Report: Cavaliers Ready To Offer Former Blazers C Greg Oden Multi-Year Contract

Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers are getting ready to offer former Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden a multi-year contract.

The Cavs are expected to offer free agent center Greg Oden a two-year contract with a team option for a third year after the Feb. 21 trade deadline passes, a league source said. The Cavs have about $4 million in cap space, which they are preserving now for potential trades. Teams around the league don't want to sign Oden until after the trade deadline.

Oden is living nearby in Columbus. His agent, Mike Conley Sr., said last week Oden has been to see the Cavs a couple of times already, but was evasive when pressed as to what capacity.

"Greg has been up there (to Cleveland) before and he'll probably be up there again in an official capacity," Conley said Friday.

Last week, Oden met with the Boston Celtics. He's been repeatedly linked to the Cavaliers and the Miami Heat in recent reports and this latest round of comeback talk was kicked off by a report that initially tied him to the Heat. Back in December, it was reported that Oden has lost significant weight as he rehabilitates from his latest round of knee surgeries. Also in December, Blazers forward Nicolas Batum said Oden still wants to play in the NBA.

Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in February 2012. In May 2012, he underwent Orthokine treatment on both of his knees. He hasn't played in an NBA game since December 2009 and was released by the Blazers in March 2012.

Oden, 25, holds career averages of 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 82 appearances.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter