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Portland Trail Blazers: Greg Oden remains the worst pick in Blazers history

By Quentin Thorne

HOLLYWOOD - JULY 11: NBA players Greg Oden (L) and Kevin Durant pose for photos in the press room during the 2007 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD - JULY 11: NBA players Greg Oden (L) and Kevin Durant pose for photos in the press room during the 2007 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /
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Ten years after Greg Oden suited up for the last time in red and black, he remains the worst pick in Portland Trail Blazers history.

The 2007 off-season was an exciting time for the Portland Trail Blazers, the team had the reigning rookie of the year in Brandon Roy and the first selection in the upcoming draft. It became increasingly clear that the team was considering either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant.

Safe to say the team drafted incorrectly, Oden went on to be one of the biggest busts in NBA history. Whereas Kevin Durant has gone to have a prolific career and is one of the most recognisable names in the NBA.

In addition the team passed up on the likes of of Al Horford, Mike Conley, Joakim Noah and Marc Gasol.

Oden was so injury prone that he only played 82 games for the Trail Blazers in total. During that stretch he averaged 9.4 PTS, 7.3 REB and 1.4 BLK. Numbers nowhere near warranting a number one overall selection.

Kevin Durant has played in 849 games, averaging 27.0 PTS, 7.1 REB, 4.1 AST, 1.1 BLK and 1.1 STL. Durant was the 2007-2008 rookie of the year, in a season where Oden did not play a single game.

In addition KD has ten All-star appearances, two all-star MVP’s, four scoring championships, one regular season MVP, nine All-NBA seasons, two NBA championships and two finals MVP’s.

Al Horford, who went just one pick after Durant, has also gone on to have an extremely successful career.

Horford has played in 846 games, averaging 14.0 PTS, 8.3 REB, 3.3 AST, 1.2 BLK and 0.8 STL. He has five all-star appearances, an All-NBA appearance and an All-defensive appearance.

Mike Conley was the fourth overall selection in the 2007 NBA draft. Conley’s career has been quietly successful, having no all-star appearances in his career. Over 829 games, he has an average of 14.8 PTS, 3.0 REB, 5.7 AST and 1.5 STL. The only award Conley received was a 2012-2013 all-defensive appearance.

Joakim Noah was the seventh selection in the 2007 NBA draft. Over 667 games Noah has an average of 8.8 PTS, 9.1 REB, 2.8 AST and 1.3 BLK. Noah has two All-star appearances, an All-NBA appearance, three All-defensive appearances and was the 2013-2014 Defensive player of the year.

Marc Gasol is the steal of the 2007 NBA draft, falling to the mid-second round. In 831 games Gasol has an average of 14.7 PTS, 7.6 REB, 3.4 AST and 1.4 BLK. He has three All-star appearances, two All-NBA appearances, an All-defensive appearance, an NBA championship and was the 2012-2013 Defensive player of the year.

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While some might point out that Sam Bowie was the worst pick in Blazers history, as he was taken one pick before Michael Jordan. Greg Oden surpassed Bowie as the worst selection, due to a lack of impact on the Blazers franchise and the talent that was missed after his selection.

If the Blazers had taken a chance on Kevin Durant, or any one of these players, things in Portland might look a lot different now. But these historic mistakes should make us appreciate faces like Neil Olshey, Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard, and CJ McCollum. A winning mentality has finally entered the Trail Blazers front office and roster.