Greg Oden Free Agency Thread

[tmtcsc]

Even if Oden does play this year, he's not contributing jack squat until he gets in game shape and gets through 3 years of rust. Its really a non-issue right now. He's still young and may be serviceable one day but he isn't, nor has he ever been a difference maker in the NBA. He had one year of college basketball, tons of potential and ability, but his body just hasn't cooperated. How bad has it been and just how much of a long shot is he to make it going forward? Take a look below:

Drafted # 1 2007
2007-2008 Microfracture Surgery - Right Knee (Missed entire 1st season)

2008-2009 - Injured Foot in 1st game (Missed 2 weeks)
2008-2009 - Chipped Knee Cap (Missed 3 weeks)

2009-2010 - 5 weeks into the season, he fractures left knee patella - (Done for year)

2010-2011 - 2 weeks into the season (Microfracture Surgery Left Knee ) - Done for year

2011-2012 - Oden suffers setback in rehab / Arthroscopic Surgery - Right Knee / 2nd Microfracture Surgery on Left Knee (Missed Entire Season)

2012 - Waived by Blazers

Played nearly 82 games from 2007-2012

[SpurPadre]

I wonder if you will be saying the same thing if it turns out that Oden has a healthy season playing for the Heat and ends up being an integral part of why they Heat three peat, especially if the Spurs make it to the NBA finals again. I'd like to hear your reaction then.I like that.

I mean, sure, we have other areas of need that we should try to shore up, like back up PG and back up SF but getting another Center isn't a bad idea, either. And let me stress, the 5 isn't a strong point for us. We have a solid Splitter but he's one whom we have to limit minutes depending on the matchups and may have to completely abandon altogether in the Finals if need be. How secure should we feel with that? Diaw is solid but he can't spell both TD and Splitter. Pendegraph is still an unknown. But as I've said before, we got until next February's trade deadline to beef this team up and maximize our chances at getting back to the Finals. We got to keep being patient.

[Rogue]

Signing someone on minimum contract comes with no risk imho, like buying a lottery ticket for a couple of dollars. There's basically no risk at all and the reward would be awesome if he finally lives up to his hype, though the chance is just as small as winning a million bucks from lottery

[Chinook]

Aren't hurting at the 5?!
Oh yeah, because Splitter was such a world beater in the Finals and logged heavy minutes each game, huh? Oh and Bonner also must have logged huge minutes in the Finals, too. Oh yeah, we're loaded at the 5.

Look, I don't give a damn about that geriatric-looking cripple Oden. The moment word got out that he would like to play for the Heat, months ago, it was basically set in stone he would pick them or the highest bidder. Kids like him just think they're too cool to sign for the Spurs. That's just how it is with today's players in his generation. But for Spurs fans to create this false illusion that we suddenly have an embarassment of riches at the 5 is beyond hyberbole or blind-homerism, it's flat out absurd.

I wasn't aware that Splitter's defense was the reason why the Spurs lost the Finals. Look, we can all be upset with how he played on offense. But to think that Oden's shot-blocking was the missing piece to the ring is completely unfounded. And we have no reason to think that Oden wouldn't "shrivel up" like Splitter did against the Heat's ball pressure. In fact, we have no reason to think Oden will play basketball at even an average level ever again. Even if he comes back, he probably wouldn't be nearly as great of a Bosh defender as Splitter was. He might be okay to get a few minutes behind Duncan, but he would not be able to start next to him.

[TheGreatYacht]

I wasn't aware that Splitter's defense was the reason why the Spurs lost the Finals. Look, we can all be upset with how he played on offense. But to think that Oden's shot-blocking was the missing piece to the ring is completely unfounded. And we have no reason to think that Oden wouldn't "shrivel up" like Splitter did against the Heat's ball pressure. In fact, we have no reason to think Oden will play basketball at even an average level ever again. Even if he comes back, he probably wouldn't be nearly as great of a Bosh defender as Splitter was. He might be okay to get a few minutes behind Duncan, but he would not be able to start next to him.

In other words he's a bigger asset for the Heat than he is for us. If the Spurs pickup Greg Oden it will be fool's gold. If the Heat pickup Oden and he stays healthy then they become dangerous because the we all know that the Heat's biggest weakness is lack of big men.

[Chinook]

In other words he's a bigger asset for the Heat than he is for us. If the Spurs pickup Greg Oden it will be fool's gold. If the Heat pickup Oden and he stays healthy then they become dangerous because the we all know that the Heat's biggest weakness is lack of big men.

I'd be okay with the Heat using possessions trying to get Oden going against Duncan (one of the best post defenders in the league) rather than giving James the ball. Oden isn't the finisher Anderson is, and while his rebounding would certainly be an asset, his lack of mobility and range would hurt the Heat's offense. Defensively, he could be a plus, but Bosh was extremely underrated in that regard. His D was huge in Game 6.

I agree that Miami could use a legitimate big if only to change things up every once in a while. If Oden could do good work on Hibbert, the Heat would have an even better chance against the Pacers. But I personally think it's going to be too much to ask of Oden to really come in a help a team that has no bigs to carry him. For his sake, the Spurs are definitely the better choice.

[SpurPadre]

I wasn't aware that Splitter's defense was the reason why the Spurs lost the Finals. Look, we can all be upset with how he played on offense. But to think that Oden's shot-blocking was the missing piece to the ring is completely unfounded. And we have no reason to think that Oden wouldn't "shrivel up" like Splitter did against the Heat's ball pressure. In fact, we have no reason to think Oden will play basketball at even an average level ever again. Even if he comes back, he probably wouldn't be nearly as great of a Bosh defender as Splitter was. He might be okay to get a few minutes behind Duncan, but he would not be able to start next to him.

If you read my post right, which you didn't, you'd see that I haven't been advocating that we get Oden. I just think some of us need to stop with the "we're loaded at the 5" nonsense I've been seeing her lately.

[Chinook]

If you read my post right, which you didn't, you'd see that I haven't been advocating that we get Oden. I just think some of us need to stop with the "we're loaded at the 5" nonsense I've been seeing her lately.

I read your post just fine. The Spurs ARE fine at the three. Splitter was a fine backup center than pretty much shriveled under pressure. I don't know why anyone thinks bringing in a third-string center should be anything close to a priority. Baynes and Pendergraph are fine enough depth.

Fine. (Dunno why I used it so much in that above paragraph. )

[SpurPadre]

I read your post just fine. The Spurs ARE fine at the three. Splitter was a fine backup center than pretty much shriveled under pressure. I don't know why anyone thinks bringing in a third-string center should be anything close to a priority. Baynes and Pendergraph are fine enough depth.

Fine. (Dunno why I used it so much in that above paragraph. )

Again, I'm talking about the FIVE not the THREE. And what track record do Baynes and Pendegraph have that indicates they are fine enough for depth or than just being optimistic?

[Chinook]

Again, I'm talking about the FIVE not the THREE. And what track record do Baynes and Pendegraph have that indicates they are fine enough for depth or than just being optimistic?

That was clearly a typo on my part. I didn't think this was ANOTHER small-forward thread.

And you don't need a track record to be a third-stringer. You just need to be willing to come in for cheap. That fact that both Baynes and Pendergraph have been pros for years is just gravy. Baynes did exactly what third-stringers normally do: He sat on the bench all year long outside of garbage time and did a competent job in limited minutes filling in for an injured player. In addition to Baynes getting more experience, Pendergraph adds range and athleticism to the front-court depth. One of them will be in the rotation, and the other will be a good piece to have in a suit when everyone is healthy.

Worst comes to worst, they're more experienced (and bigger) versions of De Colo and Joseph from last year. I think everyone would have been fine with them fighting for the third-string spot if the Spurs had a point-guard as good as Splitter behind Parker.

[The_Coyote]

Holy his knees are even more ed up than Blair's.

[Bruno]

The factor that will decide on how much Spurs need a player like Oden is how to use Splitter:
- One of the many positive lesson that last season tech us is that Splitter being paired with Duncan works damn well. In fact they were the best defensive pair in the whole NBA with only 94.8 points allowed per 100 possessions.
- Splitter was awful at rebounding the ball in the postseason. Diaw and Bonner are bad too in that area.

One idea to improve Spurs frontcourt would be to have Splitter being paired as much as possible with Duncan. When they aren't on the court, they would be replaced by Diaw or Bonner being paired with a strong rebounder like Pendergraph, Baynes or Oden.

[32fastest]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/gre...ll-over,33251/

Lol

[Budkin]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/gre...ll-over,33251/

Lol

[dbestpro]

Does not suprise me in the least. When it comes down to it, it's a matter of the party in New orleans vs the party in Miami. It's why he hated Portland, and why he will not be a Spur. he says he has changed, but a boozer does not go to a town where its booze 24/7.

[xmas1997]

I knew he wouldn't come here too even though there were those on here saying, "Oden is coming here, book it".
And it's his loss, I fully expect a dismal career from him.

[Brazil]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/gre...ll-over,33251/

Lol

pretty sad

[32fastest]

pretty sad

You know that's fake right?

[superbigtime]

Even if Oden does play this year, he's not contributing jack squat until he gets in game shape and gets through 3 years of rust. Its really a non-issue right now. He's still young and may be serviceable one day but he isn't, nor has he ever been a difference maker in the NBA. He had one year of college basketball, tons of potential and ability, but his body just hasn't cooperated. How bad has it been and just how much of a long shot is he to make it going forward? Take a look below:

Drafted # 1 2007
2007-2008 Microfracture Surgery - Right Knee (Missed entire 1st season)

2008-2009 - Injured Foot in 1st game (Missed 2 weeks)
2008-2009 - Chipped Knee Cap (Missed 3 weeks)

2009-2010 - 5 weeks into the season, he fractures left knee patella - (Done for year)

2010-2011 - 2 weeks into the season (Microfracture Surgery Left Knee ) - Done for year

2011-2012 - Oden suffers setback in rehab / Arthroscopic Surgery - Right Knee / 2nd Microfracture Surgery on Left Knee (Missed Entire Season)

2012 - Waived by Blazers

Played nearly 82 games from 2007-2012

This should put things in perspective for people. Healthy and Greg Oden are opposites.

[Brazil]

You know that's fake right?

Forgot the blue

[Spursfan092120]

Forgot the blue

No blue necessary when it's The Onion.

[Brazil]

No blue necessary when it's The Onion.

that's my point

[Marcus Bryant]

Aren't hurting at the 5?!
Oh yeah, because Splitter was such a world beater in the Finals and logged heavy minutes each game, huh? Oh and Bonner also must have logged huge minutes in the Finals, too. Oh yeah, we're loaded at the 5.

Look, I don't give a damn about that geriatric-looking cripple Oden. The moment word got out that he would like to play for the Heat, months ago, it was basically set in stone he would pick them or the highest bidder. Kids like him just think they're too cool to sign for the Spurs. That's just how it is with today's players in his generation. But for Spurs fans to create this false illusion that we suddenly have an embarassment of riches at the 5 is beyond hyberbole or blind-homerism, it's flat out absurd.

What it is is accurate. What's absurd is the idea that the Spurs have to be two deep with All-Stars at every position.

Or, suck the barrel and pull the trigger already.

[jdiggy0424]

Can't blame Oden for wanting to go to Miami. Limited minutes ala Birdman, and your playing with the best player in the game? No brainer really

[BackHome]

He knows this is his last contract he will go for the most $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$