With roughly six weeks left before the Trail Blazers start training camp, the playing status of Greg Oden remains as unclear as ever.
Oden continues to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee and the Blazers insist things are progressing according to schedule. But at the same time, the organization is so intent on keeping once sky-high expectations low for the injury-prone center, officials refuse to say that Oden will be ready to play by Oct. 26, when the team opens the season against the Phoenix Suns.
"I don't really want to put any time frame on it," Blazers general manager Rich Cho said, regarding Oden's return. "I don't want any expectations out there. And I don't want to put any pressure on Greg. The last thing I want him to do is come back earlier (than he should) because people are expecting it."
It's been 8½ months since Oden was wheeled off the Rose Garden floor on a gurney after fracturing the patella in his left knee in a game against the Houston Rockets. Since, Oden and the Blazers have maintained that the 7-foot center's rehab was on schedule and he was poised to return for October training camp -- a significant fact considering a healthy and productive Oden is perhaps the biggest key to how much success the team will have this season.
In June, Blazers coach Nate McMillan told The Oregonian that Oden was scheduled to start running in mid-July and would begin playing two-on-two or three-on-three games by mid-August, with a goal of returning to five-on-five action by the first week of September.
More recently, Oden has declined interview requests from The Oregonian, saying he'd prefer to talk about his rehab and playing status when training camp starts. Meanwhile, the Blazers do not want athletic trainer Jay Jensen discussing Oden's rehab with the media.
On Wednesday, Cho offered some details, saying Oden's rehab had progressed to feature jogging, defensive slides, spot shooting, light jumping, jump-roping and work in the pool. He added that Oden, who had his latest medical checkup two weeks ago, has trimmed his weight down to the "low 280s," approaching where the team would like him to play next season.
Cho, who watched Oden work out two weeks ago at the practice facility in Tualatin, refused to reveal when Oden is scheduled to begin running full-speed, or when Oden plans to resume basketball activities. Cho also wouldn't definitively say how much Oden intends to participate in training camp.
"I don't know if he'll be ready to go full-speed ahead when training camp starts, but our hope is that he'll be ready to participate in training camp," Cho said. "I don't know if that will include full contact (work). It depends on his progress."
Oden is splitting his rehab work between Portland and Indianapolis, his hometown. He will be in Portland this weekend to take part in the Third Annual Team Oden Summer Slam, an event he sponsors to support and encourage mentoring youth in Oregon. There is a scheduled media availability at the event, so perhaps Oden will shed new details about his rehab at that point.
Otherwise, his status will continue to remain a mystery. Oden is in the final year of his rookie contract with the Blazers and the sides have not yet discussed a contract extension.
Oden, who has endured career-threatening surgeries on both of his knees in his short NBA career, has played just 82 games since the Blazers drafted him No. 1 overall in 2007. He's averaged 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in those games but appeared on the verge of a breakout last season before his injury, when he averaged 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.29 blocks in 21 starts.
Oden had a 24-point, 12-rebound performance against Chicago last season and finished with 13 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks against Miami the game before he was lost for the season, tantalizing Blazers fans with his potential.
And although Cho is tempering the expectations that accompany such statistics, he remains pleased with Oden's status as the offseason fades and training camp approaches.
"He's on track for everything," Cho said. "Greg is working hard and we're pleased with his rehab efforts."
