A Case For Greg Oden In Oklahoma City
Allow me to steal a phrase from Russell Westbrook for this one.
“Why not?”
If you’re Thunder GM Sam Presti, why not go after Greg Oden in free agency next summer? Why not take a chance on the one-time center sensation whose promise has faded because of faulty knees?
It would only be the greatest low-risk, high-reward maneuver we’ve ever seen Presti pull. And there have been plenty, most of them beyond question of the high-reward variety. We saw it with the near signing of C.J. Miles and the eventually rescinded trade for Tyson Chandler. We saw it with the successful signing of Nenad Krstic and the completed trade for Thabo Sefolosha. And, most similarly, we saw it with the flyer Presti took on Shaun Livingston, who nearly four years after a near career-ending knee injury still is navigating his full-time comeback.
Oden, the Blazers announced Wednesday, will soon undergo his second microfracture surgery, this time on his left knee. He missed the entire 2007-08 season following the same procedure on his right knee. And suddenly, with this latest news, Oden’s days in Portland seem to be done.
The Blazers decided against offering Oden a contract extension prior to the Nov. 1 deadline, making him the first No. 1 overall pick since Kwame Brown who failed to receive a new deal following his rookie contract. Although Oden is scheduled to be a restricted free agent next summer, giving Portland the right to match any offer a team throws his way, there are already reports that the Blazers might decline to retain those rights. Which of course makes perfect sense. Former Thunder assistant general manager Rich Cho, the new GM of the Blazers, has no reason to keep Oden. His selection was on former Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard’s watch. Now, it seems the sooner Cho can wipe his hands of what’s become a sad, if not embarrassing, set of setbacks the better.
Oden will forever be known as the bust who was taken ahead of Thunder star Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft. But the longer Oden stays with the Blazers, the more that troublesome truth will define his career, while also hanging over the Portland franchise. It’s time both parties parted ways.
And what better place is there for Oden to escape Durant’s shadow than Oklahoma City? Rather than toil through life as the answer to a trivia question, Oden could redefine his career by joining forces with Durant and perhaps someday compete for championships alongside him.
Rich Cho Headed To Portland
Oklahoma City Thunder Assistant General Manager Rich Cho has been hired by Portland to fill the Trail Blazers’ open general manager job, the Blazers announced Monday.
Cho will replace Kevin Pritchard, who was fired on draft night last month.
The departure ends weeks of speculation centered on Cho and completes a scenario first reported as a possibility by The Oklahoman in March.
“Rich is the perfect fit for our organization,” Blazers president Larry Miller said in a release. “He has the right balance of basketball acumen and tremendous people skills.
“Everyone I spoke to about Rich commented not just on his qualifications but on who he is as a person. He is well known for his ability to connect genuinely with people. Rich will be a great fit for our organization and for Portland. He is an executive on the rise and we’re thrilled to have him as a Trail Blazer.”
Cho was as integral as any person in the Thunder’s organization. He spent 12 seasons with the Thunder/Sonics franchise. Last season, he handled contract negotiations, salary cap and Collective Bargaining Agreement matters, player contracts and all player personnel issues.
Cho had a hand in coups such as Thabo Sefolosha’s contract extension last October, a deal that helped OKC avoid having the defensive stopper’s restricted free agency tie up its salary cap room this summer, Nenad Krstic’s offer sheet last season that New Jersey couldn’t afford to match and the lopsided financially-motivated trade with Utah that brought Eric Maynor to town.
Cho also overseas operations for the Thunder-owned Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League.
The Thunder still has Assistant General Manager Troy Weaver, another fast-rising basketball man, and it’s unclear whether Thunder General Manager Sam Presti will replace Cho.
“I am extremely humbled and grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything I can to help this great team get even better,” said Cho. “When I met with Mr. (Paul) Allen, Larry Miller and coach (Nate) McMillan, it was immediately apparent to me that this organization has an incredible commitment to winning.
“As someone who grew up in the northwest, I’m aware of the unbelievable passion and support that Trail Blazers fans have, and I’m excited to be a part of this rich tradition.”
Cho, 44, grew up outside of Seattle and is taking the reins of a roster that is the Thunder’s foremost rival as the league’s best young team. The Blazers currently have Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, Jerryd Bayless, Rudy Fernandez, Nicolas Batum, rookie Luke Babbitt and veterans Marcus Camby and Andre Miller.
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