Greg Oden: I'm one of the biggest busts in NBA history (Grantland article)

[BleedGreen1989]

?I?m over all of that,? Greg told me. ?I know I?m one of the biggest busts in NBA history and I know that it?ll only get worse as Kevin Durant continues doing big things ? It?s frustrating that my body can?t do what my mind wants it to do sometimes. But worrying or complaining about it isn?t going to fix anything ? I wish the circumstances would let me play more, but I certainly don?t regret coming back, and I don?t regret signing with the Heat.?

Awesome article on Grantland regarding Oden. Hard to not feel for the guy a bit but he seems to have found peace with his situation.

http://grantland.com/features/greg-oden-miami-heat-nba-playoffs-how-to-be-a-benchwarmer/

[Tr1boy]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

[Who]

I don't like calling someone a bust because they got hurt.

Wasted away their potential? Sure.
Suffered career altering/ending injuries? Don't like it.

[D.o.s.]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

Don't forget Brandon Roy.


We were a Big Three like you, until we took an arrow to the knee

[CelticD]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

Don't forget Brandon Roy.


We were a Big Three like you, until we took an arrow to the knee

[dang] thats a good big 3 if oden and roy stay healthy.

[pearljammer10]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

Don't forget Brandon Roy.


We were a Big Three like you, until we took an arrow to the knee

[dang] thats a good big 3 if oden and roy stay healthy.

Imagine that playoff squad? Scary.

If they were still somehow able to round it out with Lillard and Batum...

[indeedproceed]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

Don't forget Brandon Roy.


We were a Big Three like you, until we took an arrow to the knee

Let me guess...someone stole your sweet Roy.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

OF COURSE HE DOESN'T REGRET SIGNING WITH THE HEAT... a free championship... 

[Who]

I think Aldridge would've ended up getting traded if Oden had of stayed healthy.

They didn't play well together. Greg Oden couldn't make a shot outside of five feet so Aldridge had to spend 85+% of his time 20 feet from the hoop. Aldridge would never have been the same player he is now. The number of play calls he received went way down with G.Oden and B.Roy in the lineup too. I think Portland would have had to trade Aldridge for someone who fit in better with Oden and Roy.

[indeedproceed]

I don't know Who, Aldridge has developed into such a prime midrange shooter , Oden was so raw offensively, Brandon Roy such an unstoppable force. There was so much potential for growth there, good leadership, top tier potential..well not LeBron top tier but the next rung down.

[fitzhickey]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

Don't forget Brandon Roy.


We were a Big Three like you, until we took an arrow to the knee

[dang] thats a good big 3 if oden and roy stay healthy.

Imagine that playoff squad? Scary.

If they were still somehow able to round it out with Lillard and Batum...

Super squad. So unfortunate 

[Who]

I don't know Who, Aldridge has developed into such a prime midrange shooter , Oden was so raw offensively, Brandon Roy such an unstoppable force. There was so much potential for growth there, good leadership, top tier potential..well not LeBron top tier but the next rung down.

It wasn't the lack of a jump-shot. Aldridge has a very good jump shot and did back then too.

No, it was the limited opportunities for L.Aldridge to do anything other than shoot spot up jump shots. His role was greatly reduced. And it was only going to be reduced further in future seasons as Greg Oden developed his low post game.

The two players had bad chemistry together. Short of Oden developing a high post game (which looked incredibly doubtful), I don't think they would have lasted together. I don't think Aldridge would have fulfilled his potential. I think he'd have had to move to become the player he has become now + I think Portland would need to trade him to find a third option who fit better alongside B.Roy and G.Oden.

[indeedproceed]

I don't know Who, Aldridge has developed into such a prime midrange shooter , Oden was so raw offensively, Brandon Roy such an unstoppable force. There was so much potential for growth there, good leadership, top tier potential..well not LeBron top tier but the next rung down.

It wasn't the lack of a jump-shot. Aldridge has a very good jump shot and did back then too.

No, it was the limited opportunities for L.Aldridge to do anything other than shoot spot up jump shots. His role was greatly reduced. And it was only going to be reduced further in future seasons as Greg Oden developed his low post game.

The two players had bad chemistry together. Short of Oden developing a high post game (which looked incredibly doubtful), I don't think they would have lasted together. I don't think Aldridge would have fulfilled his potential. I think he'd have had to move to become the player he has become now + I think Portland would need to trade him to find a third option who fit better alongside B.Roy and G.Oden.

He definitely would've been the player to move if Oden and Roy could've developed unimpeded (people probably forget how good Oden was his sophomore season), but I wonder who would've been available for Aldridge's presumed price tag.

It would be like Detroit's connundrum with Monroe, but to a extremely elevated degree. Maybe they don't fit , but the chance that they could would outweigh any play for future assets or attainment of a role player to fill a need.

Ironically, Rondo would've been the ideal asset , upon reflection. Boston struggled to find offensive production from their bigs from day 1, and a Garnett would've still been in his prime.

[Vox_Populi]

Not  his fault. If he was healthy, oden and aldrige would of been dynamite

Don't forget Brandon Roy.


We were a Big Three like you, until we took an arrow to the knee

Let me guess...someone stole your sweet Roy.

I laughed too much. TP.

[moiso]

I don't know Who, Aldridge has developed into such a prime midrange shooter , Oden was so raw offensively, Brandon Roy such an unstoppable force. There was so much potential for growth there, good leadership, top tier potential..well not LeBron top tier but the next rung down.

It wasn't the lack of a jump-shot. Aldridge has a very good jump shot and did back then too.

No, it was the limited opportunities for L.Aldridge to do anything other than shoot spot up jump shots. His role was greatly reduced. And it was only going to be reduced further in future seasons as Greg Oden developed his low post game.

The two players had bad chemistry together. Short of Oden developing a high post game (which looked incredibly doubtful), I don't think they would have lasted together. I don't think Aldridge would have fulfilled his potential. I think he'd have had to move to become the player he has become now + I think Portland would need to trade him to find a third option who fit better alongside B.Roy and G.Oden.

They didn't get enough time to try to coexist.  This is all based on a half season.  I think they would have been fine.