Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Not even a month has passed since the NBA Finals and the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat are, once again, engulfed in another postseason battle. And this one could have as big an implication as that epic Game 6.
It could be the difference between another parade down Biscayne Bay and the end of the Big 3.
I know it’s absurd to put that much trust in a guy who hasn’t suited up since 2009 — especially with him coming off of his third microfracture knee surgery. But according to reports, five-to-eight teams are looking at Greg Oden.
And all signs point to the Spurs and Heat having a slight edge in an optimistic pursuit that you really can’t blame either team for taking. Not when the only other option is a big man who hurt himself while bowling. Plus, Andrew Bynum’s asking price would probably be too high for the Heat anyway.
That’s where Oden comes into play.
Before his latest injury, he was actually starting to show the promise that everyone saw when he was a high school star in Indiana. He even put up a career high 24-point, 15-rebound game.
Just half of that production would be huge for the Heat. He could spend the rest of his time leaning on the likes of Roy Hibbert, Joakim Noah and the Brooklyn Nets new front line of Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett.
And it doesn’t hurt that his willingness to come off of the bench fits perfectly with the Miami sacrifice scheme. As far as big men, it might get no better.
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Richard Nurse is a Miami Heat columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @blackirishpr.
