The number one pick of the 2007 NBA draft looking to restart his career at the South Beach
After nearly a month of recruiting by as many as six NBA suitors, Greg Oden, the number one draft pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, has finally decided that two times defending champions Miami Heat present the best opportunity for him to make a comeback.
The former Portland Trail Blazer player has been plagued with chronic knee issues so far in his career, playing just 82 since joining the league is a testament to that fact. The centre hasn’t played a game since Dec 5, 2009 and underwent his third micro fracture knee surgery in February 2012. There was a time when it was rumoured that Oden is planning to call it quits, but the big man is apparently willing to give his dream another shot.
Oden is expected to sign up with the Heat on Monday, in a contract which will pay him $1.03 million in 2013-14 and $1.14 million in 2014-15, with the second year being a player option. In a recent interview, Oden revealed that he still doesn’t think he is a 100 percent fit.
"I'm not going to sit here and say I'm 100 percent. I am moving [well] and I am feeling good, but I have a lot of work to do."
He added that a major part of his decision to choose Heat over the likes of San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, Sacramento and Atlanta, was the understanding which was shown by Heat, especially head coach Erik Spoelstra.
"I could be ready to go but it's still a work in progress," Oden said. "My minutes and amount of playing time and all that is going to have to be monitored."
"When I had a conversation with Coach [Erik] Spoelstra and hearing how much he knew about the training stuff that I was already doing, it kind of made me feel like they know what's best for me," Oden said.
The addition of a healthy Oden could really boost the Miami Heat front court, which desperately needs the presence of a big man to prop up the rebounding numbers. Last season, this responsibility solely rested on the shoulders of Chris Bosh and Chris Anderson, and the duo was found wanting at times.
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