Greg Oden is close to deciding where his NBA comeback will begin.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick has missed the bulk of his career due to injuries, undergoing microfracture surgery three times and missing long stretches. But he has diligently worked at rehabbing and is said to be healthy and ready to play.
This week Oden worked out for the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Miami Heat in a 90-minute session that included running, low post play, and drills.
Oden has gotten a look from a number of teams, and received varying contract offers from the Heat, Kings, Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks.
“He’s coming along,” said one scout who attended the workout this week. “Good to see him out there working.”
A league source told Yahoo! Sports that Oden could be ready to announce his destination sometime in the coming week.
There were rumors early this year that Oden could join the Cleveland Cavaliers or Miami Heat during the season, but he never signed.
Greg Oden was selected first in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, coming in one spot ahead of Kevin Durant. For his career Oden has averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, playing solidly for the Trail Blazers when he was healthy.
There will still be questions as to how much Oden will be able to do physically. He was once an overpowering player, and in high school drew comparisons to LeBron James in terms of sheer dominance, but struggled with injuries even in high school.
Oden was again dominant in his one year of college basketball, leading Ohio State to the national championship game.
But those days seem far in the past, and the teams working out Greg Oden are likely looking at the center to add size and depth rather than play a featured role.
