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Victor Oladipo continues to be on the move. After being acquired by Houston from Indiana, there is an opportunity for the eight-year veteran to land on a contending roster. As Oladipo is slowly crawling back into his all-star caliber form, a new start in a different uniform could benefit his game in numerous ways.
Heading into this season was a very odd sequence for Victor Oladipo. Rumors swarmed that he was forcing his way out of Indiana. The situation left fans wondering why he was unhappy in his situation. As Oladipo denied the rumors, he still managed to suit up for the Indiana Pacers at the start of a hectic 72 game season. Oladipo would eventually play in nine games for the Pacers before the James Harden trade would change the dynamic of the season.
The Pacers sent Victor Oladipo and to the Houston Rockets as Indiana received Caris LeVert from Brooklyn and a second-rounder.
As James Harden was officially shipped away, Victor Oladipo was allowed to fill in that wing position tremendously. The pairing of him and John Wall in the backcourt gave Rockets fans optimism to finish the season on a high note.
In 13 games played, Victor Oladipo is averaging 20 points per game on 39% shooting. There has been an inconsistent effort throughout his tenure with Houston. There are moments where Oladipo has been unguardable while also becoming a shell of himself as well.
The leg injury seems to remain a lingering injury that continues to hold Oladipo back. As Christian Wood has remained out of the lineup, Victor Oladipo has not contributed to the needs that Houston has expected him to.
The Rockets have already shown to begin moving in a new direction. The team recently released DeMarcus Cousins and are looking to make more moves by March 25th. As Victor Oladipo recently turned down a two-year, $45.2M extension, he is looking to contribute to a playoff-contending team.
Victor Oladipo contender list: New York Knicks
The Knicks have been rejuvenated since the arrival of head coach Tom Thibodeau. The team has ranked number two in defensive efficiency and continues to compete night in and night out. Victor Oladipo may be the missing piece that helps this team remain a playoff team. As he still displays to be a two-way player, he provides a lot of attributes that can help the team tremendously.
The Knicks are a relatively young team. As the game slows down when the postseason arrives, they’ll need experience on the floor who understand the Xs and O’s of getting the job done. The Knicks did a tremendous job earlier in the season as they traded for veteran point guard Derrick Rose. If the team can make a potential trade for Victor Oladipo, the situation can put both teams in a perfect position for the future.
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Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have slowly crawled back into playoff contention. As the team fell short of returning to the NBA Finals a season ago, the team has many questions that they want to answer as the season progresses.
The question is what would the Rockets want in return for Victor Oladipo? The Raptors will certainly take a risk of losing some of their young players and a few of their first-round picks. It may sound like a risk, but Toronto is in win-now mode with stars in Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet. Oladipo at this stage in his career could potentially benefit the team as the season progresses.
Toronto has been a city that embraces its players and helps them re-elevate their play. Oladipo could be the next man to provide breakout performance for a Toronto team that needs a spark in many ways. If the franchise looks to continue to be a contender in the Eastern Conference, Victor Oladipo may be the missing piece to make that happen.
Miami Heat
Last but not least, the Miami Heat. The Heat may be the last team to give up its young assets for an injury-prone player. But Victor Oladipo can become a plus for the Miami culture. The team has recently found a rhythm as they are riding a six-game winning streak.
The Miami Heat is also a franchise that can help Victor Oladipo become a factor positively. Pairing him alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo would help the Miami Heat elevate their play on both ends of the floor. As players in Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro have emerged in their first few years in the league, it’s difficult for Pat Riley to trade away two ascending players.
Victor Oladipo is a piece that potentially helps this team improve as the season moves to the playoffs.
