games really count?
