NBA Free Agents 2011: What Do the Portland Trail Blazers Do with Greg Oden?

Greg Oden vs. Kevin Durant...

We really can't talk about what to do with Oden without going back to that question, can we?

It's been four years, although it seems much longer, since the Blazers took Oden over Durant with the first overall pick in the NBA draft, a move that was second guessed by some but lauded by others because at the time the thinking was that a franchise center was much more valuable than a franchise scorer/wing player.  

It's true in a sense because dominant centers are very hard to come by, and one thing Oden has shown is that, when healthy, he is a truly imposing physical specimen.  He is not polished offensively (although his career free-throw percentage of 67 percent would be the envy of Shaquille O'Neal or Dwight Howard), but his defensive presence and ability to out-rebound other big men cannot be understated.

On the other hand, time has shown that Kevin Durant may end up being the best player of his generation; he is already the first or second best pure scorer in the NBA, and with his length and athleticism he should only get better on defense with time.

But this isn't an article comparing Durant with Oden.  Anyone could look at the past four seasons and say they would prefer a healthy superstar versus a chronically injured big man.  But does that mean that Greg Oden is a bust?  

Does it mean the Blazers should move on and cut their losses? Some would say yes because not only has Oden not lived up to the hype associated with No. 1 draft picks, he hasn't shown any indication that he will ever be able to remain healthy for even one full season.

In addition, with the recent injuries to Brandon Roy, critics are starting to wonder if the window of opportunity is never really going to open for this core of players that appeared so promising just a couple seasons ago.

I am a Blazers fan, and while some may not share my opinions on the subject, I believe that the Blazers need at least one more season with Greg Oden before they can really make a decision on his future with the team.

Anyone who has ever made the mistake of giving up on something just a little bit too soon knows exactly what I'm talking about.  In this case, where the money on Oden's contract is really the only thing being risked, it's worth it to give him a bit longer and see if somehow this next year can be different than the previous ones.

I like to think that good things come to good people, and not that Oden hasn't made any mistakes, but he comes across as a person who genuinely cares, who really just wants to play basketball, and who feels like he is letting people down by not being able to get back on the court.

Let's not forget that he's only 23, probably younger than many people who will read this article.  It's safe to say that Oden still has time to turn things around and at the very least become a solid starter/borderline All-Star if healthy for an extended period of time.

Right now, Oden and the training staff for the Blazers are doing everything they can to assure that whenever his next chance comes to get out and play, he will be completely recovered from his previous surgeries.  His weight will be down.  And then we will see.

No one can say for sure what will happen with Oden's career, especially if this next season is anything like the previous four have been for him.  But the potential for a feel-good story is right there, and the risk of keeping Oden for one more reason far outweighs the potential heartbreak that would come from letting him walk right now and then get healthy and thrive somewhere else.

Oden vs...not having Oden?

The Blazers owe it one more shot.

What do you think?