Greg Oden is looking to return to the NBA, and it could happen as soon as this season. And rumors (and some truths) about where he will go are heating up.
Oden is a 7-foot-0 center and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft. He was selected by Portland one spot ahead of Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant.
But three microfracture knee surgeries later, Oden is out of the game and taking classes at Ohio State. His agent, Mike Conley Sr., told FOX Sports Florida he is “100 percent” certain Oden will play in the NBA again next season.
"He's rehabbing and doing very well," Conley said.
Numerous teams are said to be willing to give Oden a chance, including world champion Miami. But Conley told FS Florida reports of a mutual interest between Oden and the Heat are “extreme.” Conley added he has not had any talks with the Heat.
Some teams are rumored to have worked out Oden already, including Cleveland, Atlanta and Memphis. But the teams, nor those close to Oden, will confirm those reports.
Others reportedly with a strong interest in Oden include Milwaukee, Chicago, Golden State and San Antonio.
“I think when he comes back, maybe five or six or seven months after that, he should return to the type of player he should have been," Conley told FS Florida.
"It will take some time to get his conditioning back. I think that when he comes back to playing in the NBA, he will have the ability to be an All-Star.”
Oden missed his entire rookie season, then played 61 games in 2008-09. However, he has not played since Dec. 1, 2009 -- a 13-point, 20-rebound game for the Trail Blazers vs. the Heat.
Oden, 24, played just one season at Ohio State and led the Buckeyes to the 2007 national championship game, where they lost to Florida. He owns NBA career averages of 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Twitter: @SamAmicoFSO
