Agent says Oden will sign one-year offer from Blazers

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Center Greg Oden's agent says the often-injured former No. 1 draft pick will sign the Portland Trail Blazers' $8.9 million qualifying offer on Friday.

Agent Bill Duffy confirmed that Oden would sign the one-year deal on Friday, when the team opens training camp.

The deal means that Oden will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Oden's acceptance of the offer was first reported by The Oregonian newspaper on Thursday morning.

Oden is coming off of microfracture surgery on his left knee. An earlier microfracture surgery on his right knee postponed his rookie season after the Blazers took the 7-foot center with the first pick of the 2007 NBA draft.

The Trail Blazers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter. The deal cannot formally be announced until Friday.

The Blazers made the qualifying offer on June 29. Oden could either accept the offer, or wait to see if other teams were interested in him. The Blazers would have three days to match any other offers.

But Oden, who was in Colorado having his knee examined on Thursday, opted to remain with the team that drafted him.

Because of various injuries, the former Ohio State star has played in only 82 games over parts of two seasons, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. In addition to the two season-ending microfracture surgeries, Oden broke his left kneecap and sat out much of the 2009-10 season.

It is not expected that Oden will play right away.