Blazers Extend $8.8 Million Dollar Qualifying Offer to Greg Oden

Portland Trail Blazers officials have told Greg Oden’s representatives they will tender the center an $8.8 million qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Blazers have until midnight ET Thursday to give the qualifying offer.
 
The No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft, Oden has played just 82 games over four seasons because of injuries. The Blazers made the qualifying offer to protect themselves from possibly losing him for nothing, sources said. Once Oden becomes a restricted free agent, the Blazers will have the right to match any offer sheet he receives.
 
Oden missed last season after having microfracture surgery on his left knee in November. He hasn’t played since December of 2009 when he needed surgery to repair a fractured left patella. He was averaging 11.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks at the time of the injury.