Oden lost for his rookie season

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

The similiarities between this and the Bowie/Jordan is uncanny, Bowie a tall figure, and Jordan a scoring/offensive machine. Who'd the Blazers take then? Anyway I'd hate being a Portland fan and watching Durant drop 25-30 on the league while Oden watches from the bench.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

It's going to happen. Maybe not this year, but Durrant will put up huge offensive numbers while Oden is trying to find his game.

Freak

That's not the point. The reason why this really blows is that thousands of fans, myself included, were really, really, really looking forward to seeing this kid take the next step. Now we have to wait another year, possibly longer -- and if his knees turn out to be shot already, the NBA loses one of its most exciting stories.

This isn't Bowie-Jordan either -- virtually every smart basketball fan knew Oden had to be the pick. This is just shitty, shitty luck for the Blazers.

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

Why did Oden have to be the pick? Because he's a 7'0" Giant? Or because Durant could be the next Jordan-esque player. And don't say it was need-based. They could have easily put out LaMarcus Aldridge, Zach Randolph, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy and Dan Dickau. I always thought the first pick should've been the best player, which in my opinion was Durant. But that's not who was taken.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

I thought coming out that Durant would be a more valuable player. Oden to me looks more like a great defender who'll be "ok" on offense.

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

On a side note, all those Boston fans who wanted Oden... how ya feelin right now?

Freak

Seriously, give me a break.

Oden's not just "a 7-foot giant", and Durant's not just "the next Jordan-esque player". All 30 GMs in the NBA would have taken Oden over Durant, obviously not knowing he'd need knee surgery. Simply put, he's the epitome of a franchise-cornerstone, and a championship-winning one at that. Durant may be great, or he may pretty good; you heard it every day leading up to the draft, Oden's the kind of guy who comes around once a decade.

Suntan Superman

WC's Resident Samoan

A franchise cornerstone, whom according to reports could barely walk in the days up to the draft. And, the same Oden who left Team USA tryouts because of "Fatigue." I'm just saying, at 19 and he's having fatigue issues? I'm not denying that any GM would've taken him, but I still think Durant will be the best player to come out of this draft. I say we look back at this in five years. We'll see where we are then.