HoopsHype.com Rumors

"I don't think (he'd be ready to play this year)," Ainge said. "I don't know any of that for sure, but I would suspect that anybody that would sign him would have their eyes looking more towards his contribution in the future than now." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Danny Ainge, Greg Oden 

Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick in 2007 who hasn't played in an NBA game since 2009 due to a litany of knee injuries, is aiming for a comeback. Part of Oden's plan is to sign with a team in the next month and get into a training and conditioning program with an eye toward returning to the floor next season. The Celtics are among the teams monitoring Oden's progress, and sources tell CBSSports.com's Jeff Goodman that the Spurs and Cavaliers have expressed interest, too. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

I think a lot of teams are going to take a look at Greg Oden next summer, but no one team tops his list, including the Heat. Oden is not even going to start compiling a list of teams until he is 100 percent healthy. If he can't get there, he won't come back. Too many false starts, one source with knowledge of Oden's plans said late last week. There is no timeline. Oden is still in Columbus, where he's taking classes at Ohio State. NBA.com

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Injuries, Greg Oden 

Count the Dallas Mavericks among the list of NBA teams who are keeping an eye on former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden. ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst reported Thursday that Oden, the big man whose career with the Portland Trail Blazers was derailed by serious knee injuries, plans to return to the NBA and play next season. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

A source told ESPNDallas.com that the Mavs have been among the teams in contact with Oden's agent, Mike Conley Sr., while the 7-footer rehabs from his third microfracture surgery and takes classes at Ohio State. Oden still has significant work to do to get healthy enough to make a comeback, but ESPN.com reported that multiple teams have expressed interest in signing him to a multiyear deal this season that would allow him to continue rehabbing under the franchise's supervision until training camp. The Miami Heat are at the front of the list, ESPN.com reported. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

A report by ESPN.com on Thursday said that the Heat has shown interest in possibly signing former Trail Blazers center Greg Oden if Oden attempts a comeback. Oden’s agent, Mike Conley Sr., told The Miami Herald on Thursday that the Heat has “never asked about Greg.” “They have never made a single call about him,” Conley said. “It’s strange this story [comes out] because I spoke to them this week about Daequan Cook before he signed with Chicago. They never asked about Greg.” Miami Herald

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

The agent for center Greg Oden said Thursday he's "100 percent" certain his often-injured client will be back playing in the NBA next season. But he said rumors of Oden ending up with the Miami Heat this season in order to rehab are "extreme." FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Injuries, Greg Oden 

"Greg Oden will be playing in the NBA next season, I'm 100 percent sure of that," Conley said of his client, who turns 25 on Jan. 22 and hasn't played in an NBA game since December 2009. "But I haven't had any talks with the Heat. I have talked to several teams (that Conley wouldn't name). I would call (rumors Oden could end up in Miami this season) extreme." FOXSports Florida

Free Agency, Injuries, Greg Oden 

Nearly a year removed from his latest knee surgery, former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden has decided to resume his playing career but is not planning to return to the NBA before the 2013- 14 season, according to sources close to the situation. Sources told ESPN.com that multiple teams have already expressed interest in signing Oden to a multi-year deal before the end of this season that would allow him to continue his rehab until he can get back on the court in training camp next fall. ESPN.com

Free Agency, Greg Oden 

The Miami Heat are at the front of the line in pursuing Oden, two sources said, and have been keeping tabs as he recovers while also taking classes at Ohio State. Sources say that the Heat, though, are not alone in their pursuit of the former No. 1 overall pick. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

In attempting another comeback, Oden's camp is planning to take a very conservative approach. So the plan is for him to sit out the rest of this season and summer league to make sure he allows himself the best chance of finally getting healthy. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

Someone asked in my Comcast/NBC chat yesterday about Greg Oden and whether he'd ever play again. I'm told by Mike Conley, his college teammate at Ohio State, that Greg is back in Columbus, taking classes and trying to get into playing shape and that he hopes to be available to hit the free-agent market and join a team before the end of this season. If he can't get his body right by then or there isn't sufficient interest, he intends to take another shot at it next fall. The takeaway: Oden hasn't given up on resuming his -- or, perhaps more accurately, having a -- NBA career. Sulia

Free Agency, Greg Oden 

After three microfracture knee surgeries, free agent center Greg Oden is not a lock to ever play again. But if his comeback is complete and he signs with a team this summer, count the Wolves as interested. 1500 ESPN

Minnesota Timberwolves, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

Chris Haynes: Nicolas Batum says yesterday he had dinner w/former #Blazers Greg Oden. Batum says he looks good & is planning a return to NBA next season. Twitter @ChrisBHaynes

Portland Trail Blazers, Greg Oden, Nicolas Batum 

Alex Kennedy: Greg Oden is still available. Don't be surprised if he signs at some point during this season. At 24, he's a low-risk, high-reward signing. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Free Agency, Greg Oden 

He remains optimistic and views Leandro Barbosa‘s late signing with the Boston Celtics and Eddy Curry signing with Dallas just days before the start of the season as hope that he’ll, too, soon find a new home. “Ultimately, I have to stay ready, which I am, as far as in the gym, and stay positive,” Howard said. “I don’t think my career’s over.” Other notable players still looking for a team: Guards: Derek Fisher, Gilbert Arenas (in talks with Chinese team), Baron Davis, Earl Boykins, Mickael Pietrus, Michael Redd, Maurice Evans, Jason Kapono. Forwards/Centers: Kenyon Martin, Shawne Williams, Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons, Bill Walker, Jamario Moon, Renaldo Balkman, Ryan Gomes, Troy Murphy, Josh Powell, Derrick Caracter, Ben Wallace, Greg Oden, Sean Williams, Tony Battie, Mehmet Okur. NBA.com

Free Agency, Michael Redd, Derek Fisher, Gilbert Arenas, Troy Murphy, Kenyon Martin, Mickael Pietrus, Derrick Caracter, Bill Walker, Ryan Gomes, Josh Powell, Shawne Williams, Josh Howard, Ben Wallace, Sean Williams, Leandro Barbosa, Jamario Moon, Mehmet Okur, Quentin Richardson, Jason Kapono, Tony Battie, Baron Davis, Greg Oden, Earl Boykins, Renaldo Balkman, Bobby Simmons, Maurice Evans 

Bob Baptist of the Columbus Dispatch briefly notes that former Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, who is still recovering from multiple knee surgeries earlier this year, was back in the gym this week with his alma mater, The Ohio State University Buckeyes. "...Aside from Greg Oden riding an exercise bike off to the side and, afterward, shooting flat-footed in the lane, here are some of my first impressions for the 2012-13 season..." Blazers Edge

Injuries, Greg Oden 

One NBA GM listed three teams he considers frontrunners for Greg Oden (in no order): Spurs, Pacers and Magic. The GM made sure to stress, however, "that's just my best guess." Oden is currently back at Ohio State, working toward a degree in sports and leisure. Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

An unrestricted free agent, the 7-foot Oden disputed Internet reports that he wants to play for the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat and that he intends to play next season. These rumors were fueled by a si.com report that quoted his agent, Mike Conley Sr., saying Oden “has talked about Miami.” Oden’s denial doesn’t mean he is ruling out a return in 2012-13, but he stressed that it’s unlikely. Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Free Agency, Greg Oden 

“I would love to play [in 2012-13], but I’m not going to rush anything,” he said Thursday. “I need to take a year off. What I told Mike was ‘Look, I want to get back with a team. I want to play. If there’s a chance that later on in the [NBA] year, if I feel good or if I’m healthy enough to play, I would love to play this year.’ That’s the conversation we had. I think some people kinda blew that up and took his words and kinda changed them around. I know I need to get healthy first before I do anything.” Terre Haute Tribune-Star

Free Agency, Greg Oden