Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, the former No. 1 draft pick whose short career has been marred by injuries, will have microfracture surgery on his left knee and will not play this season.

Oden hasn't played since last December because he needed surgery to repair a fractured left patella. The Blazers say this operation, announced Wednesday night and scheduled for Friday in Vail, Colo., will repair damaged cartilage and is unrelated to the patella injury.

Oden, the first name announced in the 2007 NBA draft, missed his rookie season because of microfracture surgery on his right knee. The procedure stimulates cartilage growth.

Blazers trainer Jay Jensen said the latest problem with Oden's left knee became apparent about two weeks ago when he experienced some pain and fluid in the joint. Soon thereafter, an MRI revealed the damage.

"We sat there and it was like we'd been kicked in the stomach," Jensen said, choking up. "It felt like hearing someone close to us had died."

Oden was having arguably the best season of his career when he broke his left kneecap during a game last December against the Houston Rockets. He was averaging 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks as a starter.

With the latest Greg Oden injury news, all J.A. Adande can think about is the money Oden will lose over the next few seasons. Story

The 7-footer often has been compared to former Portland center Sam Bowie, whose career was beset by injuries after the Blazers famously selected him in front of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.

Too bad our version of a possible top 5 center can't break his kneecaps. We should start an Eddie twitter thread...Eddie, last seen stealing t-shirts from a Casual Male in Westbury... Eddie, now eating his 14th consecutive cheesesteak at Jeno's...

loweyecue wrote:Dude, I dont ascribe value to players based on where they were picked. I only mentioned Durant because I can't believe the same team would pass on Jordan and Durant. That is hard to swallow for their fans.

But Dude, your statement does ascribe value to players, otherwise why would they're fans be ticked? Portland passing on Jordan and Durant is like the Knicks passing on Bird for Michael Ray Richardson. It just goes on and on and is totally pointless, unless you're in charge of interviewing scouts.

jrodmc wrote:

loweyecue wrote:Dude, I dont ascribe value to players based on where they were picked. I only mentioned Durant because I can't believe the same team would pass on Jordan and Durant. That is hard to swallow for their fans.

But Dude, your statement does ascribe value to players, otherwise why would they're fans be ticked? Portland passing on Jordan and Durant is like the Knicks passing on Bird for Michael Ray Richardson. It just goes on and on and is totally pointless, unless you're in charge of interviewing scouts.

bird wouldnt be available to play till the folowing season and mrr was a great player..player today i compare him to is ok's michael westbrook..and mrr was traded for bernard king who if hadnt been injured in 3/85 would have teamed with ewing and won a couple of championships for us

This guy had injury problems his whole life and was just hyped too much coming out of college. Sometimes these issues get glossed over for some reason. I thought that Griffin was a big risk for the same reason. I think he'll end up injured and out of the league in a similar manner.

DrAlphaeus wrote:I predict Oden will be forced to retire from basketball due to injury and become an adult video sensation.

Or he'll go to Grant Hill's doctor and get his kneecaps rebuilt and play 'til he's 40.
Stay tuned!

So he's going to play for 2 more years?