Were they wrong v2: Portland takes Oden over Durant

DeToxRox · 07-16-2007, 06:09 PM

This should be interesting .. Oden is a big who is expected to be awesome but was no where near as impressive as the SF Durant who is also well on his way to an awesome NBA career. It became obvious seconds after winning the lottery Oden was heading to Portland, but were they wrong to take him #1, passing over the NCAA Player of the Year in Kevin Durant?

JeeberD · 07-16-2007, 06:10 PM

WAY too early to know the answer to this...

DeToxRox · 07-16-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

WAY too early to know the answer to this...

That's a given but at this juncture it's a fun debate.

bulletsponge · 07-16-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

WAY too early to know the answer to this...

not if you got balls. i vote NO

Karlifornia · 07-16-2007, 06:16 PM

Definitely not. I am willing to bet Oden wins a title before Durant.

Joe · 07-16-2007, 06:18 PM

If you listen to the media praising Durant for his summer league performances of 4-for-15 shooting, you'll pick the wrong answer.

Jas_lov · 07-16-2007, 06:19 PM

No, Oden is going to be a solid pro. Durant may turn out to be the better player, but I don't think it'll be as big a gap as Sam Bowie vs. Michael Jordan and even looking back at that is results oriented.

st.cronin · 07-16-2007, 06:23 PM

I only saw Durant a couple of times in college, but I wasn't as impressed as some people. I'm not sure he's much better than Brendan Wright or Corey Brewer. I think they made the correct pick.

Groundhog · 07-16-2007, 06:57 PM

A bigman prospect like Oden comes along once a decade. A swingman prospect like Durant comes along maybe once every 3-4 years.

vex · 07-16-2007, 07:26 PM

I vote yes.

Izulde · 07-16-2007, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhog

A bigman prospect like Oden comes along once a decade. A swingman prospect like Durant comes along maybe once every 3-4 years.

"

stevew · 07-16-2007, 08:32 PM

I think we more or less had this debate pre-draft. I will say that Oden does seem to be a bit more fragile than I like in a big, but I think for Portland's team, he was the much better selection. If they get some maturity out of guys like Martell Webster(I think that's his name), Aldridge and a few other guys, I think they will be a force within 2 seasons. I already think Roy is probably on the cusp of being an allstar soon, as well. Bringing in a PG like Blake is a good short term move, if they can move a contract or two(Pryz being the notable one), there's a solid chance they can be players in FA in a couple years, should be interesting.

cartman · 01-23-2010, 10:46 PM

bump...

Shkspr · 01-23-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhog

A bigman prospect like Oden comes along once a decade. A swingman prospect like Durant comes along maybe once every 3-4 years.

"

Lathum · 01-23-2010, 11:33 PM

Hindsight is 20/20. Every sport you can go back and look at bad trades and guys who should have been taken over other guys in the draft.

RainMaker · 01-23-2010, 11:42 PM

I'll give Bill Simmons credit on this one. One of the few basketball writers who was in the Durant camp and vocal about it. Brought up the fact that big men like Oden get injured much more frequently and have a much smaller success rate in the NBA.

Karlifornia · 01-24-2010, 12:16 AM

Not much you can say at this point besides "Yeah, Durant looks like the better pick." If Oden can somehow overcome his injury problems, and be at least a decent part of a very good team, then Portland won't lose sleep. It's not like they're the Clippers, where they suck every year. This would be a lot harder to swallow if they didn't have a decent team.

Logan · 01-24-2010, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

Hindsight is 20/20. Every sport you can go back and look at bad trades and guys who should have been taken over other guys in the draft.

In fairness though, the people who were pro-Oden generally had the same argument (which you can see posted here): "you can't pass up a big man like Oden for a 3/4 like Durant." It was never, ever "Oden is a better player than Durant" or "Oden will be a better pro." Call me crazy but when the debate extends past "player X is a better player than player Y" you're finding reasons to make a bad decision.

M GO BLUE!!! · 01-24-2010, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

In fairness though, the people who were pro-Oden generally had the same argument (which you can see posted here): "you can't pass up a big man like Oden for a 3/4 like Durant." It was never, ever "Oden is a better player than Durant" or "Oden will be a better pro." Call me crazy but when the debate extends past "player X is a better player than player Y" you're finding reasons to make a bad decision.

It all depends. If the 3/4 is absolutely a can't miss guy like LeBron James, then you take him p-e-r-i-o-d. If the guy has great potential and you have another who could have be just as good, but is a little more a risk, but is at such a position as a 5 where that similar potential is a bit more rare I say you have to figure what is right for your team. Portland isn't bad at the 3/4 spots, so I say that at the time they made the right move. The 1 & 5 can have such an impact if you get the right guy that you have to make the pick if you think he could be dominant at the position.*

*That is unless it's Kwame Brown.

gstelmack · 01-24-2010, 07:56 AM

Oden had injury problems leading into this, and they didn't get any better.

miami_fan · 01-24-2010, 08:13 AM

I would still take Oden first. The better question now is how stupid do those people look now that thought Durant was a bad pick because he could not bench press 185 once.

Lathum · 01-24-2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M GO BLUE!!!

It all depends. If the 3/4 is absolutely a can't miss guy like LeBron James, then you take him p-e-r-i-o-d. If the guy has great potential and you have another who could have be just as good, but is a little more a risk, but is at such a position as a 5 where that similar potential is a bit more rare I say you have to figure what is right for your team. Portland isn't bad at the 3/4 spots, so I say that at the time they made the right move. The 1 & 5 can have such an impact if you get the right guy that you have to make the pick if you think he could be dominant at the position.*

.

I think you also have to factor in they play in the west, so the maybe felt they needed a big guy to go against Yao, Duncan, and a few others. That could be the difference in a playoff series.

Balldog · 01-24-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Oden had injury problems leading into this, and they didn't get any better.

One broken wrist qualifies as injury problems?

Logan · 01-24-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balldog

One broken wrist qualifies as injury problems?

He hobbled all over at Ohio State. People who said he looked like a 35 year old, and not just facially, were right.

Matthean · 01-24-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balldog

One broken wrist qualifies as injury problems?

Wasn't he proven to have one leg shorter than the other, or something like it? I swear Simmons jumped on the fact that big guys who have back/leg issues before being drafted universally will have injury problems in the pros.

For the debate, I never could get into Oden. From what I saw him he just didn't seem to dominate. The guards on OSU seemed to play vastly bigger roles in the team's success than he did. If you are going to be a "once in a generation" type of big guy, or even "one in ten years" you can't appear to be 2nd fiddle on your college team. You don't even need LSU with Shaq vs. Louisville kind of freakish type of games. Just give me a reason to believe.

Atocep · 01-24-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthean

Wasn't he proven to have one leg shorter than the other, or something like it? I swear Simmons jumped on the fact that big guys who have back/leg issues before being drafted universally will have injury problems in the pros.

For the debate, I never could get into Oden. From what I saw him he just didn't seem to dominate. The guards on OSU seemed to play vastly bigger roles in the team's success than he did. If you are going to be a "once in a generation" type of big guy, or even "one in ten years" you can't appear to be 2nd fiddle on your college team. You don't even need LSU with Shaq vs. Louisville kind of freakish type of games. Just give me a reason to believe.

Prior to going down this year he was one of the top 10 players in the league on a per minute basis and one of the top 20-25 overall. The talent to dominate is there.

Groundhog · 01-24-2010, 04:22 PM

The only fair question is, knowing what we all knew then, was Oden over Durant a mistake? I still say no.

boberot · 01-25-2010, 10:44 AM

My enthusiasm for Oden is tempered by the fact that he has had serious injuries to both knees -- that can't be discounted.

However, he has shown flashes of dominant play in the pros, and he just turned 22 three days ago. He's got plenty of time.

It's hard to call it a "mistake."

stevew · 01-29-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Oden is a big

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhog

A bigman prospect like Oden .

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevew

Oden does seem to be a bit more fragile than I like in a big

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Brought up the fact that big men like Oden

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

This would be a lot harder to swallow

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logan

"you can't pass up a big man like Oden

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

maybe felt they needed a big guy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthean

If you are going to be a "once in a generation" type of big guy

Maybe if you cut all these posts down, many of us were right?

Or maybe someone in the Portland front office was excited about Oden's "Measurables?"

View Poll Results: Oden over Durant, were they wrong?
Yes	27	39.13%
No	37	53.62%
Seems about right	5	7.25%
Voters: 69. You may not vote on this poll

07-16-2007, 06:10 PM	#2
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	WAY too early to know the answer to this... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

07-16-2007, 06:16 PM	#5
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	Definitely not. I am willing to bet Oden wins a title before Durant. __________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

07-16-2007, 06:23 PM	#8
st.cronin General Manager Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Mexico	I only saw Durant a couple of times in college, but I wasn't as impressed as some people. I'm not sure he's much better than Brendan Wright or Corey Brewer. I think they made the correct pick. __________________ co-commish: bb-bbcf.net knives out

07-16-2007, 06:57 PM	#9
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	A bigman prospect like Oden comes along once a decade. A swingman prospect like Durant comes along maybe once every 3-4 years. __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

07-16-2007, 06:18 PM	#6
Joe Pro Starter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Minneapolis	If you listen to the media praising Durant for his summer league performances of 4-for-15 shooting, you'll pick the wrong answer.

07-16-2007, 06:19 PM	#7
Jas_lov College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	No, Oden is going to be a solid pro. Durant may turn out to be the better player, but I don't think it'll be as big a gap as Sam Bowie vs. Michael Jordan and even looking back at that is results oriented.

07-16-2007, 07:26 PM	#10
vex Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tulsa	I vote yes.

07-16-2007, 08:32 PM	#12
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	I think we more or less had this debate pre-draft. I will say that Oden does seem to be a bit more fragile than I like in a big, but I think for Portland's team, he was the much better selection. If they get some maturity out of guys like Martell Webster(I think that's his name), Aldridge and a few other guys, I think they will be a force within 2 seasons. I already think Roy is probably on the cusp of being an allstar soon, as well. Bringing in a PG like Blake is a good short term move, if they can move a contract or two(Pryz being the notable one), there's a solid chance they can be players in FA in a couple years, should be interesting.

01-23-2010, 10:46 PM	#13
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	bump... __________________ Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint

01-23-2010, 11:33 PM	#15
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	Hindsight is 20/20. Every sport you can go back and look at bad trades and guys who should have been taken over other guys in the draft. Last edited by Lathum : 01-23-2010 at 11:43 PM.

01-23-2010, 11:42 PM	#16
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	I'll give Bill Simmons credit on this one. One of the few basketball writers who was in the Durant camp and vocal about it. Brought up the fact that big men like Oden get injured much more frequently and have a much smaller success rate in the NBA.

01-24-2010, 12:16 AM	#17
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	Not much you can say at this point besides "Yeah, Durant looks like the better pick." If Oden can somehow overcome his injury problems, and be at least a decent part of a very good team, then Portland won't lose sleep. It's not like they're the Clippers, where they suck every year. This would be a lot harder to swallow if they didn't have a decent team. __________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

01-24-2010, 07:56 AM	#20
gstelmack Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cary, NC	Oden had injury problems leading into this, and they didn't get any better. __________________ -- Greg -- Author of various FOF utilities

01-24-2010, 08:13 AM	#21
miami_fan Coordinator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Land O Lakes FL	I would still take Oden first. The better question now is how stupid do those people look now that thought Durant was a bad pick because he could not bench press 185 once. __________________ "The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes. He hasn’t. I have a voice on the radio, he hasn’t. I was born a white man. And until a colored man is a full citizen, like me, I haven’t the leisure to enjoy the freedom that colored man risked his life to maintain for me. I don’t own what I have until he owns an equal share of it. Until somebody beats me and blinds me, I am in his debt."- Orson Welles August 11, 1946

01-24-2010, 04:22 PM	#27
Groundhog Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia	The only fair question is, knowing what we all knew then, was Oden over Durant a mistake? I still say no. __________________ Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce

01-25-2010, 10:44 AM	#28
boberot High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Western NY	My enthusiasm for Oden is tempered by the fact that he has had serious injuries to both knees -- that can't be discounted. However, he has shown flashes of dominant play in the pros, and he just turned 22 three days ago. He's got plenty of time. It's hard to call it a "mistake."

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