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Greg Oden To Take Part In Dallas Mavericks Mini-Camp

By Mark Vandeusen

Feb 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Miami Heat center Greg Oden (20) fouls Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter (25) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Miami Heat center Greg Oden (20) fouls Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Vince Carter (25) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s been over a year since Greg Oden played in an NBA game, but the one-time Ohio State Buckeye star is working on yet another comeback, via Shams Charania of RealGM:

"“As Greg Oden attempts a return in the NBA, the former No. 1 overall pick worked out for the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday and will visit the Dallas Mavericks this week, league sources told RealGM.Oden will be part of the Mavericks’ free-agent mini-camp that includes wings and several big men, such as Keith Benson. The 7-foot Oden had worked out for the Memphis Grizzlies in the spring, and the franchise is expected to continue to monitor him.”"

When last we saw Oden, he was logging a single minute of action in a blowout loss in Game 4 of the 2014 NBA Finals as a member of the Miami Heat.

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Oden was drafted in 2007, but played in parts of just three NBA seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10 with the Portland Trail Blazers, and 2013-14 with the Heat). Over the course of his career, Oden has taken the floor in only 105 total games. With Miami in 2013-14, Oden averaged 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest.

Does Oden have any chance of actually nailing down a roster spot on the Mavs (or somewhere else) in 2015-16?  Probably not–although, amazingly he is still just 27 years old.  ESPN’s Tim MacMahon writes:

"“Ohio State coach Thad Matta, who coached Oden during his one season in college, told reporters at the NCAA tournament in Portland that Oden had been doing “high-level training” on campus for sixth months and had slimmed down to about 280 pounds.“Quite honestly, I haven’t seen Greg look this good since when he played for us back in the day at Ohio State,” Matta said in March. “His attitude is off the charts.”The Mavs attempted to sign Oden for the veteran’s minimum in the summer of 2013. He later said his decision came down to Miami or Dallas.”"

If Oden doesn’t get a shot with the Mavericks next year, it stands to reason that Memphis might be a possibility due to the presence of point guard Mike Conley. Not only were Oden and Conley teammates at Ohio State, they also played together in middle school and high school in Lawrence, Indiana, and have been close friends since childhood.

They each left Ohio State after their freshman season, with Oden taken first in the draft and Conley fourth. From that point on, their careers went in drastically different directions. Could a reunion be in the cards for 2015-16?

Next: Draft Lottery Success Does Not Lead To Championships

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