C Greg Oden (All B1G, All-American, Defensive Player of the Year, Butler Assistant Coach)

[Buckskin86]

Sources: Greg Oden meetings set
Updated: July 15, 2013
By Marc Stein | ESPN.com

Free-agent center Greg Oden will be in Las Vegas this week for face-to-face meetings with officials from the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans, according to sources with knowledge of Oden's plans.

The sitdown with Mavericks officials, sources said, is scheduled for later Monday, as Dallas pushes to join the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat at the forefront of the race to resurrect the career of 2007's No. 1 overall pick.

Oden, 25, has battled numerous knee injuries and hasn't played in an NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009. He is coming off his third microfracture knee surgery in February 2012.

He was the top overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft out of Ohio State, chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers one spot ahead of Kevin Durant.

ESPN.com reported last week that the Cleveland Cavaliers' signing of Andrew Bynum removed the Cavs from the list of contenders for his services. San Antonio and Miami are widely regarded as the two favorites, but Dallas continues to pursue Oden with intent while also negotiating with Milwaukee Bucks free-agent big man Samuel Dalembert.

Heat president Pat Riley recently told local reporters that he's had an extended exchange with Oden already.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9...s-sacramento-kings-meet-greg-oden-sources-say

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYJLtsHbiQ8"]Oden To Meet With Teams In Vegas - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Report: Heat re-open talks with Greg Oden?s agent
Kurt Helin
Jul 16, 2013

If you want to know why the Heat amnestied Mike Miller and his $6.2 million salary, this could be a key piece of the puzzle.

The Miami Heat have re-opened talks to sign Greg Oden, reports Chris Tomasson of FoxSportsFlorida. The Heat have their taxpayers mid-level of $3.2 million, but being way over the luxury tax line ($87 million in salary before letting go of Miller) that would have been an expensive addition.

Now it?s more pitiable, but don?t expect a quick decision.

Oden is meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans this week, as they pitch him he chance to try and come back outside the spotlight that follows the two-time defending champions around.

The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also are both in the mix.

But if the Heat are serious and make a fair offer it would be hard for Oden to turn down. Miami offers a chance to win, a defined role (10-minutes a night off the bench) and all the other attractions of South Beach.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/16/report-heat-re-open-talks-with-greg-odens-agent/

 

[Buckskin86]

Greg Oden - C - POR - Jul. 17

The Pelicans are "poised" to offer free agent Greg Oden a salary of roughly $3 million for the 2013-14 season, sources told Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears.
The Pelicans are expected to meet with Oden and his reps next week, although Oden's not expected to sign anywhere for a few more weeks. The Heat have been in on the former No. 1 overall pick for a while and recently used their amnesty provision on Mike Miller, which gives them much more financial wiggle room. It's unclear what Oden is looking for, but a $3 million salary for next season would be roughly half of what Andrew Bynum got from Cleveland. Jul. 17

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1357&line=211567&spln=1

 

[Buckskin86]

Pelicans eyeing long-sidelined Greg Oden
By Darrell Williams
Special to The Advocate
July 20, 2013

The New Orleans Pelicans are set to offer a two-year contract to injury-plagued former Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, NBC Sports reported Friday.

An NBA source said General Manager Dell Demps has not met with Oden and his agent, Mike Conley Sr., in Las Vegas, where a Pelicans team has been participating in the Summer League, but the team does have interest in Oden. The Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings reportedly have meetings scheduled with Oden.

Messages left for Conley were not returned.

A two-year offer by the Pelicans could put them at the forefront of the pursuit of Oden, who has not played since 2010 ? his second NBA season ? after surgeries on both knees. Other teams, most notably the NBA champion Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, reportedly have offered one-year contracts, preferring to allow Oden to show he has recovered.

New Orleans reportedly is ready to pitch to Oden, 25, that it will allow him to work his way back with little pressure. The Heat and Spurs, who lost to Miami in the NBA Finals, see him as more of an immediate, although limited, contributor.

cont...

http://theadvocate.com/sports/6555689-128/pelicans-eyeing-long-sidelined-greg-oden

 

[Buckskin86]

Greg Oden to host three teams
Updated: July 22, 2013
By Jeff Goodman and Marc Stein | ESPN.com

Greg Oden will host three teams this week as the former No. 1 overall pick nears a decision on where he'll launch his NBA comeback, according to sources with knowledge of the free-agent center's plans.

Sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings will all send representatives this week to watch Oden work out in person.

Sources say that the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks -- which had face-to-face meetings with Oden last week -- also remain in contention for the 7-footer's services. But the Heat and Spurs established themselves as the front-runners to land Oden last month and, according to one source close to the process, remain the co-favorites to sign him.

ESPN.com reported last week that the Cleveland Cavaliers also were in the mix prior to their signing of center Andrew Bynum.

The pursuit of Oden was accelerated last week in Las Vegas when the 25-year-old sat down with representatives from the Mavericks and Kings. A scheduled meeting with the Pelicans in Las Vegas, sources said, was in the process of being rescheduled for this week.

Oden has played just 82 career games in the NBA after being selected by Portland with the top overall pick in the 2007 draft. He hasn't appeared in an NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009, due to numerous knee problems and underwent his third microfracture knee surgery in February 2012.

Miami has actually been considered a leading contender for Oden for months after Heat president Pat Riley hosted him for a two-day visit earlier this year. That was even before Oden's comeback, through workouts back home in Indianapolis or at Ohio State, progressed to the serious stage it has reached now.

cont...

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9...-three-teams-including-miami-heat-sources-say

 

[Buckskin86]

Greg Oden to decide next week where to sign

NBA free-agent center Greg Oden will decide next week where to sign, a league source told Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday.

Oden, 25, has received varying contract offers from the Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks, a source said. All deals are pending Oden passing a physical.

Oden worked out and rehabbed in front of the Kings, Pelicans and Heat in his hometown of Indianapolis on Tuesday. The 90-minute session included drill work, post play and running.

"He's coming along," said one scout who attended the workout. "Good to see him out there working.?

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--greg-oden-to-work-out-for-kings--pelicans-210852018.html

 

[ysubuck]

REALLY hope it's not the Heat.

I'd hate to have to root against Greg as I really want to see him come back and have an NBA career.

That said, my white hot hate for all things LeBitch and Miami make it impossible to wish him success if he dons a Heat jersey.

 

[matcar]

REALLY hope it's not the Heat.

I'd hate to have to root against Greg as I really want to see him come back and have an NBA career.

That said, my white hot hate for all things LeBitch and Miami make it impossible to wish him success if he dons a Heat jersey.

I'd live to see how he and LeBron meshed actually.

 

[WolverineMike]

If he's healthy, he would be HUGE in Miami. Hope it works out for him

 

[buckeyesin07]

If he's healthy, he would be HUGE in Miami. Hope it works out for him

If healthy, he'd be huge anywhere.

 

[Bulls-Eye]

I'd love for him to go to the Heat and/or Spurs. He'd be on national television quite a bit, and be in a productive, championship-level environment that is used to winning and doing things the right way.

I'm not sure that he would fit in that well in San Antonio based on the fact they brought Splitter back, but the Spurs do tend to cut Duncan's minutes quite a bit throughout the season, even sitting him entire games. That could potentially allow Greg to slowly work himself in, and not have to worry at first about too many minutes on back-to-back nights/games.

In Miami, they need a big that can defend and rebound, and if he has continued/does continue to develop his post repertoire he could bring an offensive post presence that has been missing there.

 

[Buckskin86]

Mike Conley believes Sacramento Kings free agent target Greg Oden is ready for a comeback
Jonathan Santiago July 25, 2013 Offseason, Transaction Talk

For Mike Conley, Greg Oden?s struggles haven?t been easy to watch.

Dating back to their days in the hoosier state, Conley grew up on the court with Oden as the two rose meteorically up basketball?s amateur ranks. After winning AAU titles, three Indiana state championships and leading the Ohio State Buckeyes to an appearance in the NCAA Championship game, NBA success for the two seemed like a forgone conclusion.

Unfortunately, that hasn?t been the case for at least one half of this dynamic duo. While Conley has gone on to realize his NBA potential, Oden?s career has been stuck on neutral due to a set of balky, bad knees.

?It?s tough to watch him sitting on the sidelines and not being able to be a part of the game he loves,? Conley told Cowbell Kingdom following day three of USA Basketball?s mini-camp in Las Vegas this week.

Oden might not be on the sidelines for much longer and his return could possibly coincide as a member of the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are reportedly among six teams in the mix for Oden?s services, including the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.

The interest in Oden comes despite a lengthy timeframe since the former No. 1 pick last played an NBA game. Oden hasn?t taken the court since 2009, but ask Conley and Oden?s former AAU, high school and college teammate will tell you that he thinks the 25-year-old big man is ready to return.

?I?d say he?s mentally ready,? Conley said. ?Physically he?s getting there. I think he?ll be there, but mentally he?s never been more prepared and ready to go.?

Though they?ve gone their separate ways in the pros, the two still remain close. They?re both represented by Conley?s father, Mike Conley Sr. and still work out together whenever they have the chance.

Conley?s last visit with the free agent big man was last Thursday when the two were in Ohio. The Memphis Grizzlies guard thought Oden was making good progress on his comeback, but shaking off rust and getting acclimated to the speed of the game are areas in which Conley believes Oden needs a little more work.

?Well obviously, I don?t think he?s all the way back to being used to being on the court,? Conley said. ?I think his explosiveness and his agility has looked better and better as the weeks have went on. And I think it?ll only continue to get better as he gets more acclimated to the game again.

?Obviously, he hasn?t played in so many years,? Conley added. ?So we?ll just have to wait and see if he can reach his full potential.?

cont...

- See more at: http://cowbellkingdom.com/2013/07/2...is-ready-for-a-comeback/#sthash.obwv2bGU.dpuf

 

[Buckskin86]

Heat scout Tim Hardaway says if Miami signs Greg Oden, they?ll win a third straight title
Brett Pollakoff
Jul 29, 2013

It?s only July, but apparently it isn?t too early to make proclamations as to who might win next year?s NBA championship a little more than 11 months from now.

Greg Oden was reported to be impressive in his recent workout in front of personnel representing five NBA teams, so much so that an employee of one of the clubs represented is ready to begin getting sized for a ring should his team be the one that ends up landing Oden?s services.

From Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida:

The Heat remain committed to going after free-agent center Greg Oden, who is expected to make a decision soon. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra and vice president of player personnel Chet Kammerer observed Oden in a workout last week in his hometown of Indianapolis.

?If we get Greg Oden, I think we will win a third (straight) title,? Heat scout Tim Hardaway said in an interview with FOX Sports Florida on Saturday.

One would think that this is precisely the type of pressure situation that Oden wishes to avoid in his NBA return, which appears more and more likely to take place next season.

The reality is that no one knows what Oden will be able to give to a franchise, and that?s especially true when considering his contributions for a team in the playoffs a good nine months from now.

All we know at this moment is that Oden appears to be healthy and in relatively good shape. And until we see him face off against other NBA players in games that actually matter, all judgments need to be reserved, and should probably be kept completely silent.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....-greg-oden-theyll-win-a-third-straight-title/

 

[stowfan]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....-lean-moved-well-in-recent-workout-for-teams/

 

[Buckskin86]

Commentary
Obstacles abound for Oden return
Originally Published: July 29, 2013
By Brian Windhorst | ESPN.com

Tom Lipman
Greg Oden, who hasn't played since 2009, has a lot to weigh before choosing his next NBA team.

He hasn't played in an NBA game in almost four years. He's had five surgeries on his knees, including three dreaded microfracture procedures. He's not in great shape, and he's not even playing five-on-five, at least publicly.

And yet teams just can't help themselves. There's no "if" when it comes to Greg Oden's return to the NBA. It's "when," and that very well could be this week, according to sources.

After hosting several teams -- which included the two that met in June's NBA Finals, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, and other possible playoff teams such as the restructured and renamed New Orleans Pelicans -- for workouts in Indianapolis last week, Oden, now 25 years old, is close to a decision.

"Whenever you see somebody that big move well you can't help but get excited about what he could be," said one team official who has been tracking Oden.

"He needs to get in better shape but that will come," said a coach who attended a recent workout. "He does look pretty good."

2013 FREE AGENTS

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"He's not that far off microfracture [surgery]," a team executive said in regard to Oden, who last had the procedure in February 2012. "He still has a way to go to getting his knee where it needs to be, but there are possibilities."

Oden certainly has the talent. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft, Oden has averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 82 career games. In 21 games in 2009-10, he produced a player efficiency rating (PER) of 23.14, the eighth-best mark in the NBA.

But no player has ever been able to come back after the kind of knee trauma he has endured in his six-year career. Most likely because they would have given up by now.

cont...

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9519116/nba-obstacles-abound-greg-oden-return