The Miami Heat are in the thick of it as the race for the playoffs continues. They're currently ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference while holding a 27-25 record. To make their push into the postseason, the front office made a big move before the trade deadline, acquiring Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets.
Unfortunately for the Heat, Oladipo hasn't been playing recently due to a knee injury he sustained against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. It's unclear how long Oladipo will be out, and Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra deflected when asked if the guard will be back this season.
Via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
Spoelstra, following the team's practice in Portland, said he had no update on Oladipo and that the Heat is still in the “information gathering stage right now. I don't have a new update. He's not with us on this trip and he won't be with us [Sunday]. I don't have any new information.”
Oladipo plans to see a specialist to determine a timetable for his injury:
Update on Victor Oladipo, per multiple sources, following the MRI on his injured quad/knee.
Oladipo, with the Miami Heat’s consent, will be seeking a specialist’s evaluation prior to any decision about a timetable for this season.
More later today on @5ReasonsSports outlets.
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) April 11, 2021
It has been an up-and-down career for Oladipo. At one point during his time with the Indiana Pacers, he seemed to be a rising star. However, injuries have derailed his career the last few years.
Because of all the injury issues and his diminished performance ahead of his free agency this offseason, he's almost certainly not going to get paid like he was hoping. Simply put, a max deal probably isn't the cards.
Via Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel:
“And this was always Part B of the Victor Oladipo equation, that if for any reason, be it injury or productivity, the Heat still could circle back to utilizing cap space, instead of Victor's Bird Rights, this summer in free agency,” he wrote. “As it is, it is increasingly unlikely that Victor will get anything near a maximum deal this summer, in terms or annual dollars or even years, from the Heat or elsewhere. Thursday's injury rekindled plenty of questions that never were far removed from the conversation.”
We'll see if Oladipo can bounce back from this injury and secure a decent paycheck. For now, it's yet to be determined if he even comes back at all this season to help the Heat make another playoff run.
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