Greg Oden Is the Key to Relevance for the Portland Trail Blazers

Following a painstakingly slow yet effective process, Greg Oden is nearing the end of his rehabilitation. After being sidelined for the entire 2010-2011 season due to a knee injury that required a microfracture surgery, the dominant center has finally claimed his return next season. But with his contract expiring at the end of this season, the question still remains: Will Portland choose to re-sign him?

They most definitely need to.

"I know that he'll play next year, and as long as he keeps his weight down, he'll get back to being the Greg we knew, being able to run and jump and everything," said his agent, Mike Conley. "The thing is keeping him healthy and give him the confidence to play without being scared." 

Let's not forget who he was before his string of misfortunes. Oden led Lawrence North High School to three consecutive state championships and was named the Indianapolis Star Indiana Mr. Basketball of 2006. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and an incredible 3.3 blocks per game in his 32-game career as an Ohio State Buckeye, earning his way to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

In his 23 games as a Blazer in the 2009-2010 season, he made his presence felt with his 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and four hard fouls each night.

Now that Marcus Camby is nearing the end of his career, the stage is set for Oden to make his grand return, becoming the defensive stopper in the paint that the Trail Blazers so desperately need. Think about the lineup Portland would have with Oden in the rotation:

- Andre Miller
- Wesley Matthews
- Gerald Wallace
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Greg Oden

And with Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum and Marcus Camby coming off the bench, the possibility of the Blazers drafting Kenneth Faried—the forward from Morehead State that Portland displayed interest in last season—and several available point guards in the free agent pool this offseason, Rip City begins to look like an even more ferocious monster heading into next season. However, all of this is only possible if Oden is re-signed.

In order for Portland to obtain him, they would have to extend him an $8.8 million qualifying offer which gives them the right to match any offers he receives from other teams as a restricted free agent in the offseason. Oden most definitely wants to prove to both his teammates and to the loyal Trail Blazers fans that he can be the missing link to the championship run.

Portland needs to give him one more shot.