NBA Free Agents 2012: Why the Phoenix Suns Should Sign Greg Oden

After a star-studded collegiate stint at Ohio State University, Greg Oden's career in the NBA has been nothing short of a disaster.

The plethora of surgeries that Oden has undergone in recent years have nearly become too numerous to count. Hindsight is always 20-20, but Portland Trail Blazers fans must be kicking themselves for the team's decision to draft Oden over Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant.

Since being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2007 NBA draft, Oden has only managed to play in 82 total games. Oden's NBA career hit an all-time low recently, when the Blazers decided to waive the seven-footer.

Oden has said that he does not want to retire, so what team should take a chance on the big man?

To me, there's no debate—the Phoenix Suns should target Oden.

With his shopping-list length rap sheet of injury troubles, Oden could be targeted at a cheap price, and if the Suns are smart, they can create an incentive-laden contract that only guarantees the big fella money if he actually sees court time.

If any team in the NBA can return Oden to being a promising NBA talent, it's the Suns and their amazing training staff.

Head athletic trainer Aaron Nelson has gained notoriety as the best trainer in the NBA after taking over for Suns legend, and Ring of Honor member, Joe Proski for the job in July 2000.

Nelson's ability to rehabilitate athletes has become the stuff of legend in the eyes of Suns fans.

Grant Hill is one such success story.

After enduring multiple ankle surgeries and surviving a staph infection, Hill's career seemed just about over. There was no way that a player like Hill, with the injuries he suffered through, could ever imagine playing at a high level well into his 30s.

Fast-forward to Hill's career with the Suns. In his first four seasons in purple and orange, Hill played in 70 games, 82 games, 81 games and 80 games, respectively. His durability at such an advanced age, after all he's been through, has been a marvel to behold. Credit the Suns training staff.

Another player that comes to mind is Shaquille O'Neal.

Before his short stint with Phoenix, the Big Aristotle was often seen in street clothes for the Miami Heat. Staying healthy had become a struggle for O'Neal, who played in just 40 games during the '06-'07 season with Miami.

In his first full season with the Suns however, O'Neal played in 75 of the team's 82 regular-season games, the highest total for the Diesel since the '99-'00 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played 79 games.

Shaq even made a point to credit the Suns training staff for rejuvenating his health and his career.

Yet another player the Suns have managed to reincarnate is Michael Redd. Many fans believed Redd's career to be over after he tore his ACL and MCL in his knee for the second time.

However, during the lockout-shortened season, the Suns took a chance by signing the sharp-shooter.

Although he has played sparingly trying to find a spot in the rotation while learning a new offensive system this season, he's managed to play in 40 games (two of them starts).

Despite not seeing a great deal of court time, Redd has been a feel-good story thus far for the Suns, averaging 7.6 points and even notching 20-plus points three times this season.

So why not take a chance on Oden?

Robin Lopez appears poised to become a free agent this offseason, and his career thus far with the Suns has been tumultuous at best. So there is a spot on this team for a new big man.

Even if Oden assumes the role of backup center behind Most Improved Player candidate Marcin Gortat, he'd give the Suns something they haven't had in a long time: a defensive presence.

If any training staff in the league can turn Oden's fortunes around, it's that of Aaron Nelson and the Suns.

At worst, Oden is back to square one hoping for another team to take a chance on him. But at best? At best the Suns training staff will once again rejuvenate a reeling NBA athlete and add a former No. 1 overall selection.

I think that going after Oden is a roll of the dice the Suns can afford to make.