Greg Oden might not be on the first, second or third tier of top free agents available this summer, but he might be one of the more intriguing players on the market. According to Yahoo! Sports, the 2007 NBA Draft's first overall pick is drawing interest from contenders in the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies. Also interested in the 7'0 big man are the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
NBA free agency rumors: Greg Oden draws interest
Despite being out of the NBA for more than three full seasons, several NBA teams have interest in signing former first overall pick Greg Oden.
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Oden hasn’t played since December of 2009 because of multiple knee injuries and resulting surgeries, but sources close to Yahoo! Sports said that the center is in a “good place” mentally.
The four contenders on the list could offer minimum salaries to Oden to preserve cap space, and with that would be putting little pressure on the center plagued by knee injuries. Miami's lack of a big man has been its only semi-problematic roster issue in two championship seasons, the Spurs risk losing center Tiago Splitter in free agency and could use insurance, and the Pacers could use a backup to starting center Roy Hibbert.
The Grizzlies have a deep big man corps, but Oden joining them would team him with former Ohio State teammate Mike Conley. Cleveland would be enticing because of Oden's familiarity with Ohio.
In Oden's most complete season in 2008-09, he played in 61 games and averaged 8.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for the Portland Trail Blazers.
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