Six fouls and you’re done for the night. The Rip City crowd erupts; NA NA Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye originally performed by Steam reverberates through the packed house. Usually this song is played for the fans to celebrate the opposing player being booted from the game. However this time the song is played with heavy hearts and sorrow, Greg Oden is done for the season. This injury, unlike his previous injuries (yes, I know how sad it is to say previous injuries) leads this lovable player into a point where he is sans-contract going forward.
A little over two weeks ago, the Portland Trail Blazers announced they would not be renewing Greg Oden’s rookie contract, officially making him a restricted free agent at seasons end. Portland publicly hoped they would get to see Oden in action prior to resigning him (though privately it seems they knew more than we did). At this point, with Oden getting yet another surgery and ending his season he will have no court time to prove his worth to perspective NBA employers, including his current. Does this mean Greg Oden’s days as an NBA player are over? Likely not.
Though Greg Oden’s career to this point has been marred by injury, his upside is just as large as his 7 foot frame. The Blazers will have the opportunity to match any offer that is made to Oden for the 2011-2012 season. That is where the story begins. Oden eligible for a qualifying offer of around $9 million for the season. Would this be considered a steal for someone with the possibility to be the most dominating center in the league, possibly. However, without the guarantee of Oden's success leads me to believe that $9 million would be high for any team to risk, other than the high risk/high reward Blazers. Overall it is the lining of the owners pockets determine the risk/reward factor, how much would one team be willing to place on someone as risky as Greg Oden?
To offer Oden $9 million he is due is just the minimum he could make, the bidding could increase his price tag higher. Outside of Portland, i doubt anyone would be willing to pay Oden this money but does Portland feel this amount of money is worth the risk on someone that hasn’t proved himself yet? With the amount that Paul Allen has, I would say yes. That however is the optimistic side of me. I would doubt, based on Oden’s history anyone would be willing to offer more for his services than Portland would. If anything, this injury has dampened the amount of money that Portland would be required to pay to retain Oden’s services. If Oden performed this season, he could have very well creating a bidding war for his services, even if the goal is just to raise the cap on Portland. Now however, with no chance of playing this season the question will be placed on Portland, continuing the speculation that has surrounded his career; will he ever be a star?
If Oden is able to beat the physical aspect of his job and return to the court, he must then conquer the mental aspect. The constant attention Oden draws as the number 1 draft pick is daunting. However, to compare Greg Oden to Kevin Durant in the same light as Sam Bowie versus Michael Jordan is unfair to both Oden and Jordan. Durant is no Jordan and Oden is no Sam Bowie, at least not yet. Bowie played from 1984-1989 with the Blazers and later serviced his minimal talent through the 1995 season, never gaining the prominence that was expect of him. Oden is compared to Bowie in the regards of his injury-prone nature but more so in comparison to the draft pick which followed; the what could have been player Michael Jordan.
Until Oden is no longer in the NBA, I reserve my right to judge his career. He could very well turn out to be an amazing player, who may bring a championship to Portland, or another suitor. If it is indeed another suitor, I will hold no ill will towards that team or towards Portland for giving him up. Portland has every right to pass on the future of Greg Oden, at this point I am done demanding they give him yet another chance. More so now, I simply hope they offer him one. The fan base of Portland has put an incredible about of energy into Oden, something no other city has done or may be willing to do. Oden’s desire to return what the fans have given him should be as high as ever and hopefully he will get the chance to prove his worth.
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