NBA Rumors: Re-Signing with Trail Blazers Is Best Move for Greg Oden

Since being drafted with the first overall pick in 2007, Greg Oden has played in a grand total of 82 games. Despite those continued injury woes, the Ohio State product has generated a lot of hype on the post-lockout free-agent market.

However, his best move would be to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers for one season, which is the way he's leaning according to Yahoo's Marc Spears.

It's impossible to blame teams for taking a passing look at Oden. He looks like an NBA center at 7'0'', 285 pounds. There has been enough glimpses of potential to believe he could become a dominant force in the middle should be stay healthy.

He averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 2009-10, which is the last time he played a meaningful game. But even limited minutes couldn't save him from the injury bug as he appeared just 21 times.

Oden needs to spend the next season in Portland to repair his image. A shortened season should help his cause, as will a loaded frontcourt.

Between Marcus Camby, LaMarcus Aldridge and Gerald Wallace, the Blazers have just about every style of big man available. From a dominant defense force in Camby to a terrific spot-up shooter in Aldridge to a tireless worker like Wallace, Oden would stand to learn a lot from his teammates.

That depth would also ensure he isn't leaned on too heavily. He has had more than a year to rest, so there's no reason he should enter training camp at anything less than 100 percent.

If he can manage to play in even 50 of the 66 games, that would be a major victory in his quest to sign a big deal next summer. He's almost reached a level similar to Tracy McGrady. Teams understand he isn't going to be in the lineup every night, but he's still worth a roster spot anyway.

It's tough to watch a player with so much promise struggle so mightily with injuries, especially somebody who should be an All-Star regular. Time and again these stories happen to big men whose bodies just can't handle the wear and tear of an NBA season.

Oden will be given ample opportunity, whether it be with Portland beyond this season or elsewhere, to prove his worth because front offices will remain infatuated with his size. Sooner or later he'll need to illustrate that he can be a consistent contributor, though.

Portland is an underrated team with a lot of young talent, which is the perfect place for him to show he can be a significant contributor on a playoff contender. That makes a one-year deal the perfect plan of attack for Oden.

And if he can learn something from his fellow Trial Blazer big men, all the better.