Why LeBron James and Miami Heat Are Wrong to Expect ‘Little’ From Greg Oden If Their Expectations Are ‘Low’ for the Big Man, He Belongs in the D-League

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  Greg Oden with the Portland Trail Blazers.

COMMENTARY | The Miami Heat and LeBron James are taking somewhat of a drunken approach to Greg Oden's expected performance.

Welcome to the Heat's newest 'spot' on the roster

Recently, James echoed the sentiments of the Heat's recent signing of Oden, the former 2007 No. 1 draft pick (Portland Trail Blazers) who was sidelined for years after numerous knee injuries and surgeries.

Saturday, in Akron, Ohio, at his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, the Heat star hosted his second annual LeBron JamesFamily Foundation "I Promise Family Reunion" for nearly 700 students.

There, he responded to a question from ESPN about the Miami Heat's signing of Greg Oden to a two-year $2.1 million contract.

 Admittedly, I didn't see this response coming and King James has some explaining to do: 

"Adding Greg is a huge piece for us but we're not asking too much from him, we're not going to put too much pressure on him. He hasn't played since 2009, so it's been awhile. We just want him to work his way back into condition. Whatever he gives us is extra," he said to Brian Windhorst.

To that soft approach, I say, bah, humbug. Isn't Oden more than just a spot on the roster to fill empty space?

And if this jaded expectation is meant to save Riley from eating crow or soften the blow should Oden crash and burn, I'm not buying it.

Low in, low out

A popular self-help guru once said (and I paraphrase): "Don't expect your child to be on the honor roll if you tell them your expectation for them is to only study enough to pass the test."

In other words, the best way to marginalize your child is to lower your expectations of him or her with little follow-up and a blase attitude.

 Even before the 7-footer steps foot on the court again after a three-year layoff from nagging knee injuries, LeBron James and theMiami Heat are setting the bar low. 

It appears that Pat Riley is conducting an experiment -- at the cost of a couple million bucks -- to see if a hobbled player can return to a form that once dominated the paint and reduced penetrating players to mush.

 It's an expensive wait-and-see game that seems best suited for the D-League. There, Oden can be evaluated for his fitness to the regular NBA roster without a formal commitment. 

Perhaps, it's me, but I believe if a player has been signed to play with the pros, he should perform like one.

Moreover, franchises that set the bar low are merely writing checks for benched spectators who have little incentive to improve their game.

 The stance James and the Heat have taken on Greg is honorable, and I'm sure he is pleased to be working again. But sowing a "low expectations" seed from the beginning could be setting him up for failure. 

 The message should be simple to Greg Oden: Your past is your past, but you're expected to perform, not "do what you can." 

I'd argue that there are other capable players who are just as hungry for their moment and would take less to wear a Heat jersey.

But if the message from the check-writers and league's MVP is simply, "We don't expect much," well, I say to LeBron James and the Miami Heat: Don't expect much come tip-off.

It's just that simple.

Bradley is a professional writer and journalist, sportswriter, and avid fan of the NBA, NFL, NCAA, PGA and all things tennis. He keeps a watchful eye on Miami Heat developments.