Greg Oden has played fewer minutes in his six-year career than Anthony Davis did in his rookie season with the New Orleans Hornets, but that didn’t stop the Hornets and many other teams from offering Oden a multi-year contract.
After drawing much interest from the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and Hornets, Oden ultimately decided to agree to a two-year contact with the two-time defending NBA champions, worth the NBA minimum, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein. The deal also gives Oden a player option after his first year, allowing the former Ohio State standout to remain with the team or pursue other options.
Since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 NBA Draft, Oden has battled knee injuries that have caused him to miss most of his professional career. The 25-year-old has undergone five separate knee surgeries since being drafted, and has only played in 82 total games over the six-year span.
Oden has not played in an NBA game since 2010, but the Miami Heat are in dire need of a big man presence. If Oden can manage to stay healthy for an extended period of time, this could be a significant signing for the back-to-back champions.
