Greg Oden ‘Open’ to Long-Term Deal from the Blazers


According to Greg Oden’s agent, the chronically-injured big man is willing to let Portland lavish him with a fat contract. Of course he is. From the Oregonian: “The clock on Greg Oden’s uncertain future with the Trail Blazers officially started ticking Monday. The Dallas Mavericks’ championship victory Sunday night triggered the start of a deadline for the Blazers to tender an $8.8 million qualifying offer to the soon-to-be free agent center. The Blazers, who did not extend an offer Monday, have until June 30 to do so. Assuming they do — and the Blazers have given indications they will — Oden will become a restricted free agent on July 1, which means the Blazers will have the upperhand in resigning the former No. 1 overall draft pick who’s brief NBA career has been marred by injuries and surgeries. It’s common for teams to delay extending qualifying offers until the deadline nears, so it was not a big shock that the Blazers did not make a move Monday. Even Oden’s camp did not expect it. ‘I’m sure they’re going to hold off doing anything until the end,’ said Mike Conley, Oden’s agent … If interest is minimal, they can simply sign him to the one-year $8.8 million deal. They can also offer and sign Oden to a multiyear contract, gambling that the player who has played in just 82 games and endured three knee surgeries during his four-year career is destined for a long and healthy return. Oden, it seems, is open to a long-term return to Portland. ‘That would be fantastic,’ Conley said of a multiyear deal. ‘We would definitely be excited about that.’ As for the free agent market, Conley said he expects his client to receive a heavy dose of interest.”