Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo is returning to the franchise in free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. The deal is for one year at the minimum so Oladipo can become a free agent again in 2022, making the 2021-22 season a prove-it year.
Injuries have totally nuked Oladipo's last few seasons in the NBA. He initially suffered a ruptured quad tendon with the Indiana Pacers in the 2018-19 season and then struggled in his return to the court in 2019-20. The guard was traded to the Houston Rockets as part of the James Harden deal, and then he made his way to the Miami Heat in another trade this past season.
However, Oladipo only appeared in four games with the Heat before another injury knocked out him. He needed to undergo surgery again for the same quad issue as before. While he likely won't be ready for the start of next season, the hope is he'll back at some point late in 2021.
Miami has had a busy offseason. Kyle Lowry is coming aboard in a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors. Star Jimmy Butler is getting a massive extension to lock him up for the long haul. The Heat also stole away P.J. Tucker from the champion Milwaukee Bucks and snagged Markieff Morris away from the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Miami is loading up to make a deeper playoff run. Bringing back Oladipo for cheap is a low-risk, high-reward play. If it doesn't work it, it's no big deal. But if Oladipo can get healthy and regain any of his All-Star form, he'll be a big boost.
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