The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly are eying free agents Greg Oden, Andrew Bynum and Andray Blatche. Oden, who last played for the Miami Heat, could be a low risk, high reward option for coach Doc Rivers to bolster his depth in the frontcourt.
Oden returned to the court last season after missing the last three straight years because of multiple knee surgeries. He averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game during the regular season, but he appeared in only three games during the postseason and logged a total of just over seven minutes on the court.
It's uncertain if injury played a definite factor in Oden's lack of playing time during the playoffs, but the Clippers apparently are willing to give the 7-footer another chance in the NBA.
"Clippers to work out back up centers this week. Names that will come (through): Andray Blatche, Greg Oden, Andrew Bynum (and) Emeka Okafor," Jorge Sedano of ESPN Radio tweeted Monday night.
Oden played in only 23 games last season due to his strict rehabilitation regimen, which was designed to ease the former 2007 No. 1 pick back into the grind of playing professional basketball.
Miami signed Oden last summer in hopes he would be healthy and able to contend with Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert, whom Miami has traditionally struggled to matchup against.
Signing Oden would be a low risk, high reward situation for Los Angeles, like he was for Miami when they inked him to a minimum one-year deal with a team option.
Bynum was in a similar situation last season and coming back after missing the 2012-13 season because of knee injuries. Like Oden, Bynum made little impact for the two teams - Indiana and the Cleveland Cavaliers - he played for.
