Filed under: Trail Blazers, Thunder
CHICAGO -- A center is taken No. 1 in the NBA Draft by Portland and is eventually labeled a bust while the No. 2 pick becomes a scoring champion.
Sounds like the story of Greg Oden, drafted in 2007. But it's also the tale of LaRue Martin, the first Trail Blazers' No. 1 pick in 1972.
There's one major difference between the two situations. Oden, 23, has been unable to fulfill his potential due to a rash of knee injuries while Martin simply couldn't make it in the NBA, being waived out of the league after four seasons.
But there are enough similarities that Martin, now based in Chicago as community services manager for the UPS Illinois district, would love to offer advice to Oden.
Martin's career crashed while 1972 No. 2 pick Bob McAdoo went on to win three scoring titles with Buffalo. The 2007 No. 2 pick, Kevin Durant, won the scoring crown last season with Oklahoma City.
"I'd like to sit down and talk to him and see what's on his mind,'' Martin said about Oden. "I'd reach out to him if (the Trail Blazers) wanted me to.''
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