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)
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
Worst draft pick is picking Durant #2. They should have traded that pick for future consideration for the great white hope called Luke Babbitt!
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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!
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. Where's your dad live? A lot closer to Portland than you, I hope. If not, can you give me all those unused tickets?
