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The Sacramento Kings will be one of three teams to meet with free agent center Greg Oden in Las Vegas this week, reports ESPN.com's excellent Marc Stein. The Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans are the two other suitors in line to sit down with the 2007 No. 1 overall pick. The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat are considered the frontrunners for Oden's services.
Stein reports that the Mavericks will meet with Oden late Monday, and that the team is still pursuing Samuel Dalembert. Rumors have also suggested Dallas would like to retain center Brandan Wright, who had a pretty solid season for the Mavericks and could be a back-up option for Sacramento if Oden goes elsewhere.
The Kings have a full frontcourt with DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. But only Cousins and Thompson have the size to normally play center. Hayes has played center in his career, as well, but not much for the Kings.
Oden is only 25 and has famously played just 82 games since being drafted six years ago. He's been off of the court since late 2009. In those 82 games, though, his per-minute and rate numbers were outstanding, and he's said to be a good guy (if, understandably, a bit beaten down).
The Kings don't have much cap space ($1.7 million, approximately), but could offer a two-year deal using the room exception ($2.5 million starting salary, up to two years) or offload a player in a trade to make room for Oden.
More from Sactown Royalty:
- Ben McLemore isn't hurt, Ray McCallum looks lovely and more from Game 1 of the Kings and Vegas Summer League
- New Kings president Chris Granger does the rounds
- Summer League, Game 1: Kings vs. Mavericks, Open Thread
- Greivis Vasquez is 8 weeks from being medically cleared, will be ready for training camp
- 2013 Vegas Summer League begins: Kings' first game on Saturday
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