Oden to Spurs?

[admiralsnackbar]

I'm still conflicted about this. Hey, getting Oden on the cheap sounds good, but you can't look past how this guy is made of glass. Even if he does come back and ready to play at the start of the season, odds are nearly 100% that he will miss significant time with injury or end up being "out for the season".

Anything more than league minimum is a waste on this guy, because you know full well he's going to miss at LEAST half the games he's signed for. Which means his salary is actually double the league minimum per game played. And that's in the best case scenerio where he actually plays 41 games a season. Which is more than double the amount of games he's averages the last 5 seasons.

Seriously, he's only played 20% of the games that have been played since he's been drafted (including all of this season). That means the Spurs will on average not even get 20 games a season out of him. Think Ginobili, only 4x more injury prone than he's been the last handful of seasons.

As leery as I am about the durability of his body given his history, there is also evidence (of uncertain merit) that the Blazers staff was alerted to his weaknesses before they resulted in injury, and that they dismissed preventative conditioning/rushed post-injury rehabilitation. Considering this is the same FO that ran Brandon Roy into the ground, I'm willing to entertain the idea that a properly cared for Oden could contribute defensively to the Spurs (assuming the injuries he's already sustained haven't hobbled him already). Plane tix and hotel rooms are cheap enough to entertain having a look, at any rate.

[Kidd K]

While there is no guarantee he would even play as many as half the games, I'm sure most said the same thing about Grant Hill

He missed 275 games in 5 years between 2000-01 and 2005-06. In the following 5 seasons, he missed 32.

I hope Oden follows the same progression and hope he recovers. Nobody will know until he tries, and I'm sure if he fails most will be there to say I told you so. I'd take him as long as he is cheap, with the knowledge that he is most likely going to fail, but with the hope he will succeed in staying healthy.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply

Grant Hill is a great example of a guy who came back from severe injury troubles to play again. . .but there's a couple differences. Grant Hill actually posted a few healthy seasons first; Oden has never managed a full season. Grant Hill is also smaller, Oden has more weight bearing down on his knees and ankles which means higher probability of recurring injuries.

I don't really care much about saying "I told you so", I'd rather see him at least make some kind of career for himself, even if it's in the dead zone (somewhere in the bottom 5 of the eastern conference).

As leery as I am about the durability of his body given his history, there is also evidence (of uncertain merit) that the Blazers staff was alerted to his weaknesses before they resulted in injury, and that they dismissed preventative conditioning/rushed post-injury rehabilitation. Considering this is the same FO that ran Brandon Roy into the ground, I'm willing to entertain the idea that a properly cared for Oden could contribute defensively to the Spurs (assuming the injuries he's already sustained haven't hobbled him already). Plane tix and hotel rooms are cheap enough to entertain having a look, at any rate.

That's worth considering too. They did mishandle Roy. . .but you gotta be careful of wishful thinking. Theres's hope that it's just the Blazers being inept, but could it just be a coincidence that the Blazers had two players get hurt like that? Roy's condition would've led to his career ending eventually anyway. Later than it did with a smarter staff? Yes, probably. . .but eventually it would've happened. Maybe after just another year. . . two would be a stretch, based on what I've read about his condition.

Oden's career never really got started though. His career minutes per game was just 22. Blazers didn't exactly overwork him. That was less minutes than the Rockets planned to play Yao after he got back from his foot stress fracture. Sometimes these guys' bodies just fall apart. You see it in big dudes all the time. Bill Walton's one of the unfortunate guys who were plagued with injuries too.

[exstatic]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply

Grant Hill is a great example of a guy who came back from severe injury troubles to play again. . .but there's a couple differences. Grant Hill actually posted a few healthy seasons first; Oden has never managed a full season. Grant Hill is also smaller, Oden has more weight bearing down on his knees and ankles which means higher probability of recurring injuries.

I don't really care much about saying "I told you so", I'd rather see him at least make some kind of career for himself, even if it's in the dead zone (somewhere in the bottom 5 of the eastern conference).

A better example would be another Portland medical bust: Sam Bowie. He was a big, really didn't have much of a career before he left Portland, but went on to have a few good years elsewhere.

[bigfan]

I was just about to make a Sam Bowie comment and ya beat me to it....

[JMarkJohns]

Needs to sign with Phoenix for two or three years, let their healers do their thang, and build value for a big FA pay day after several years of sustained magic health voodoo.

[BackHome]

If you think Blair has bad knees you haven't seen Odens...

[Old School 44]

I wouldn't be surprise if he signed with Memphis. Mike Conley is there, and I believe Conley's dad is Oden's agent.

[exstatic]

If you think Blair has bad knees you haven't seen Odens...

The big difference is that if the microfracture works, they'll be better than Blair's because Oden has ACLs so the knees will be stable. Blairs will only ever get worse as the unstable knees grind away the cartilage like a mortar and pestle.

That's also why you don't pay him one penny over minimum.

[Werdsniper2]

I don't see any reason not to sign him.

Spurs have been devoid of a truly large big man for quite a while now.

Besides, what is he worth at this point in his career, a league minimum deal?

Even if he does get injured again (likely), what does SA have to lose? Pocket change?

It seems like a no risk/high reward move to me. It's not like the guy has character issues either. An easy decision for me.

[Kidd K]

Sam Bowie was going to be a bust regardless. Oden and Bowie aren't like the Roy thing. The Blazers absolutely overused Roy, but imo they did not overuse either Oden or Bowie. Those guys just fell apart with less than normal minutes played. They would have fallen apart anywhere.

Sometimes it's just inevitable. Not everyone's as durable as the next guy. It ain't like the Thunder aren't overusing Durant and Westbrook, or like the Cavs didn't overuse LeBron. . .or the Lakers don't overuse Kobe. Those guys don't fall apart though because they're built differently. The Magic overused Dwight too and he only got hurt once. Meanwhile, the Lakers barely used Bynum hard and he kept falling apart.

I suspect that regardless of what happens, Oden will continue to fall apart. I would love to have Oden, and him actually be healthy, but the odds are so far against it, I'm not sure I'd want to even try. I can just see it now. Bill Land starts off the broadcast: Grim news folks. . .Greg Oden had another "setback" in training today. He's at the hospital getting an MRI on his knee as we speak.

[Raven]

I don't see any reason not to sign him.

Spurs have been devoid of a truly large big man for quite a while now.

Besides, what is he worth at this point in his career, a league minimum deal?

Even if he does get injured again (likely), what does SA have to lose? Pocket change?

It seems like a no risk/high reward move to me. It's not like the guy has character issues either. An easy decision for me.

he does have character issues, he is a lazy ass. Also, why people still think he would jump high at this point of his career?

[Obiwonginobili]

As a fifteenth man, I'd take him as long as he inks a three-year deal with the last two years unguaranteed. If not, Oden's not really worth putting time into.

Exactly. If we can stash him this year, and use him next year i got no problem with that. Plus i think Oden can really flourish having pop limit his minutes.

[Budkin]

We all know he's going to the Heat.

[lmbebo]

I think Oden's issues have been chondral fractures. The microfracture surgery has been to drill holes into the subcortical bone? to stimulate fibrosis to fill the gaps.

Roy's issues is that I believe he's got diffuse loss of his articular cartiladge. Thats just not gonna grow back.

[chazley]

Oden is going to go wherever he feels has the best training staff to help him get healthy. Obviously, any team that signs him will likely insist on signing him to a multiyear, non-guaranteed deal with team options so they are able to protect their investment. Here is a quote I dug up from Oden:

"Oden remembers standing on the court at the 2007 Finals, shortly before he became the draft's top overall pick, and imagining himself dominating in a le game like Tim Duncan -- another former top pick -- did that night. He insists that goal lives."

I think Oden would love to be in San Antonio. We have a great training staff who has experience with degenerative knee conditions (Blair/Duncan) who would put him on the right track. I think we have a great chance, and I'm all for it.

[Richie]

I remember reading a great article about the 2000 playoffs, Duncan wanted to play with an injury but Pop kept him out, saying he was putting Duncans career over one playoff run. Quite literally the opposite of Portland.

[Ice009]

Oden is going to go wherever he feels has the best training staff to help him get healthy. Obviously, any team that signs him will likely insist on signing him to a multiyear, non-guaranteed deal with team options so they are able to protect their investment. Here is a quote I dug up from Oden:

"Oden remembers standing on the court at the 2007 Finals, shortly before he became the draft's top overall pick, and imagining himself dominating in a le game like Tim Duncan -- another former top pick -- did that night. He insists that goal lives."

I think Oden would love to be in San Antonio. We have a great training staff who has experience with degenerative knee conditions (Blair/Duncan) who would put him on the right track. I think we have a great chance, and I'm all for it.

When and where is this quote from?

The Spurs really, really need to look into getting Oden. If he can make a comeback, the Spurs need to be the ones to sign him.

[look_at_g_shred]

Oden is going to go wherever he feels has the best training staff to help him get healthy. Obviously, any team that signs him will likely insist on signing him to a multiyear, non-guaranteed deal with team options so they are able to protect their investment. Here is a quote I dug up from Oden:

"Oden remembers standing on the court at the 2007 Finals, shortly before he became the draft's top overall pick, and imagining himself dominating in a le game like Tim Duncan -- another former top pick -- did that night. He insists that goal lives."

I think Oden would love to be in San Antonio. We have a great training staff who has experience with degenerative knee conditions (Blair/Duncan) who would put him on the right track. I think we have a great chance, and I'm all for it.

I would love to have Oden here in SA, yet I think he would most likely want to sign with the Heat tbh.

[LittleCriminal]

http://www.ridiculousupside.com/2013...sy-playing-the

"Leave it up to Greg Oden to hold up the deal between Aron Baynes and the San Antonio Spurs."

[benefactor]

Didn't they say the buyout was already paid? Methinks that author is full of .

[Imakandi]

Didn't they say the buyout was already paid? Methinks that author is full of .

The deal is made, Bayns s no longer member of Union Olimpija

[bus driver]

off subject but this vid brought back chills, thanks for posting

[Strategic]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...uld-sign-soon/


" o Pop, are you interested"? "Sure, what the "!

[dbreiden83080]

I think it is sad that so many just see Oden as a running joke. I genuinely feel bad for Oden. I hope he can finally get healthy and have some form of an NBA career.

[Ice009]

I think it is sad that so many just see Oden as a running joke. I genuinely feel bad for Oden. I hope he can finally get healthy and have some form of an NBA career.

I hope he can get back and be a defensive anchor for a team. Even if it's only 20-25 minutes a night, and even if his offense is minimal and he doesn't excel on that end of the court, I still think he can still be a defensive anchor when he is on the floor. I really do want the Spurs to have a good look at signing him, and sign him early so he can learn more while he rehabs.

The Spurs need to make a trade that opens up a roster spot.