The New Orleans Pelicans remain in the hunt to expand their roster with 25-year-old free agent center Greg Oden.
The two sides are still in touch, and New Orleans will have representatives on hand this week to watch Oden host a workout in Indianapolis.
However the Pels have competition: The Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings will also reportedly personally evaluate how successful the 7-foot Ohio State superstar’s comeback will be after battling multiple knee issues. The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks are interested too, according to those close to the situation.
The Portland Trailblazers selected Oden first in the 2007 NBA Draft, but five knee surgeries have taken their toll. Oden hasn’t played in the NBA since 2009.
The Crescent City offers some benefits for Oden, although they’re not as shiny as the Heat’s championship rings. Executives for the Pels are expected to try to sell Oden on a young team brimming with promise and the familiarity he’ll enjoy with former Blazers assistant/now Pels head coach Monty Williams. New Orleans may also offer a friendlier fan base setting for Oden to test his knee out and work back into the NBA grind.
