Its like the Thabeet thing -- bigger talent, but bigger injury risk. And same deal for us. We NEED a big interior clog the lane defender to anchor the defense. We have needed that player for half a decade now. If the top kids in the draft are gone by the 5th pick, who would I put my money on to fill that role, Greg Oden, or Cole Aldrich/Whiteside/Udoh/Varnado/whoever. It is no contest. Oden all the way, and just start eating Lucky Charms every morning (which I have always loved anyway, so no great sacrifice).
Put another way, if Greg Oden had stayed in school he woul be graduating this year and in htis draft. If all those injuries had happened to him in college, but he had still shown the flashes he has when healthy, he might STILL be the first center taken in the draft (given Cousins own questions). Taking Cole Aldrich over him in the draft could get you fired.