I'll never give up on the team....but I'm on the fence with the season tickets as is for financial reasons, trading Oden for garbage would make it an easy decision.
Look, I'd be pretty unhappy with Cho if he wasn't checking around to see what Greg might bring in trade. I'd be equally unhappy if he traded him for something that wasn't pretty spectacular. I'd be surprised if he wasn't still on the Blazers' roster come Thursday afternoon.
Really? Have you not been around for the great "Sergio is the best thing ever" campaign. If there is something to be said for Oden - when he is healthy - he is super-productive, as in game changing productive, especially on the defensive end - while being pretty damn good on the offensive side as well.
I think we missed the part where the first 4 years being pretty much lost to injury = never. If that's the case, then Grant Hill never became a good player either.
That's one gimmick account trying to keep the board active. Oden has a much broader, and much more impassioned, base of support. Pretty much every poster knew Sergio was garbage. Oden has talent, which makes the debate surrounding him more emotional.
While he hasn't become a good reliable player he is without a doubt a good game changing player. To give up on him now would be so hypocritical as a franchise it would make me question my fandom.
Grant Hill was a 5-time All-Star prior to his injuries, and even made the AS game his rookie season. Hill's injury issues didn't start until he was an established 5-time All-NBA player. Plus, Hill was ROY.
Yes and the main lesson you are missing from that is that Orlando was hindered for a lot of years waiting for him to become that player, only to have him return and still not become a star level player later. How many of those years do you think Orlando would like back? Would they have been a better team for getting rid of him so that somebody else could wait for him to recover, while gaining a useful player for the meantime? Not to mention the cap flexibilty it would help towards.
Like I said above, I'm all for Cho seeing what the market value of Greg is. Unless it's something pretty special, I'd rather see how he comes back next season than dump him for next to nothing.
Wow I've never had my words scrutinized so much before! Makes me feel important! I am fine with the team shopping Oden, LA, Batum and anyone else. I don't believe in "untouchables". When I say I wouldn't renew if Oden was gone, I mean if he is traded for garbage. Seems like a bad time to trade him - his value has never been lower.
Yeah, I pushed the comparison too far without thinking about it. The point is still the same, however. Four years does not make a career. Greg has shown that when he's healthy, he's a game changer. The last MF surgery did not prove to impact his abilities as a player and until we see what he's able to do after this one, it would be stupid to flush the chance at what he offers in potential for next to nothing.
Big difference was that Hill was a max player and hindered their cap a lot more than Oden does for Portland.
Big Z may be a better parallel. That said, I can't think of a player in NBA history with this sort of start to his career that ended up a being a dominant NBA player. Bill Walton, perhaps, but he was a "great" player prior to the debacle in the late-70s with his feet.
Hill was a max player based on his on-court play. Brandon Roy is a better comparison to Hill, in terms the impact his injuries and contract will have on the Blazers. Also, I've seen more than a few posters here say that Portland needs to match any RFA offer that Greg may sign, assuming he says no to the QO, which I don't think should be assumed, anyhow. In that case, the Blazers are likely paying for future production from a guy who has yet to show the ability to stay healthy.
Greg was as well when he was on the court. I agree that Roy/Hill is a better comparison in terms of Orlando/Portland situation, not Greg/Hill - which was exactly my point. The only thing that gives me hope is that GO did not have any issues with the knee that had microfracture, it was the other one that went kablooey. Getting microfracture on the other knee now - I am hoping he can finally be done with knee issues and resume his dominant play. The way I look at it - the risk/reward is not that big a deal. The team is already over the cap because of Roy. GO's salary this year is not a big deal - and there is a good chance he can be had going forward for a reasonable salary with potentially very big reward. This is the kind of trade you do not make.
He's markedly younger than most guys who've had such a rough start to their careers, too. He might be broken forever, but he's still only 23 years old and has plenty of years left to bounce back... unlike the old days where players were 22 or 23 year-old rookies and four years into their careers they'd be 26 or 27. Ed O.
Maybe you missed the part when healthy he is a difference maker. He already proved himself when healthy he is a good player. Yes he is injury ridden and who knows if he ever plays consistent minutes but he was/is sold as a "rise with us" player. I am with Chuck on this one. I'll not renew if he is shipped for garbage. I am not about one player I am about our team and front office. Resigning Roy to the max knowing about his condition and letting all our expiring contract walk over the years (Sabonis, Mighty Mouse etc.),staying put and lose in the first round. Since 2000 they tell me to be patient. I sank 40K+ into this team since we last left the first round??? Then I have internet fans call me out about my fan hood... Give me a break. I want to win a championship trade Oden for Carl Laundry type of player and a bag of chips will not get me excited. I can get Comcast for $800 a year and watch them at home.
