NBA Free Agents 2011: David West, Greg Oden and Injury-Prone Stars Worth a Shot

NBA basketball has been saved, so it’s now safe to come out of the woodwork and start yammering about rumors.

The biggest source of NBA rumor fun so far has been the free agency pool and who will be going where. Some of the biggest names in the mix have checkered pasts when it comes to injuries, but teams can’t look only at that fact.

The following players have a history of injuries, but would be well worth the risk that comes along with their signing.

David West

While the knee injury is a real concern, teams with depth at the forward position and money to spend need to be all over David West.

If a team in contention has West for only half a season healthy, that’s still better than most players in the NBA. While he is not quite a 20-10 man, he is darn close.

Over West’s career as a starter in New Orleans, the star has averaged almost 20 points per game while adding in an impressive seven rebounds

Greg Oden

This move is high-risk/high-reward, but if the Portland Trail Blazers let Oden walk, he will be a hot commodity.

Even with his history of knee issues since his days at Ohio State, the center can be the most dominant player on the court when he is healthy.

While it may be too risky for them, the perfect fit for Oden would be the Miami Heat. The Heat need a big man. Oden fits that mold and at a reasonable price.

Caron Butler

While the Dallas Mavericks went on to win the NBA championship, it was without versatile forward Caron Butler who was sidelined with a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.

Butler tried to make a comeback for the NBA Finals, but could not play. While that is sad for Butler, that means he should be more than ready for this season.

While the Mavericks obviously didn’t need him to win, Butler is the kind of player that could have eased the pressure on his team. He averaged almost 20 points per game and six rebounds over the majority of his career.

Check back for more on the National Basketball Association as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NBA Page to get your fill of all things basketball.

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