Free agent Greg Oden is close to picking a team, according to ESPN sources. In what could be his last week as a free agent, the Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings are sending representatives to watch the 7-footer work out.
The workouts follow Oden's face-to-face last week with the Dallas Mavericks, which remains a contender for him. Despite the growing number of teams interested in Oden, an ESPN source close to him said the Heat and Spurs remain the center's top choices.
Teams are using a variety of pitches to land the 25-year-old, according to multiple ESPN sources. Miami has the allure of playing on a championship team with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. It also hosted Oden earlier this year, before his comeback began in earnest, for a two-day visit.
Dallas is still pursuing Oden, despite signing Samuel Dalembert last week. Cuban and the Mavs tried to appeal to Oden's health with their longtime Team USA Trainer, Casey Smith.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is using its small market status to lure him. The Pelicans are pitching Oden the idea that playing in New Orleans would let him make his comeback away from the spotlight and without intense media scrutiny. Coach Monty Williams, once a Portland Trail Blazers assistant when Oden was there, is another persuading factor.
The Kings are considered a long-shot, and the Cleveland Cavaliers have seemingly stopped pursuing Oden upon signing Andrew Bynum.
Oden, the first-overall pick of the 2007 NBA draft, has had his career derailed by repeated injuries. He had his third microfracture knee surgery in February 2012, and he hasn't played in an NBA game since December 2009. He sat out the entire 2012-13 season to focus on rehab.
He could be a huge boon for any team if he can stay healthy.
