Greg Oden?

[Nikolizzle]

Anyone else think he'd be worth a look? Injury prone, we know that. But putting a healthy Oden alongside Cousins could be huge.

Plus, he'll come at a pretty reasonable price for a big man and former #1 pick.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

hes going to miami if he can play. book it.

 

[Nikolizzle]

hes going to miami if he can play. book it.

It's pretty likely, i'll agree. But with Miami to make the choice between Birdman and Oden, i'd suggest they'd take Birdman.

Plus, i'd wager Oden wouldn't want all the pressure of playing in Miami...

 

[Double-K]

You can probably get him to sign the minimum. Miami will do it in a heartbeat. Oden will just be a guy off the bench which actually is less pressure IMO. Seems like a perfect marriage to me.

 

[VF21]

It's pretty likely, i'll agree. But with Miami to make the choice between Birdman and Oden, i'd suggest they'd take Birdman.

Plus, i'd wager Oden wouldn't want all the pressure of playing in Miami...

I think he'd relish the challenge of playing in Miami with James. He's only got a couple of years, at most, to prove himself. Why would he want to start anywhere other than a team that can give him the best player in the game today?

 

[hrdboild]

Unless he's changed agents, he's represented by his friend Mike Conley's father. Obviously the money is always a factor but I feel like he's going to be looking for a situation which makes him comfortable and gives him the best chance to slowly play his way back into shape. The could mean staying in Ohio with the Cavaliers who need a big man anyway (unless they draft Len) or it could mean playing at home in Indiana as Hibbert's backup, or maybe just talking to coaching staffs and seeing what situation fits him best. If there's a team out there that really wants him and is willing to put in the work necessary to give him a shot at having a career then I would guess that'd be where he ends up but I don't know where that will be. Obviously the physical tools he has are in demand with every team in the league. Also I'd be surprised if he plays more than scattered minutes next year so it's a long-term project. If you like advanced stats though, his do jump off the page at you. Don't know what he's got left in the tank, but he was a monster when he actually made it to the court before.

 

[VF21]

Unless he's changed agents, he's represented by his friend Mike Conley's father. Obviously the money is always a factor but I feel like he's going to be looking for a situation which makes him comfortable and gives him the best chance to slowly play his way back into shape. The could mean staying in Ohio with the Cavaliers who need a big man anyway (unless they draft Len) or it could mean playing at home in Indiana as Hibbert's backup, or maybe just talking to coaching staffs and seeing what situation fits him best. If there's a team out there that really wants him and is willing to put in the work necessary to give him a shot at having a career then I would guess that'd be where he ends up but I don't know where that will be. Obviously the physical tools he has are in demand with every team in the league. Also I'd be surprised if he plays more than scattered minutes next year so it's a long-term project. If you like advanced stats though, his do jump off the page at you. Don't know what he's got left in the tank, but he was a monster when he actually made it to the court before.

I totally disagree. If he cannot step up and come into the league in excellent shape he needs to hang it up and find another career. People are acting as though he's some returning hero or something. He's not. He's an athlete who showed a ton of talent and potential before injuries took their toil. I seriously doubt if any front office is going to be licking their chops over what he might have been. If he cannot show that he's still got something "left in the tank" that can help a team, they're not going to be throwing money at him. Nor should they.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Oden will HAVE to find a team that will play him,he HAS to prove he can bring it. GOOD and SMART teams will know they can't depend on him so they will need to be able to afford for him to be a bust both financially and in terms of depth. That pretty much pushes him down to second tier teams and teams in rebuild mode. The Kings qualify on both accounts but I am not sure we are his best option. I would not be surprised to see him turn up in Houston or even LA.

 

[hrdboild]

If he cannot step up and come into the league in excellent shape he needs to hang it up and find another career.

That's your opinion, I'm not so sure that 30 GMs will feel the same way. I'm just looking at the going rate of every halfway competent walking stiff who can block a shot and if Greg Oden is even half of the player he was before injury, someone will pay him $10 million a year. He's only 25 and he's already made $23 million on his rookie deal. I don't think there's any sense of urgency about getting that next contract in the books. If he can get himself healthy he's going to make a lot more over the next 7-8 years then he would with a one year cash out. Maybe he is down to his last shot, so to speak, but in my opinion I don't think he's going to be looking at who will pay him the most money today but rather who will help him get back to the player he once was. That's all I was saying. The money is a secondary factor right now to the long-term goal. Or at least it should be, and I don't think he has the type of agent who's going to be pushing for the money deal.

 

[Fear the Putin]

I respect Oden for not hanging up the shoelaces and that he keeps on pushing, but you have to worry for those knees.

Some guys are simply not born with the proper bone structure to support a professional basketball career. He's had way too many surgeries. Though he proclaims to be healthy, that's what rehab is supposed to do to you...make you feel healthy.

But, the day to day rigors of an 82 game schedule is a completely different monster.

I wish him the very best though and hope that he is indeed healthy and able to play.

 

[jalfa]

I totally disagree. If he cannot step up and come into the league in excellent shape he needs to hang it up and find another career. People are acting as though he's some returning hero or something. He's not. He's an athlete who showed a ton of talent and potential before injuries took their toil. I seriously doubt if any front office is going to be licking their chops over what he might have been. If he cannot show that he's still got something "left in the tank" that can help a team, they're not going to be throwing money at him. Nor should they.

little(/somewhat) known Greg Oden fact: if he can't make it in the NBA, he wants to become a gym teacher. true story.

 

[bajaden]

That's your opinion, I'm not so sure that 30 GMs will feel the same way. I'm just looking at the going rate of every halfway competent walking stiff who can block a shot and if Greg Oden is even half of the player he was before injury, someone will pay him $10 million a year. He's only 25 and he's already made $23 million on his rookie deal. I don't think there's any sense of urgency about getting that next contract in the books. If he can get himself healthy he's going to make a lot more over the next 7-8 years then he would with a one year cash out. Maybe he is down to his last shot, so to speak, but in my opinion I don't think he's going to be looking at who will pay him the most money today but rather who will help him get back to the player he once was. That's all I was saying. The money is a secondary factor right now to the long-term goal. Or at least it should be, and I don't think he has the type of agent who's going to be pushing for the money deal.

He comes with a lot of question marks, and before anyone pays him big bucks, he's going to have to prove himself. Any team thats interested, and I'm sure there will be interest, will likely want to sign him to a two year deal, with the second year being a team option. If Oden has any pride, then he would want that kind of deal. I'm not him of course, but the last thing I would want, is to sign a big deal and then blow out my knee again. I'd want history to remember me a different way. Of course, if someone offers him 10 mil a year, I guess he'd be nuts to pass it up. That GM wouldn't be working for me for very long..

 

[The_Jamal]

Teams just have to realize what Oden is now. He's a guy you play no longer than 10-15 minutes and in short 4 or 5 minute bursts. If he can stay on the floor, he'd easily be the best back-C in the league. The guy has more talent in his left toe than 75% of the C's in the NBA currently. It will just take a disciplined coach and team to never over exert him on the floor.

That said, I'd absolutely take a chance on him. I'd be beyond shocked if he got anything more than a vet min deal for 1 season. No team will offer him a long term deal before he shows he can stay on the floor for a season. Let him and Aldrich battle it out for our 4th big slot.

 

[VF21]

That's your opinion, I'm not so sure that 30 GMs will feel the same way. I'm just looking at the going rate of every halfway competent walking stiff who can block a shot and if Greg Oden is even half of the player he was before injury, someone will pay him $10 million a year. He's only 25 and he's already made $23 million on his rookie deal. I don't think there's any sense of urgency about getting that next contract in the books. If he can get himself healthy he's going to make a lot more over the next 7-8 years then he would with a one year cash out. Maybe he is down to his last shot, so to speak, but in my opinion I don't think he's going to be looking at who will pay him the most money today but rather who will help him get back to the player he once was. That's all I was saying. The money is a secondary factor right now to the long-term goal. Or at least it should be, and I don't think he has the type of agent who's going to be pushing for the money deal.

Of course it's my opinion.

I was nowhere near impressed with Oden back in the day and I'm not at all convinced now that he can finally come back to the league and basically start over. It's obvious we disagree about his potential worth. I don't think he's worth the gamble.

 

[hrdboild]

Of course it's my opinion.

I was nowhere near impressed with Oden back in the day and I'm not at all convinced now that he can finally come back to the league and basically start over. It's obvious we disagree about his potential worth. I don't think he's worth the gamble.

This is what I mean about advanced stats. His "Win Shares Per Game" in his second season (before injury) was .214. That would have ranked him 4th in the entire league this season, 10th last season, and 7th the season before. For comparison's sake, Demarcus Cousins' last three seasons of WS per game were .022, .104, .092. And then look at his true shooting percentage -- .647%. That would have been 2nd in the NBA this season, 4th last season, and 3rd the season before. That's with 24 minutes per game. He wasn't just good for a big guy, he was elite in the league good. And he hasn't played since. When you balance the high probability that his explosive athleticism is now gone with the production he had so far in his limited NBA career, there's a number there that I think is worth taking. I don't know what that number is, but we've got smart people in charge so I'm sure they're looking at this.

 

[TyFreak Evans]

Anyone else think he'd be worth a look? Injury prone, we know that. But putting a healthy Oden alongside Cousins could be huge.

Plus, he'll come at a pretty reasonable price for a big man and former #1 pick.

You are right, putting a healthy Oden alongside Cousins could be huge. But, in that statement lies the biggest problem. I do not see Greg Oden being able to stay healthy for a lengthy period of time that will prove enough for him to be effective. I think we can do better than Greg Oden, IMO. Too much of a risk. We need a solid big who can come in and contribute and one who we know will play most of the games, and not get injured easily.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Of course it's my opinion.

I was nowhere near impressed with Oden back in the day and I'm not at all convinced now that he can finally come back to the league and basically start over. It's obvious we disagree about his potential worth. I don't think he's worth the gamble.

This is what I mean about advanced stats. His "Win Shares Per Game" in his second season (before injury) was .214. That would have ranked him 4th in the entire league this season, 10th last season, and 7th the season before. For comparison's sake, Demarcus Cousins' last three seasons of WS per game were .022, .104, .092. And then look at his true shooting percentage -- .647%. That would have been 2nd in the NBA this season, 4th last season, and 3rd the season before. That's with 24 minutes per game. He wasn't just good for a big guy, he was elite in the league good. And he hasn't played since. When you balance the high probability that his explosive athleticism is now gone with the production he had so far in his limited NBA career, there's a number there that I think is worth taking. I don't know what that number is, but we've got smart people in charge so I'm sure they're looking at this.

I'm with hrdboild: the All-Father was great, when he wasn't injured. But he was almost never not injured. His Per36 and advanced metrics were out of this world. Hell, his real life numbers were pretty damned good, considering the minutes he got, and the fact that he was mostly playing on one leg his entire career.

You know, Pritchard basically lost his job in Portland because the team he put together could never stay healthy. I did the math once and, out of a possible 371 games, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden only played 82 games together. The Trailblazers record during those 82 games? 55-27.

 

[The_Jamal]

I'm with hrdboild: the All-Father was great, when he wasn't injured. But he was almost never not injured. His Per36 and advanced metrics were out of this world. Hell, his real life numbers were pretty damned good, considering the minutes he got, and the fact that he was mostly playing on one leg his entire career.

You know, Pritchard basically lost his job in Portland because the team he put together could never stay healthy. I did the math once and, out of a possible 371 games, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden only played 82 games together. The Trailblazers record during those 82 games? 55-27.

Amazing. Portland was a dynasty waiting to happen

 

[VF21]

I'm with hrdboild: the All-Father was great, when he wasn't injured. But he was almost never not injured. His Per36 and advanced metrics were out of this world. Hell, his real life numbers were pretty damned good, considering the minutes he got, and the fact that he was mostly playing on one leg his entire career.

You know, Pritchard basically lost his job in Portland because the team he put together could never stay healthy. I did the math once and, out of a possible 371 games, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Greg Oden only played 82 games together. The Trailblazers record during those 82 games? 55-27.

And therein lies the tale. And now he's older, and hasn't played at an elite level in a very long time.

 

[KingsFanGER]

Signing Greg Oden is exactly the type of risky deal, that can turn a franchise like the Kings around. It will take years to clean up the mess the Kings have under contract right now, but we have no time to lose. Evans and Cousins are very talented players, that almost every team in the league would like to sign. Why should they stay in Sacramento, if it takes more then a couple of years to turn into a winning franchise able to reach the playoffs in the west? Money is one thing in an athletes life, but winning is another.
If Oden looks healthy and is willing to sign a reasonable, short term contract, the Kings should sign him in a heartbeat.

 

[Darth Divac]

Signing Greg Oden is exactly the type of risky deal, that can turn a franchise like the Kings around. It will take years to clean up the mess the Kings have under contract right now, but we have no time to lose. Evans and Cousins are very talented players, that almost every team in the league would like to sign. Why should they stay in Sacramento, if it takes more then a couple of years to turn into a winning franchise able to reach the playoffs in the west? Money is one thing in an athletes life, but winning is another.
If Oden looks healthy and is willing to sign a reasonable, short term contract, the Kings should sign him in a heartbeat.

Agree with this statement. Healthy Greg Oden puts all other NBA centers to shame. If he comes here, and STAYS healthy, we could have ourselves a franchise guy.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Agree with this statement. Healthy Greg Oden puts all other NBA centers to shame. If he comes here, and STAYS healthy, we could have ourselves a franchise guy.

Oden hasn't played in centuries. He has had numerous surgeries on his knees and I sincerely doubt he can be anyone's franchise guy anymore. However, if he comes here he doesn't need to be the franchise guy. The risk with him is, as several people have stated, you don't know if 1) he can even play anymore at a high level and 2) If he can play, for how long? 10 seconds, 3 games or 30, a season? Whoever wants to sign him needs to do their due diligence in asking several medical experts if can realistically play, and then take him in for several workouts. He has a lot of question marks, but I am guessing a team or two will bite.

 

[eflat]

Hopefully this hasn't been posted in a while - Grantland interview from a little over a year ago: "Oden on Oden"

 

[kingjatt]

Kings interested in Greg Oden

one of many teams but this would be intriguing to say the least, i think its worth a shot if the price is right and he has a clean bill of health besides that its just nice to be seen as spenders/buyers and taken seriously around free agency

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....ers-and-grizzlies/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

[Fear the Putin]

big IF

I'd rather chase Pekovic

 

[The_Jamal]

Pek is going to get $10 mil easy

 

[ParniValjak]

big IF

I'd rather chase Pekovic

I love Pekman! He is the product of my team back home but he would be ridicilously redundant here! Pekman is not a shot blocker and there is no way him and Cousins can play together! On top of that he woll get a near max contract from someone!

 

[Sac.Kings]

You sign Oden if you can no question about that. You wouldn't even have to pay him a lot simply because he hasn't played in 4 years. He is the ideal type of big man to pair with Cousins. The real question is how much can he actually give a team?

 

[Darth Divac]

You sign Oden if you can no question about that. You wouldn't even have to pay him a lot simply because he hasn't played in 4 years. He is the ideal type of big man to pair with Cousins. The real question is how much can he actually give a team?

I'd give him a two year, 4m$ contract with no gauranteed money.

 

[Mass]

Second year must be team option. I don't think he'll be able to play again, so if we want to take the risk, give him the 15th spot on the roster. If he can play, good. If he can't, just waive him.