Greg Oden Rumors to Miami Heat: Ex Draft Pick to Team With LeBron James

Former top draft-pick and oft-injured NBA center Greg Oden is taking his talents to South Beach, ESPN reports.

The 25-year-old big man has let it be known he plans to formally ink a two-year deal with the back-to-back champion Miami Heat sometime next week and LeBron James is the primary reason why.

“Obviously the chance to play with the best player in the world and compete for a championship was a big selling point," Oden told reporters. "But more than that, what I really liked was how they thought I could really add something to their team. They’ve won back-to-back championships without me, so for them to pursue me as hard as they did meant a lot, especially given all that I’ve gone through."

Oden chose the Heat over San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, Sacramento and Atlanta. While he admits he’s not sure when he’ll actually be able to play in games, he intimated adrenaline along could have him ready come opening night.  

"I could be ready to go but it's still a work in progress," he told ESPN. "My minutes and amount of playing time and all that is going to have to be monitored."

Oden said James was part of the contingent of Heat personnel recruiting him, texting him on several occasions and letting him now he felt there was definitely a place in South Beach for him.

"The Heat are in the spotlight, what can I say?" Oden said. "But for them to come after me with all the stuff I've been going through -- for them to think I can still be an important piece of their team -- I'm really excited about that. The scrutiny ... that's going to be there with any team I signed with. I just want to play."

Since being selected as the top pick by Portland in 2007, Oden has played in just 82 games. He last played in an NBA game in 2009 and underwent his third career microfracture knee surgery as recently as February 2012.

 

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