NBA Free Agency: Miami Heat Have Strong Interest in Greg Oden
By Chris Roling
The Miami Heat are but one team in NBA free agency that has a serious interest in Greg Oden. Reports say the Heat are offering as much , if not more than both the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs for his services.
ESPN’s Marc Stein says the Heat are right there in terms of money, which is good because Oden will not take less cash to play for the Heat like others have in the past:
Hearing strongly that Miami still needs to be in same zip code w/Spurs & Cavs in Greg Oden's free-agent thinking. Heat right there, I'm told
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2013
It’s no shock Oden is drawing so much interest considering he is 7’0″ and 270 pounds. He could be a difference maker under the rim on defense if he can stay healthy.
Of course, that has always been the biggest question with Oden. Can he stay healthy? Injuries are the reason he has not played a possession in the NBA since 2009.
The Heat could use a big man like Oden on the interior of the defense next to Chris Bosh to fend off wings attacking the basket. He will not have to do much on the offensive side of things, which is just fine as long as he can bang down low.
Keep an eye on this one. Who would have thought Greg Oden would be starting a bidding way in 2013.
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