KPTV - FOX 12Greg Oden to undergo knee procedure today

Greg Oden, the often-injured former No. 1 draft pick of the Portland Trail Blazers, will undergo a procedure today in Colorado, the team says.

Blazers representatives say the arthroscopic procedure in Vail, CO, will remove debris from Oden's right knee.

There is no timetable for Oden's return to the Blazers.

Oden and the Blazers agreed to a one-year $8.9 million contract in December, but then restructured the deal when Oden suffered another setback in his rehabilitation.

He hasn't played a NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009, when he suffered a knee injury.

Oden will become an unrestricted free agent following this season.

He was selected over Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant with the top pick in the 2007 draft. The Blazers believed the former Ohio State star could lead the team -- along with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge -- to an NBA championship.

But the trio has seen only scant playing time together, and Roy, a three-time All-Star, abruptly retired before the start of this season because of his own ongoing knee issues.

Oden's repeated knee problems have drawn comparisons to Sam Bowie, the injury-plagued big man the Blazers selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.

While Bowie played in 76 games his rookie season, averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds, he appeared in just 63 games over the next four seasons because of injuries. He missed the entire 1987-88 season. In all, he had five operations on his legs.

Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation.) All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.