Greg Oden to sign soon, but won't play until next season

[kcgator]

I thought he and Bill Russell retired decades ago...

Greg Oden is talking comeback, and interest around the NBA is sky high. That in itself is news, considering Oden hasn't played in more than two years. But we're talking about the former No. 1 overall pick and a guy who doesn't turn 25 until later this month, not to mention a man who collected 20 rebounds in his final NBA game (Dec. 1, 2009 vs. Miami). So forget the three microfracture knee surgeries for now. Plenty of teams are lining up to take a crack at the 7-footer. The short list reportedly includes Boston, Miami, Cleveland and Dallas. Oden's agent, Mike Conley, has insisted that Oden is 100 percent and a future All-Star. Oden is currently taking classes at Ohio State, and while he's expected to sign with a team this season, it'd be for continued rehabilitation purposes only. He plans to actually play games next season. And with the way things are going, he will indeed be back in the league.

[Jbossgator9]

Biggest #1 draft pick BUST ever??

[law98gator]

Are you sure that isn't Robert Parrish?

[#1GATOR FAN]

I heard he's doing well without his walker

[NVGator]

Biggest #1 draft pick BUST ever??

Him or Russell in the NFL?

[Jbossgator9]

Oden for basketball and Russell for football

[kcgator]

Are you sure that isn't Robert Parrish?

[jagator0]

Sam Bowie

[gatorJ]

His agent is Mike Conley? Isn't that the Frosh PG who played with him at OSU and came out early too!

[Swamp82]

Looks more like the big dude in Police Academy

[oxrageous]

He's 24? If I had to guess his age I would say mid-50's. Remarkably old face on that kid. Evidently his knees have proven to be prematurely old as well.

[Amazin1]

Sam Bowie

not at all...Sam Bowie actually had a pretty respectable career if you look at it. everyone just stones him because he was taken before Jordan.

[NVGator]

Sam Bowie

not at all...Sam Bowie actually had a pretty respectable career if you look at it. everyone just stones him because he was taken before Jordan.

Agreed.

[kcgator]

He's 24? If I had to guess his age I would say mid-50's. Remarkably old face on that kid. Evidently his knees have proven to look prematurely old as well.

Some hard cornbread miles on that kid. Geesh...

[GatorintheKnox]

His agent is Mike Conley? Isn't that the Frosh PG who played with him at OSU and came out early too!

Close, Mike Conley is a sports agent. Mike Conley Jr is an NBA player.

[DudeRanchBuddha]

Biggest #1 draft pick BUST ever??

That title has to go to Kwame Brown.

[Circle City Gator]

Biggest #1 draft pick BUST ever??

That title has to go to Kwame Brown.

Nah. Brown played more than one season.

[ShowMeLove]

Oden was old when AncientReptile was BabyGator.

[DudeRanchBuddha]

Biggest #1 draft pick BUST ever??

That title has to go to Kwame Brown.

Nah. Brown played more than one season.

Okay, the fact that the guy has played multiple seasons and sucked in every single one of them doesn't really help his cause.

To me, I think a team makes a "bust" pick when they waste a high pick on someone who lacks athletic capability, or the ability to translate their game to the next level. Greg Oden would have had a productive career had it not been for injuries, so I see it as a misfortune, and not a flat out bust like Kwame Brown, or Jamarcus Russell in the NFL.

The guy has been out of the league for several years, yet still has teams flocking to him, hoping he can be healthy enough to contribute to their ball club. Doesn't sound like a bust to me.

[oxrageous]

If Oden is healthy, there isn't a single team in the NBA that wouldn't be interested in him.

Unfortunately, he's never been healthy. Literally never.

Some busts are performance related (like Kwame Brown), some busts are injury related.