[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/7314740/portland-trail-blazers-greg-oden-drawing-interest-miami-heat-sources-say

The Heat could offer Oden the FULL MLE exception of $5 million per season. Oden has a big doctor’s appointment soon where doctors will clear him for contact.

THOUGHTS?

[marcusfizer21Participant]

 Professionally, I would say that he would be a perfect fit for a Heat team that lacks inside presence. I’m not saying he’s the answer to Miami’s woes but he is obviously an upgrade over Joel Anthony who produces NOTHING on offense. Greg’s job will be made easier because he is surrounded by guys like LeBron, Wade and Bosh. I see him average 10 and 10 should he ever wear a Heat uniform. It would be a good way to resuscitate a career that has been marred by numerous injuries at such an early age. I want to see Greg Oden play again, I don’t care if he stays or leaves Portland, I just wanna see the kid play and get his confidence back.

Yet, on a personal level, I will hate it if Miami does acquire him… I’m not a Heat fan and adding him would be utterly frustrating as a Bulls fan. It will make the Heat more dangerous than ever. I hate seeing them succeed. That’s just my personal thought. 

Overall, I would like to see GO play but sometimes things happen and even if we expect a production of some sort, his unfortunate injuries have made us doubt if he could ever go and complete a season… Oden is still 23 and has long ways to go, I hope he does prove his naysayers wrong and if Miami is the place for him to do that, then be my guest… As a Bulls fan, I just hate seeing it…

[PennycentsParticipant]

It dosnt suprise me I figured they would at least consider oden as a possibility to bring d and rebounding at a cheaper rate but I personally think delembert is a better option and the safer option but hey I’m not pat reily

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I can’t stand the Heat, but love Greg Oden… This would put me in a very interesting spot lol.

To be honest, I don’t think the Blazers will let him go. $20-25 million for Oden over four or five years (can’t remember what the new CBA is), is very affordable. He’s worth the investment despite his history. He’s only 23 and the young do heal.

IF the Heat were to get him and he finally got healthy, this would be ugly for the rest of the NBA for the next several years. Because make no mistake about it, Oden can be the second best defensive big and rebounder in the NBA behind Dwight Howard. And he’s not bad offensively either.

[NickWayne87Participant]

 and he plays just half the time it’s a wrap for the rest of the league…..that’s some scary ish to even think about.

[M-DYMESParticipant]

"and he plays just half the time it’s a wrap for the rest of the league…..that’s some scary ish to even think about."

Ideally yes, but Oden still has to show he can stay healthy, otherwise come playoff time your stuck in the same position as last year.  I’m looking @ Bosh, and if he can play the way he did in the playoffs and improve upon that come postseason, this team will be taking a hard long look at a title. 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

That would just be Pat Riley and Mickey Arison’s way of saying thank you to Paul Allen his part in taking away 8 home gates from their season. What next, Dwyane and LeBron are announced that they will get the night off before they play in Charlotte?

[fastdanParticipant]

If I was Miami I wouldn’t let him play a game until playoffs. They are going to be a 2 seed at least in the east, so just save him until it counts.

But in reality, Portland would have no problem matching an MLE offer. Highly unlikely he goes anywhere this year. He owes it to the Blazers and to the fans to give some production.

[TyroberParticipant]

 This is a silly rumor. If the Blazers are willing to give him the qualifying option for $9million just for one year then they would definitely match a 4 year 20 million dollar deal. I would love for the HEAT to land Oden, but I don’t see how the Blazers let him go.

[McDunkin]

Wait until Bosh sees those notorious pics of Greg

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

Same reason why the Pacers are not going to sign Marc Gasol away from the Grizzlies. Seeing that the Blazers are offering Greg the qualifying option (8.9 million), than I feel he takes it and becomes an unrestricted free agent come summer 2012. 

[HitsterParticipant]

A lot could depend on whether Greg wants the security of a longer contract, if he takes one year and breaks down again he could be done but say $20 million over 4 years gives him some nice extra assurance.

It would be scary if Oden could live up to the hype in a Heat uniform,you could see multiple titles go there. But personally I just want to see Greg fit and playing again, the guy deserves a run clear of injury. 

[GrandmamaParticipant]

I think it’s a pretty low risk, extremely high reward acquisition if the Heat get Oden.  He still has a lot of potential, and if he can stay healthy and develop into a huge presence on defense, then the Heat would be even that much better.  If it doesn’t work out, you aren’t investing too much money into him.  The reward greatly outweights the risk.  I hate the Heat and I hope it doesn’t happen, the thought of Oden developing into a key contributor in Miami is scary.

[aamir543Participant]

I think that the Blazers will definatly match the offer, but if the Heat get Oden even next year, than boy is very, very scary. He never relied too heavily on athleticism, and if he can get every thing back on track, than why can’t he get 16 and 12 in a couple years?

[canesboy6Participant]

 Lifelong Heat fan, I don’t wan’t Oden. As has been said, if he gets hurt we are SOL and he gets hurt all the time. We need a sure thing. I’m not sold on Dalembert either, he is getting old and has been a locker room problem in the past, not to mention he isn’t a specifically good player. I don’t see a big difference between Kwame Brown and Dalembert personally, if we can get Brown for the Bi- Annual exception thing, and still find a way to have a full mid level, we are in good shape. The WildCard in all of this is the Amnesty, it remains to be seen who will become available, and the only way to be eligible to sign them is to be under the luxury tax, so we might have to postpone our signings for a bit. I’ve also heard Bosh has put on weight and committed to being a center. That would allow us to start Haslem, and I think that would be fine for the regular season but come playoff time we need a competent 7 footer.

Priorities

1. Amnesty Miller. Sucks for Arrison, but if he is willing to do it, its a no brainer. Just eat your losses early rather than wish you did later.

2. Resign Chalmers. He isn’t my favorite but he is pretty close to competent and its a weak PG class. He can play d, hit 3’s, but he needs to learn what his job is. He is a bad penetrator, but hasn’t figured that out yet. I think somebody might overpay him though and we can’t match that. Gotta try with James Jones too but I love that guy and kind of want him to make his money and take a midlevel deal elsewhere. He deserves it.

3. Adress the Center Position. I’d be ok with Dalembert, but I’m not sure that we can afford him. Kwame isn’t worth our full mid-level, but if we can get him for the 3.5 Luxury midlevel later in the game once we’ve signed everybody else maybe thats a good deal. If we miss on Dalembert, we have to try to get at least a fringe starter for the Bi Annual $1.9 mill. Jeff Foster or a guy like that comes to mind. I have no idea what we will get from Pittman, Anthony is a known commodity but better off the bench. We gotta be creative though, theres guys like Chris Kaman, Aaron Gray, Brad Miller, Zaza out there that can give you competent minutes at the 5.

4. Grant Hill, Mcgrady, Vince Carter, Or Battier. We need to find a way to get one of them for the minimum

5. Get an athlete or 2 from D-League. Put your scouts to work and bring in a guy nobody is looking at. We could use some legs out there, loose balls, hustle plays were a weakness last year. We have room on the wings and for 1 more post. Give the right hungry young guy a chance, maybe try out a few throughout the season.

All in all, I think its important that we bring in a PG, a vet on the wing, and Athlete on the Wing, At least a fringe starter at C, and an athlete in the post. Defense Defense Defense with these signings.

[NCarmean18Participant]

The Heat seem to be another good shooter and a center away from a championship-calibur team.  They went out and drafted Norris Cole, a guard from Cleveland State who could definitely score the basketball.  Now, that just leaves a center.  If they decided to use their MLE on Greg Oden and he could actually stay healthy, than he could probably be the player that gets them over the top based on the potential he has.  He can go in and rebound the ball well and when the defense is focused on LeBron penetrating to the basket LeBron can dump it off in the air to Oden for an easy deuce.  I honestly think that this would be the best thing for Miami to do, because they need a center and most of the ones in this free agency are out of their price range considering the contracts the gave to Chris Bosh and Mike Miller.

If Miami wants to win this year and prove that LeBron can win a ring, they need to get Oden to have the best chance possible, in my personal opinion.

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