Offense matters, and as raw as Greg’s is, the impact he offers in the paint exceeds what Camby offers from 15-feet out.

The only real clear advantage Camby has is being smarter in avoiding fouls. But the shotblocking is the same, rebounding is the same, Oden shoots .100 better from the field. Great as Camby is at tipping those offensive rebounds out, he’s resetting the possession once he gets the board, while Oden is capable of getting position, with his size, to grab the board and immediately score again or get fouled.

Camby might turn the ball over less because his usage rate on offense is lower, but if both are healthy, I can’t make much of an argument for Marcus.

$10 million isn’t bench money, nor is it starter money. It’s just money. Salary doesn’t dictate minutes. Portland just, rightfully, paid him what it took to retain his services.

Don’t get me wrong, I want GO to succeed. I want him to become the centerpiece of the team over BRoy. Unfortunately, healthy or not, he’s not even the best option at his position.

If Oden is healthy and not starting, something is wrong. He’s better than Camby, and Marcus probably signed that extension with the impression that he would have a chance to earn the starting spot, but he probably will not.

Pzybilla is probably the odd man out in the rotation, providing they are all healthy, but I’m not counting Joel being able to play until January 2011 at the earliest, just from the docs I’ve spoken to about the injury.

I could see Oden and Camby working together for short periods, but a Joel and Camby doesn’t have enough offense. And since Joel is an expiring contract, there’s a decent chance he’ll be traded. That said, all three will have their bumps, and will all be needed, but for the moment, Joel is probably low man on the totem pole.