Multiple sources have reported that Greg Oden will sign the Portland Trail Blazers’ $8.9 million qualifying offer on Friday.
The reports indicate that Oden’s agent, Bill Duffy, has said that the center will sign the one-year deal that will make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2011-2012 season.
Oden, who is coming off microfracture surgery that sidelined him for the entire season last year, would have been eligible to start receiving offers from other teams on Friday had he not signed the deal. Portland would have had three days to match whatever offer he received — but that is now a non-issue now that he will accept the qualifying offer.
The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007 has played just 82 games in his four-year career with the Blazers. Oden is estimated to return to the court no sooner than January.
