Miami Heat center Greg Oden is moving closer to playing in his first basketball game in four years as sources with the Miami Heat indicate the former first overall pick is likely to be cleared for full practice work next week.
ESPN.com is reporting that the 7 foot center, the top overall pick in 2007 ahead of Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant, may play in one of the final preseason games of the Miami Heat, which took a gamble on the oft-injured Oden after he was released by the team that drafted him, the Portland Trailblazers.
"The next step for me now is just doing some five-on-five work and just getting out there," Oden was quoted by ESPN.com. "Every little step for me, I just get excited. I just want to get out there and do more and more, get my wind back, get my legs back under me. I'm hoping in the next couple of weeks I'll be able to get a couple of minutes out there."
The website also reports that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is not ruling out the possibility that Oden may be fielded in one of the five remaining preseason games of the team especially if there is no more recurring swelling in the center's knees which have been repaired multiple times in the last five years.
The Heat remain cautious on Oden, preferring to make a long-term approach to the center's comeback. Yet there are good indications that Oden is coming back strong after he participated in four-on-four scrimmage sessions and did not report any concerns with his surgically repaired knees.
The Heat hope Oden will become valuable in the playoffs and provide a defensive presence inside, matching up with the likes of Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers and Brooke Lopez of the Brooklyn Nets.
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