That sounds funny when you write it like that. I actually got a laugh. But it's not true. I'd much rather Oden have his current bevy of problems than what Roy is going through. Especially for a big man. With Oden there's always hope you can execute the Operation without getting the buzzer. Roy is like a Rubik's Cube where somebody has moved the stickers around so that every corner on every side is yellow. You can twist it around in any direction, but it's never going to work right again.
I'm with maxie. I've always been more worried about Roy's injuries and Roy's longevity than Oden's, and that continues to be the case. While everything we are being told points to Roy being chronically injured beyond repair, Oden has not had chronic injuries to any one part of his body. Ilgauskas and other have put themselves together long enough to have decent careers, and there is still hope for Oden.
Two microfracture surgeries -- non-contact, one to each knee, -- qualifies as a chronic injury. Regardless, both guys seem to have massive issues with health. With Roy you at least know why his knees hurt and keep getting hurt, with Oden it's almost worse because it's been tough to pinpoint the root cause other than the fact that he probably has certain imbalances in his body (one leg significantly longer than the other, hip surgery at 12 years old and maybe even a touch of giantism?) that exacerbate his proneness to injury.
I think where I'm at with Greg is that I've reached the point of no expectations. He could decide to never play again or be hurt again when he tries a comeback. He could also finally overcome his bizarre string of injuries and have a solid NBA career. I don't have the inside medical knowledge to make any reasoned forecast. The Blazers undoubtedly have more information, but I'd bet that the doctors are far from sure as to what to expect from him. If I were Cho, I think I'd be of a mind to make the qualifying offer so as to retain the Blazers' rights to match any offers he gets this summer (or whenever the new CBA finally gets signed). That said, I certainly wouldn't be centering my plans around Greg as the center of the future. I'd be looking for another young guy in the draft or through trade. I'd evaluate where Greg is health-wise prior to making any final decision on re-signing him. Assuming I did re-sign him, I'd hope for the best, but figure anything I get out of Oden is gravy.
I don't mind that you have an opinion different than mine. I'll just say that I'm more optimistic about GO returning to 100% than I am Brandon Roy, who has precisely the condition you would seem to prefer.
