The 2022 NBA free agency period begins June 30 at 6 p.m. ET and the rumors have already begun swirling. The future of free agent guard Victor Oladipo is one of the more intriguing ones.
Last season, Oladipo averaged 12.4 points per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 2.9 rebounds per game. While Oladipo is a former two-time all-star and one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA, he has struggled with injuries.
He has played in only 41 out of a possible 154 games in the past two seasons. Questionable health aside, Oladipo has recovered from his injuries and has shown glimpses of his former self.
It is unclear if he is able to consistently play over 30 minutes or score 20 points per game anymore, but he can still provide a nice scoring boost off the bench and lockdown defense.
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3 Best Destinations For Victor Oladipo In 2022 NBA Free Agency
3. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors could look drastically different at the start of the 2022-23 season. Free agents Kevon Looney, Otto Porter Jr., Gary Payton II, and Damion Lee could all receive a sizeable bump in salary this offseason.
Payton II might search for a more prominent role elsewhere and be the biggest flight risk for Golden State. If he does leave, the signing of Oladipo would represent a significant upgrade from Payton II.
Payton II's job was to take on the opponent's best guard and keep Stephen Curry or Jordan Poole on a more favorable matchup. Oladipo can replicate Payton II's defense and provide another top-notch scorer off the bench.
The caveat with Oladipo is that he would likely be more costly than any of Golden State's own free agents.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers lack depth and are in desperate need of a secondary scorer and perimeter defender. Oladipo checks all of those boxes.
The Lakers are one of the few teams that Oladipo could reasonably start on. This should make them an appealing destination for Oladipo.
LeBron James has been known to bring careers back to life so sharing the floor with James could do wonders for Oladipo in the future.
The question is how Oladipo and Russell Westbrook would fit moving forward. In terms of play style, they are similar players. While this is good in some aspects, this could be detrimental to the Lakers' offense, specifically the spacing.
While both guards are tremendous players, they struggle with consistent shooting. The Lakers already have spacing issues, adding another player who struggles shooting from deep could end up backfiring.
1. Miami Heat
The best fit for Oladipo is with the team that revived his NBA career: The Miami Heat.
Oladipo had some good moments this past season with the Heat, including a 40-point, 10-rebound explosion against the Orlando Magic in the final game of the regular season.
He also proved invaluable in the playoffs, providing tough defense on star players such as Atlanta's Trae Young, Philadelphia's James Harden, and Boston's Jaylen Brown.
Resigning with the Heat will likely mean that Oladipo would be relegated to a bench role once again but Oladipo has wanted to play in Miami for a long time and the Heat have shown they can get the most out of him.
With a full, healthy offseason under his belt and another season in Miami's system, it is possible that he could finally turn back the clock and return to all-star form.
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