The Conundrum: what do the Blazers do with Greg Oden?

If re-signed by Portland, will Greg Oden spend more time in suits or jerseys? (AP Photo/Colin E Braley, File)

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden has played a full season’s worth of games over the span of four, but when he was on the court he made as big an impact as anyone.

He changed the game, and Portland’s persona was greatly improved by his presence. With him healthy, labeling the Blazers as a title contender wasn’t far-fetched. With him on the shelf, they were going to be just another team trying to improve and get out of the first round.

The season ending Sunday with the Dallas Mavericks winning the championship, the offseason began Monday. Now, the clock starts ticking in regards to Oden, whose rookie contract is up.

The Blazers have until June 30th to tender him an $8.8 million qualifying offer, thereby making him a restricted free-agent. Even with a temporary General Manager in place, all signs point to the team extending such an offer. But then what?

Other teams are already interested, most notably the Boston Celtics. What kind of contract would they be willing to give? Take a risk and give him a 3-4 year lucrative offer? If so, Portland has the power to match. Would they? Or, would they make an offer even before potential suitors, a heartfelt one he couldn’t refuse, These are all questions that will be answered soon enough.

Portland can, in extending a qualifying offer, essentially sign him to that deal if he agrees. If he rejects the qualifying offer, the team can then decide whether to extend him a multi-year contract. I think they should go the latter route. The Blazers should give Oden one more chance, a prolonged one at that.

There are certainly those who disagree. ‘Let him go,’ they say. ‘He will just get injured again, and be a wasted investment. It’s a fool’s hope to think he can stay on the floor.’ He may get injured again, and he may be in a suit more than a uniform. That’s the risk Portland has to take.

There is no looking past his knee problems. That’s why the team shouldn’t give him too long a deal. They should, though, watch his highlights from when he was healthy and at his best, and dream that this player could be out there consistently alongside LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace on the frontline, blocking shots, throwing down dunks, grabbing rebounds, and making hook shots. it became evident this past season they were lacking his skillset. And they would continue to if they let him go.

He’s only 23 years old, and he wants to continue being in Portland; his agent said being offered a multi-year deal by the Blazers would be “fantastic.” He is far from a sure thing, so adding depth would be necessary in case he injures his knees again. Sixty-five games out of Oden next season, with a guy like Kenneth Faried drafted 21st overall as an additional rebounder? That’s the dream scenario.

What’s only holding Oden back is the injuries, because when he’s on the court he produces. During the 2009-2010 season, he averaged 11 points on 60 percent shooting to compliment his nine rebounds and two blocks in 21 games. And that was only in 23 minutes per game. His career marks aren’t much different. Unfortunately, it has only been imagined what he could do with starter’s minutes.

That’s what every interested team is wondering. And many are willing to gamble and see if they can find out. But they may not get the chance to even woo him. That’s because the ball is in Portland’s court. He wants to stay in Rip City. Is the feeling truly mutual?

Thoughts from Twitterland:

@hollywoodheffne “Oden would be a great addition at the right price.”

@seanhighkin “Yes, if they can talk him into less guaranteed $/years with team options and substantial incentives for games, minutes, ASG.”

@80DeepBeats “hard to say, he could be good. They should look into moving him around and see what we could get for him if anything.”

@jdamis “Yes, because I could live with paying him some more to be a bust better than I could him being a success somewhere else.”

@mbrawley1 “Re-sign Oden to a 4 year contract with incentives. Having him is best chance to advance in playoffs.”