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The Portland Trail Blazers have players in their history that remind them of unlucky draft choices, injuries or even playoff series performances. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report looked at one player that should haunt every franchise — from a nemesis to a what-if injury — and chose Greg Oden, over the non-drafting of Michael Jordan, for Portland:
Every team was hot for traditional centers in 1984. The Blazers already had a young Clyde Drexler and John Paxson, and it wasn’t like Jordan entered the prospect pageant amid can’t-miss fanfare. Ending up with Bowie instead of His Airness still cuts to the core, but the swing and miss on Oden incites more “why us?” feels.
The debate between him and Durant leading into draft night was real. Portland could have just as easily held on to Zach Randolph, who was traded to the New York Knicks, and opted out of adding another big man beside LaMarcus Aldridge.
Favale also mentions the crumbling of Brandon Roy and possibility of drafting Chris Paul as other skeletons in the closet.
So what player should haunt the Blazers the most to this day? An unfortunate injury, an unlucky draft choice, a former nemesis? Let us know in the comments.