The Trail Blazers’ Painful Draft Decision back at the 2007 NBA Draft . Selecting Greg Oden with the top overall pick seemed like a potentially profitable move. Bad luck ultimately tainted Oden, a massive defensive force from Ohio State, who was considered a game-changer by many. His potential appeared limitless, and the Blazers were excited to center their future around him. Unfortunately, injuries cut Oden’s career short, leaving Portland supporters lamenting what might have been if they had made a different decision.
The most agonizing “what if” centers on Kevin Durant, the player selected right after Oden. Durant was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics, which later became the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has become one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. Durant’s resume is legendary. He has won an MVP award, two NBA titles with Finals MVP honors, fourteen All-Star selections, and eleven All-NBA Team nods. Even at 35, Durant remains one of the NBA’s elite scorers with the Phoenix Suns. Durant has earned nearly $400 million from his on-court career. He has another $105.9 million guaranteed over the next two seasons. Durant has earned nearly $506 million from his on-court career.
The disappointment of missing out on Durant is acute for Trail Blazers fans. There was a chance to select a future Hall of Famer. Durant’s success has been widespread and obvious. The choice Portland made in 2007 frequently reminds them. The Blazers’ history might look very different today if they had chosen Durant instead.
However, the pain of the Trail Blazers’ painful draft decision doesn’t end with Durant. The Blazers also passed over other future NBA greats. These included two centers on the verge of Hall of Fame consideration: Al Horford and Marc Gasol. Horford drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks, has enjoyed a long and successful career, earning five All-Star selections and an All-NBA Team honor. While he’s best known as a reliable role player, he was also a key component in Boston’s recent deep playoff runs and served as a crucial sixth man on a championship-winning team.
Conversely, Marc Gasol’s path was less traditional but no less significant. The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Gasol 48th overall but then traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies before he made his NBA debut. Despite not making the All-Defensive First Team, Gasol managed to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 and became a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Team member. Gasol’s career highlights include an Olympic silver medal with Spain. He also won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, playing a crucial role in defeating Durant’s Warriors.
The Blazers made a major “what if” in NBA history when they chose to draft Oden over Durant, Horford, or Gasol. When looking back on the situation, this is especially clear. Injury tragically cut short Oden’s promising career. This left Portland with a sobering reminder of what could have been.
Drafting is never an exact science, and the Oden selection demonstrates the risks involved in choosing a franchise cornerstone. Trail Blazers fans will always consider the alternative. This is especially true when they see Durant, Horford, and Gasol’s successful careers, which lasted much longer than Oden’s.
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