Report: Greg Oden to sign $1.2 million deal with China’s Jiangsu Dragons
Former No. 1 pick Greg Oden will sign with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Jiangsu Dragons, the team announced on Monday.
RealGM.com reported a translated version of the news and noted Oden is expected to sign a one-year, $1.2 million deal.
Oden, 27, did not play last season after spending 2013–14 with the Miami Heat. He was reportedly attempting a NBA comeback with workouts for the Charlotte Hornets and Dallas Mavericks in June, but did not receive a contract offer. Oden also returned to his alma mater, Ohio State, in March to work out and possibly jumpstart a NBA comeback.
• Sixers’s Joel Embiid to have season-ending foot surgery Tuesday
Oden, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, has battled injuries throughout his career. He sat out the 2007 season for the Blazers after having microfracture surgery on his right knee in September 2007, but continued to face knee and foot injuries and was limited to 82 games over his two seasons with the Blazers.
Oden sat out three seasons from 2010 to 2013 before signing with the Heat for the 2013–2014 season. In 23 games (six starts), he averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds over 9.2 minutes.
- Mike Fiammetta
