Greg Oden will be making his comeback to the NBA by bringing his talents to South Beach as the newest member of the Miami Heat.
Oden choose the two-time defending champion Heat as his new team on Friday night, bringing an end to a month long recruiting process which culminated with the former No.1 draft pick spending his entire week making his final selection from a list of six suitors.
Oden will report to the Heat on Monday and, according to sources close to the process, sign a two-year deal at the league minimum with a player option for Year 2.
The contract will pay $1.03 million in 2013-14 and $1.14 million in 2014-15 if Oden picks up that option. The 25-year-old has earned nearly $24 million in salary since being drafted No. 1 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007 but has appeared in only 82 career NBA games because of his many knee troubles.
Oden said he came to the conclusion that the Heat were the "best fit" after meeting with Heat officials, who made it clear to him that he "wouldn't be needed as much early in the season" as he works his way back from more than three years out of the NBA.
"When I had a conversation with Coach [Erik] Spoelstra and hearing how much he knew about the training stuff that I was already doing, it kind of made me feel like they know what's best for me," Oden said.
Oden added: "I'm not going to sit here and say I'm 100 percent. I am moving [well] and I am feeling good, but I have a lot of work to do."
Throughout his injury plagued career he has averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 82 career games and has been working out in both Columbia and Indianapolis this past offseason.
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