Go After Greg Oden
By Dante Nelson
Dec 16, 2011; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden (52) poses for a photo during media day at the Rose Garden. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
If Gred Oden will consider it, the 76ers is a team he should look into signing with. After the latest Bynum news, I have officially moved on. If the Sixers do indeed move on (I doubt it), then the Sixers should go after Oden.
Why?
There are glaring holes here. For one, he hasn’t played in 3 years now. He’s only played in 82 games. In those games though, he’s played well. Let’s take a look at his Per 36 for his career:
Points: 15.3
Rebounds: 11.9
Shooting%: .577
As you can see, when looking at his stats for every 36 minutes he’s played, he’s played well. Now, how about some advanced stuff:
PER: 19.5 (league average is always 15)
TS%: .613
TRB%: 20.5
So, Oden is a guy that was efficient for the most part. He could rebound and score and wasn’t bad on defense either. So wait, you could be asking why go after Oden when we already have Bynum? And while Bynum hasn’t played this season, Oden’s been out for 3 years. Can he even come back!?
Looks like we’ll have to compare stats. Since Oden played only 2 seasons, let’s look at Bynum’s last 2 seasons and compare. But, a quick look at Bynum’s career stats and they’re close to Oden’s. But again, Bynum has played a lot more games and there’s bound to be some bad games in there. Also, many would say that Bynum’s status of being an elite Center came during this span. But I will put his career numbers in parenthesis anyway.
Anyway, here’s Bynum last two seasons:
Points: 16.9 (16.3)
Rebounds: 12.2 (10.9)
FG%: .566 (.566)
PER: 22 (19.8)
TS%: .600 (.600)
TRB%: 19 (17.1)
As you can see, Bynum’s numbers are not heavily favorable to Oden’s. And if Bynum is a star, then Oden could be a star too. There’s a reason why he was drafted number one. He wasn’t a Kwame Brown. He could’ve been special. He probably won’t ever reach the level of play like the guy who was picked after him, Kevin Durant, is. But, for this team, he can be a key guy when healthy just as Bynum could’ve been.
Both guys are 25.
Oden has shown a desire to get back on the court. Meanwhile, and we’ve been hearing it for years, Bynum doesn’t seem to care for the game. Both players are a risk; that’s obvious. And I will always be a guy who supported the Bynum risk/trade. But, maxing Bynum just isn’t in my plans now. No, I’m not team management so my opinion really doesn’t mean much. But, while Bynum is calling for a max contract (I mean, who wouldn’t want one though?), Oden will certainly be cheaper.
Again, the stats are very similar, even if the playing styles are not. We’re not talking about a franchise that is on the verge of winning and is making a desperate move to make the final push. This team, even with Bynum, wasn’t a contender. Still needed work. Getting Oden will require work as well. The team needs help at each position except PG. If Oden can play 63-70 games at least per season, in accordance to the stats we’ve seen here, the Sixers are taking a good step.
A quick look at the next season’s lineup:
Jrue
SG
Turner
Thad
Oden
Something tells me that Turner would be traded along with Hawes. We need a starting SG; are we drafting him? In a weak draft, the Sixers don’t even look like they’ll be in the top 5 for picking. Doesn’t seem like they’ll be getting a franchise player in there.
We need to accept that the Sixers are years away. This was said by me when Bynum first came around. And it will be the same getting Oden. We’ll just have to get our superstar in another position.
So what do you think? Keep Bynum, go after Oden, or a 3rd option?