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Blazers in NBA Rookie Survey (Part VI): Greg Oden stands out in talented 2007 class

By Matt George Moore

TARRYTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers poses for a portrait during the 2007 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 27, 2007 at the MSG Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY - JULY 27: Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers poses for a portrait during the 2007 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 27, 2007 at the MSG Training Facility in Tarrytown, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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We’re gonna jump in the Wayback Machine for a look at a couple of Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 NBA Rookie Survey.

Happy finally-feels-like-it’s-official-college-football-is-back day, America. We here in Rip City are excited about watching our almae matres — Ducks, Beavers, Gators (that would be me), as the case may be. We’re here watching some of the early games (the Beavs are getting trounced, naturally) and writing about the Portland Trail Blazers.

That’s because we’re a dedicated bunch here at Rip City Project. And even though it’s finally-feels-like-it’s-official-college-football-is-back day, we’re fixing to continue our series on Blazers in the NBA Rookie Survey.

Let’s recap.

More from Blazers News

Blazers

First, we covered the 2018 NBA Rookie Survey. That one was a Gary Trent Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic fiesta.

Then, we looked over the 2012 NBA Rookie Survey. That one was stuffed to the gills with Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard and Will Barton.

Then then, we scoured the 2013 NBA Rookie Survey, searching for signs of Blazers; we found what we were looking for in CJ McCollum and Allen Crabbe.

But we didn’t stop there. No sir (or madam)! We also smothered and covered (like hash browns at Waffle House) both the 2015 NBA Rookie Survey and the 2016 NBA Rookie Survey. In fact, we might have done those before those other ones we mentioned …

Yeah, we’re losing track.

So many rookies … so little time …

We also went over the 2014 NBA Rookie Survey, which didn’t actually have any Blazers in it!

But that’s not the case for the next feature  in our series.

<< jumps in the wayback >>

Let’s return to the days of yore. A long time ago, in a Rip City far, far away …

It’s the …

2007 NBA Draft

Portland selected Greg Oden with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Hindsighters like to criticize the franchise for this choice, especially since Kevin Durant was selected No. 2.

But hindsighters conveniently forget that Oden — while perhaps not a consensus choice for No. 1 pick — was highly coveted. And if Portland had chosen KD instead of Oden with the first pick, then Oden would have gone No. 2 to the then-Seattle SuperSonics.

In other words, there may have been some grumblings, but there certainly was no big controversy at the time over Portland’s choice of Oden No. 1.

And — lest we forget — Portlanders welcomed Oden like he had already won an NBA title. It was only after Oden proved to be too fragile for the league that people began to harp on the Blazers’ selection of Oden over KD.

Blazers in the 2007 Draft

Also lost to the haze of memory: The Blazers chose five players in the 2007 NBA Draft. After Oden at No. 1, they selected Josh McRoberts (Duke), Derrick Byars (Vandy), Taurean Green (Florida) and Demetris Nichols (Syracuse). All four of those players were picked in the second round — and none of them made an impact in Portland.

Thus, in addition to the tragedy of Oden’s curtailed career, the Blazers had really nothing to show for their efforts in the ’07 draft.

But there was still optimism. And many fellow rookies thought Oden was going to dominate.

Which brings us to …

2007 NBA Rookie Survey

Question: Who will be the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year?

Oden finished second to eventual ROY Durant in this category.

Question: Which rookie is most ready to contribute right away?

Top 3: Al Horford, Durant, Oden.

Question: Which rookie will play in the most All-Star games before his career is over?

No. 1: Kevin Durant

No. 2: Greg Oden

Question: Which rookie is being most overlooked?

Taurean Green got 5.3 percent of the vote in this category.

Next. 3 goals for CJ to achieve in the 2018-2019 season. dark

Question: Which rookie is the best shooter?

Green got 9.1 percent of the votes here.

Question: Which rookie is the best defender?

Oden finished second to another Gator, Corey Brewer, in this category.

Question: Which rookie is the best playmaker?

Green received just one vote in this category.

That’s it for 2007.

What might have been …